A Good Sign, Some Troubling Signs Also

Monte Shaw's agricultural journey reflects the tumultuous history of American farming, particularly during the Farm Crisis of the 1980s. Growing up on a southwest Iowa farm, Shaw witnessed the hardships faced by many farmers, including his own family's struggle to survive. The biofuels boom in the early 2000s marked a turning point, providing economic opportunities for rural communities and reconnecting Shaw to his family farm. As the executive director of the Iowa Renewable Fuels Association, Shaw emphasizes the importance of biofuels in the face of new challenges. Despite the recent EPA decision to allow year-round E15 sales in eight states starting in April 2025, Shaw expresses concerns about the delayed benefits and urges quicker action to provide certainty for the biofuels industry. He emphasizes the need for increased demand of biofuels to avoid a return to the hardships of the past.