Iowa Ag Secretary Touts E-15 Ethanol at Floyd County Farm Forum

Mike Naig highlights policy changes that could boost farm economy and reduce reliance on foreign energy

Published on Mar. 5, 2026

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Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Mike Naig spoke at a farm forum in Charles City, Iowa, organized by First Security Bank & Trust. Naig emphasized the potential impact of expanded year-round access to E-15 ethanol, noting it could increase corn demand by 2 billion bushels annually. He also discussed the importance of global export markets for Iowa agriculture and highlighted state initiatives like the 'Choose Iowa' program to promote local products.

Why it matters

Ethanol policy and export markets are critical issues for Iowa's agricultural economy, which is a major driver of the state's overall economic health. Naig's comments provide insight into the priorities of state policymakers and the challenges and opportunities facing Iowa farmers.

The details

Naig said expanding year-round access to E-15 ethanol would benefit consumers, the environment, and farmers by lowering fuel prices, reducing emissions, and increasing demand for corn. He noted Iowa has already expanded E-15 access, with over 1,100 stations now offering the fuel blend. Naig also emphasized the importance of global trade, stating that 96% of the world's consumers live outside the U.S. and that Iowa ranks second only to California in agricultural exports. The secretary discussed state initiatives like the 'Choose Iowa' program to promote in-state agricultural products.

  • The farm forum was held on Wednesday, March 5, 2026.

The players

Mike Naig

The Iowa Secretary of Agriculture who was the featured speaker at the farm forum.

First Security Bank & Trust

The organizer of the 'Field to Finance Ag Seminar' where Naig spoke.

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What they’re saying

“Consumers win because you're paying 10 to 15 cents less per gallon for E-15 over E-10. Two, it's cleaner burning if you care about the environment. Three, it's good for farmers because of the prices paid. And four, it's domestic energy production, making us less reliant on what's happening around the world.”

— Mike Naig, Iowa Secretary of Agriculture (charlescitypress.com)

“If we had year-round access nationwide, another two billion bushels of corn would be ground annually.”

— Mike Naig, Iowa Secretary of Agriculture (charlescitypress.com)

The takeaway

Naig's comments highlight the potential economic and environmental benefits of expanding access to E-15 ethanol, as well as the importance of global export markets for Iowa's agricultural sector. His remarks provide insight into the priorities of state policymakers as they work to support the state's farming community.