Environmental advocacy group Friends of the Earth is urging senators to reject the latest Senate Republican Farm Bill proposal, arguing it favors large-scale commodity agriculture while doing too little to support nutrition programs, conservation efforts and smaller farms. The group objected to a provision that would allow year-round sales of E15 gasoline, saying expanded ethanol production would increase demand for corn and encourage more pesticide-intensive farming practices. Friends of the Earth contends the proposal would benefit major commodity producers and ethanol companies while making it harder for growers of fruits, vegetables and organic crops to compete. The organization also criticized reductions in conservation funding and said the measure fails to restore cuts to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program enacted under the One Big Beautiful Bill. In a statement, Kari Hamerschlag, deputy director of food and agriculture at Friends of the Earth U.S., said Congress should invest more in diversified farming systems, local food infrastructure, conservation and healthy food access rather than expanding support for corn ethanol.
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