January 30, 2026: E15 Legislation Stalled, Farm Economy Strains + Pork Consumer Insights

Ag News Daily

Hosted by Delaney Howell and Tanner Winterhof, Ag News Daily brings a weekly dose of agriculturally related news, commodity markets, weather, technology and more.

This week’s agriculture news covers the latest developments around year-round E15 fuel, ag policy updates and new insights into pork consumers. Agriculture headlines include continued frustration from ag groups after a House funding bill excluded language that would have allowed nationwide, year-round access to E15 gasoline, CF Industries Holdings and POET launching a pilot project to build a low-carbon fertilizer supply chain aimed at reducing the carbon intensity of corn and ethanol and the House Natural Resources Committee advanced the Enforcing Safety for Animals Act of 2025 with bipartisan support, raising implications for the Mexican wolf. Meanwhile, the Rural Mainstreet Index climbed above the growth-neutral mark of 50.0 in January, reaching 52.0 — its highest level since July 2023. This week’s interview covers consumer preferences, particularly when it comes to pork and how producers can use this information. Sarah Showalter, National Pork Board director of consumer and business insights, and Morgan Wonderly, NPB board member and animal science lecturer at California Polytechnic State University–San Luis Obispo, join the podcast to discuss how pork preferences differ across generations. They explore the roles of convenience, nutrition, culture, and social media, and how third-party insights can help the pork industry connect with consumers in new and meaningful ways. Learn more at porkcheckoff.org/sizzle. Stay connected with us for more agriculture content on Instagram, TikTok, Facebook, and YouTube, along with our weekly videos!