BLOOMINGTON, Ill. — Megan Dwyer, Director of Conservation and Nutrient Stewardship for the Illinois Corn Growers Association (ICGA) in Bloomington, Ill., was one of 18 new members named to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s Farm, Ranch, and Rural Communities Federal Advisory Committee by EPA Administrator Michael S. Regan in November. The FRRCC provides independent policy advice and recommendations to the administrator on crucial environmental issues affecting agriculture and rural communities.

Speaking to Farm World during the 52nd annual meeting of the ICGA on Nov.  26, Dwyer indicated she was excited for the opportunity and eager to take corn ethanol’s message to the highest levels of the U.S. EPA. She realizes, however, that Illinois Corn’s message on renewables may be a tough sell to President-elect Donald Trump’s nominee to lead the EPA, former New York Congressman Lee Zeldin, who voted against ethanol and biofuels expansion while he held office.

“Some of what my role on this committee will be may change with a new administration and EPA administrator coming in, but my role will be (to join) this diverse group of stakeholders from across the country who do have agriculture backgrounds and make good suggestions around the policy and regulatory side of things impacting rural communities and farming,” Dwyer said of her appointment. “The last couple of years the charge has been around some of the clean energy and climate concerns, things like solar energy and what that should look like. I’m really excited to bring a Midwest farm voice to that table.”

Dwyer said she would draw on her strengths and expertise in the biofuels and bioenergy fields, along with her own fourth-generation farming roots and certified crop advisor status while sitting at the EPA’s table. She will also draw on her experience with ICGA in the areas of precision farming and advocacy of on-farm and in-field conservation practices.

“I’ve worked with the EPA in areas like the Endangered Species Act for the past couple of years, finding the common ground between what works for the farmer in the field and what’s going to be beneficial to that species, along with 45Z and even crop insurance. What actually makes sense at the farm level is what I’m hoping to bring to the conversation,” said Dwyer, a family farmer who shares in ownership of Ag Authority, an agronomy consulting source that helps farmers to improve sustainability and in-field efficiency.

As for Zeldin, Dwyer welcomes the opportunity to provide input that may sway the nominee’s on-record stance against renewable fuels, if he is confirmed. “For me and for Illinois Corn, it’s really about being able to sweep the politics aside and just look at the policy and what is actually needed. Being able to convey the story of what this means for American farmers, how that then impacts rural communities and the broader economy and what’s needed to be successful,” she said.“I fully expect that we may need to change some terminology — (terms) like ‘climate smart’ and ‘climate change’ may not be as attractive, but knowing how to frame that story (will be important).” 

Regardless of who is confirmed as EPA director, Dwyer insists her goals for her time on the committee will not waver. “No matter your opinion on where we go on vehicles from here —whether that be electrical vehicles or staying with the internal combustion engine, we need to have biofuels in the conversation as the bridge to where we are going to end up. EVs make a lot of sense in certain areas, maybe not so much in others. We need to make sure that biofuels are a big part of our liquid fuel makeup. I don’t think we’re going to see electrified aircraft any time soon,” she said. 

Other new committee members within Farm World’s readership area selected for the FRRCC are Erik Huschitt of Badger State Ethanol in Monroe, Wisconsin; Dr. Michelle Miller of the Center for Integrated Agricultural Systems at the University of Wisconsin, and J. Alan Weber from the Biodiesel Coalition of Missouri. Dr. Beth Sauerhaft of American Farmland Trust will remain as committee chair. Michael Crowder, from Ducks Unlimited, will serve as vice-chair for the 18 new and 6 returning FRRCC members. 

In June of this year, the committee provided 32 recommendations to Regan on topics including improvements to the technical assistance EPA provides to rural communities, outreach and education on solar energy programs that support agriculture, and ways that EPA can scale up public-private partnerships and market-based approaches to accelerate the adoption of agricultural conservation practices.

“EPA remains committed to ensuring agricultural and rural communities and are fully engaged as partners in our work to protect our environment and advance public health,” said Regan, in an EPA news release. “The diverse perspectives of these new appointees, along with our dedicated returning members, will be instrumental in helping us navigate environmental challenges and deliver science-based, practical solutions that strengthen our nation’s food and agriculture systems for generations to come.”

Dwyer’s nomination to the FRRCC was supported by Illinois Corn, Senator Dick Durbin, Congresswoman Nikki Budzinski, and former Congresswoman Cheri Bustos.