The role of ethanol in rising food costs will be at the heart of a Senate Agriculture Committee field hearing August 18 in Omaha.

Sen. Ben Nelson (D-NE), who is a member of the committee, says the event will be a “pro-fact” hearing, not a pro-ethanol hearing. The committee decided to hold the hearing in the face of what Nelson called an ongoing “smear campaign” against ethanol.

“Food, Feed and Fuel Production: Today and Tomorrow” will be held on Monday, August 18 from 9:00 am until noon at the University of Nebraska in Omaha.

The hearing is being held just days after the nation’s ethanol industry meets in Omaha for the American Coalition for Ethanol’s 21st Annual Conference & Trade Show, which will be August 12-14 at the Qwest Center.