Everywhere you go at the 2009 Farm Progress Show in Decatur, Illinois this week, people are talking about ethanol.

Over at the corn grower tent marked by 30+ foot high corn stalks and an E85 blimp hovering overhead, they have information about how the carbon footprint of corn production has declined substantially in recent years and they are encouraging farmers to submit comments to Environmental Protection Agency about the Renewable Fuel Standard.

Renewable Fuels Association president and CEO Bob Dinneen toured the Farm Progress Show on Wednesday and was able to visit many of the exhibits, talk with farmers and do interviews with agricultural media representatives. Dinneen says most of the corn growers are telling him the crop looks very good this year. “I wish that there were more policy makers, government officials, regulators here at this event to see how much progress has been made and see what modern agriculture is all about,” said Dinneen. “This is not your grandfather’s farm anymore!” He says with the second largest corn crop on record expected to be harvested this year, American farmers continue to prove that they can produce enough corn to make ethanol and feed the world as well.