A group of farmers from around the world gathered in Des Moines this week for the fifth annual Global Farmer-to-Farmer Roundtable organized by Truth About Trade and Technology (TATT) and held in conjunction with the World Food Prize.
As part of the event, the 16 farmers had the opportunity to visit Couser Cattle Company, owned by Bill Couser, who is a director on the board of the farmer-owned Lincolnway Energy ethanol plant in Nevada, Iowa. Bill conducted a fascinating presentation about his marriage of row crop farming (corn/soybeans), livestock production and ethanol production. He used a long table to display all the products he produces starting with an ear of corn and winding up with ethanol (2.81 gal/bushel of corn) as well as by-products like DDGS and ultimately fine quality beef.
Couser debunks the food versus fuel debate by explaining how corn going into an ethanol plant produces feed, fuel, food and fertilizer. Watch his presentation here: