McCain Blames Subsidies for High Food Prices
In a speech on Wednesday not far from the corn fields of proud Missouri farmers, Republican presidential candidate Senator John McCain blamed subsidies for higher food prices. “My administration will reduce the price of food by eliminating the subsidies for ethanol and agricultural goods,” McCain told an invitation-only group at the Harry Truman Library in Independence, Missouri. “These subsidies inflate …
On-Farm Biodiesel
Farmers on the panhandle of Florida can now make their own biodiesel on the farm with the help of the Three Rivers Resource Conservation and Development Council (RC&D) in Milton through USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service. The council recently invested in a portable biodiesel extruder that can be taken out to local farms to make biodiesel from plants and used …
Farmers Evaluate Candidate Positions
The American Farm Bureau Federation has released the results of a presidential election questionnaire completed by Sens. John McCain and Barack Obama. In the document, both candidates responded to AFBF’s inquiries about a number of issues important to agriculture, including renewable fuels. Answering the question of renewable fuels, McCain responded in part that, “solving our energy crisis requires an “all …
Obama Tells Farmers He Supports Ethanol
Ethanol was a major topic of discussion for members of the National Farmers Union meeting this week in Washington DC. Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama spoke to the NFU members by phone and pledged his support for new investments in renewable fuels and other policies that would benefit rural America. Obama also reiterated his support of the Renewable Fuels Standard. …
Ag Secretary Addresses Florida Farm to Fuel Summit
U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Ed Schafer traveled to Florida to address the third annual Florida Farm to Fuel Summit in Orlando. “This is the theme park capitol of the world, it is a city of dreams and the power of imagination,” Schafer told the group. “As we sit here in the land of imagination and dreams, it’s up to all …
New Alliance for Food and Fuel
A group of major players in the agribusiness sector have joined together to highlight the ability of American agriculture to meet both food and energy needs. The Alliance for Abundant Food and Energy includes Archer Daniels Midland, DuPont, John Deere, Monsanto, and the Renewable Fuels Association. The alliance asserts that “By growing more crops and developing more efficient ways of …
Candidate Positions on Ethanol
Presidential candidates Barack Obama and John McCain spoke to the American Farm Bureau Federation’s Council of Presidents meeting in Washington DC last week by teleconference about various issues of importance to agriculture, including it’s role in America’s energy needs. McCain heralded his “Lexington Project” to make America energy independent which includes alternative fuels, ethanol, nuclear and offshore drilling. The plan …
Iowa Corn Growers Optimistic
At the Iowa Speedway yesterday, the Iowa Corn Growers Association held an outdoor press conference. They used it to help educate media about corn usage by placing banners on the side of a grain trailer showing the relative percentages of corn used for different purposes like livestock feed and ethanol. I did a short interview with Gary Edwards, ICGA board …
Ethanol Industry Stands up for Farmers
The ethanol industry is mad and they’re not going to take it anymore. That’s how BBI International president Mike Bryan summed up his feelings about the attacks on ethanol during the opening general session of the 2008 International Fuel Ethanol Workshop on Tuesday in Nashville. “What bothers me most is the abuse that agriculture is taking,” Bryan said. “We cannot …