McCain Blames Subsidies for High Food Prices

Cindy Zimmerman

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 …

Commentary, Ethanol, Farming, Opinion, politics

Obama Tells Farmers He Supports Ethanol

Cindy Zimmerman

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. …

Ethanol, Farming, News, politics

Alliance Targets Lawmakers for Education Efforts

Cindy Zimmerman

The Alliance for Abundant Food and Energy is out to inform the nation’s policy makers that American agriculture is fully capable of producing both food and fuel with no trade off. The alliance was formed in July and includes Archer Daniels Midland, DuPont, John Deere, Monsanto, and the Renewable Fuels Association. ADM Vice President for Government Relations Greg Webb says …

Agribusiness, Ethanol, politics

Ethanol and Politics

Cindy Zimmerman

With ethanol continuing to be such a political issue, it was especially important this election year for the ethanol industry to have a clear presence at both recent political conventions. In this Ethanol Report podcast, Matt Hartwig with the Renewable Fuels Association and Randy Doyle with Al-Corn Clean Fuels in Claremont, MN discuss how and why the ethanol industry was …

Audio, Ethanol, politics, RFA

GOP Platform Addresses Ethanol

Cindy Zimmerman

Delegates to the Republican National Convention this week have adopted a party platform that would essentially end the Renewable Fuels Standard passed by Congress and signed by the president in December as part of comprehensive energy legislation. However, they do support the development of cellulosic ethanol and increased flex-fuel vehicles on the road. Under the agriculture section, the platform talks …

Cellulosic, Ethanol, politics

Ethanol to be Featured at RNC AgNite

Cindy Zimmerman

The Minnesota Agri-Growth Council is hosting a celebration of America’s food, agriculture and energy industries during the second night of the Republican National Convention in the Twin Cities. AgNite is a non-partisan event independent from the RNC being coordinated by the council with the help of numerous sponsors, including the ethanol industry under the auspices of the Renewable Fuels Association. …

Agribusiness, EPIC, Ethanol, News, politics, RFA

McCain Opposes Ethanol Subsidies in Iowa

Cindy Zimmerman

Republican presidential candidate John McCain visited the Iowa State Fair Friday, shook a lot of hands, but probably didn’t make a lot of friends in corn country when he clearly stated his opposition to subsidizing ethanol production. “My friends, we will disagree on a specific issue and that’s healthy,” McCain said during a Des Moines Register forum address at the …

Cellulosic, corn, Ethanol, News, politics