The National Corn Growers Association is calling on its membership to communicate directly with food companies involved in the Grocery Manufacturers Association’s attack on corn farmers and U.S. ethanol production. NCGA singled out three companies in particular and asked members to express disappointment over their support for the GMA campaign.
“We’ve asked our farmers to pick up the phone or send an email urging these companies to stop this senseless campaign,” said Ron Litterer, NCGA president. “As part of the supply chain for Kraft, General Mills and Lakeside Foods, our growers need to make sure their voice is heard and respected.”
These three companies each have representatives on the GMA board of directors, and Litterer said he is hoping they will listen to farmers who supply them with raw product for food manufacturing and focus should be on the real problem – high energy costs. Litterer noted that a one dollar increase in the price for a gallon of gasoline has up to three times the impact on food prices as a dollar rise in the price of a bushel of corn.
“We’re being taken for a ride, and the evidence is everywhere, from the escalating prices we pay to fill up our vehicles with gasoline to the purchase of virtually all consumer goods,” Bronson said. “It is almost impossible to conceive of a product that is not dependent on oil in either its production or transportation to the stores in which it is sold.”
“You know what was nice about today, is we didn’t have any luck,” said Ryan. “You know, we didn’t have bad luck, we didn’t have good luck, we just had no luck.”
In a race down to the pits, No. 9 Target Driver Scott Dixon with Chip Ganassi Racing sped past Vitor Meira during the final pit stop during a yellow to take the win at the Brickyard. Reporters commented on the look of shock on Scott’s face at winners circle and Scott confirmed that he was a bit shocked.
“This is much more sweeter because it comes, you know, you work three weeks solidly and it comes down to one day to get it and have everything fall into place. It’s quite special,” Scott said.
We’re well into the final quarter of the 2008 Indy 500. There’s been more than a handful of crashes. But, Ryan Hunter-Reay has been holding a top 10 position for much of the race and is just shy of a top 5 spot. He now holds the 6th position after starting 20th.
Members of the 
Ethanol isn’t just out on the track, but also in parking lots and parked in the infield at the Brickyard in Indianapolis, IN. And that’s something 
Team Ethanol Driver Ryan Hunter-Reay started the 92nd Indianapolis 500 in position 20, but the race rookie has already moved up to 11th. The drivers are cruising on a yellow flag right now. Keep checking back to see if Ryan can snag a top 10 spot.
Olympian figure skater Kristy Yamaguchi is the latest star to win the “Dancing with the Stars” competition. She’s also the latest star to signal that the race is on. Kristy flashed the green ethanol flag and the 33 competitors in the 92nd Indy 500 took off for their 200 lap run around the Brickyard. Just thirty-seven laps into the race, Graham Rahal got too high around turn 4 and smashed into the outer wall.
The Ethanol tent and mobile unit display at the 92nd Indianapolis 500 is a big hit with race fans. When I dropped by there was a large crowd lined up to sign up their email address and consumer information with ethanol. Those that stopped by could also jump in the seat of a Team Ethanol IndyCar replica, play some racing videogames and pick up a tiny replica of the No. 17 car.