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Food and Fuel:
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Food & Fuel - 11.18.08
NCGA Responds to Newest Ethanol Attack

The National Corn Growers Association (NCGA) responded strongly today to ethanol critics who launched another wave of attacks on corn and ethanol.  This attack on ethanol comes from the same group that failed earlier this year in its efforts to reduce the renewable fuels standard and increase our country’s dependence on foreign oil.

“These same ethanol critics are the ones who virtually promised to reduce food prices immediately, and have failed to do so, even though corn prices and energy prices are down by more than half in the last few weeks,” NCGA President Bob Dickey said in a radio interview syndicated to dozens of radio stations nationwide.

“Food prices remain at a very high level. It’s ironic that food companies are reporting record profits, and food prices are higher --for smaller packages of food items, in many cases. When will their prices come down?”

Click here to listen to Dickey’s interview

Read more of the story

Online Resources
Food “Versus” Fuel: Case Closed
Ethanol Helps Rural America
U.S. Corn Growers: Producing Food and Fuel

RFA Analysis of the Excise Tax Exemption

Food & Fuel - 11.17.08
NCGA CEO Calls for Food Price Cut and Stresses Ethanol as Part of Energy Solution

At a recent conference on ethanol, National Corn Growers Association (NCGA) Chief Executive Officer Rick Tolman stressed the importance of ethanol for energy independence and called on food manufacturers to lower food prices now that commodity and energy prices have dropped.

“Corn prices have dropped by about half since earlier this year, yet food prices have remained high and are expected by some to remain high,” Tolman noted. With commodity and energy costs now significantly lower, it’s time for food companies to take a hard look at the prices they’ve increased – often, for smaller packages designed to look like the larger-sized packages.

“Ethanol is an important part of America’s balanced energy sector and needs to play a bigger part if we are to reduce our dependence on foreign oil with a fuel source that is home-grown and renewable,” Tolman said. “At this time of economic crisis, U.S. ethanol production supports jobs and communities in rural America while boosting our nation’s gross domestic product and paying its share of taxes to fund important government programs.”

Read more

For months, corn growers across the country have been under attack for rising food costs as some economists are blaming corn to ethanol production as a leading culprit. We have released and posted several resources that address the key issues. We are also gearing up for some intense education and fact sharing on this issue that affects all of our members. Here is just a sample of the “truths” we are sharing:

Sample Letters to Editor

Food and Fuel Talking Points

Fact Sheets

External Reports and Studies

Other sources for food and fuel information:

Here are a number web sites that tackle the issue responsibly and with the facts:
www.renewablefuelsnow.org
www.epicinfo.org
www.ncga.com
www.ethanolrfa.org

www.foodandfuelamerica.com
www.farmingandyou.org

What people are saying
"The GOOD, The BAD, & The UGLY"

Good:

Secretary Bodman and Agriculture Secretary Schafer letter on biofuels

Grocers, farmers take their ethanol fight to Capitol Hill (AP Story)

Who is to Blame by Dewey Strickler, Ag Watch Market Advisors, LLC

OPEC Strangling American Economy

Sen. Richard Lugar: Don’t Single Out Ethanol

Don't fuel the anti-ethanol bandwagon

Don't panic: There's plenty of corn for all

Corn growers' CEO defends ethanol 'evolution'

Ethanol as cause of food crisis 'flat-out wrong'

Ugly:

For Some, Money Trumps Research

The Houston Chronicle ran a front-page story July 2 on Texas Gov. Rick Perry’s request for a waiver of the renewable fuels standard, and how his request followed within days a $100,000 contribution that Bo Pilgrim of Pilgrim’s Pride made to the Republican Governors Association, chaired by Perry. Pilgrim has been one of the most vocal opponents of corn-based ethanol over the past few months.

 

You can click here to read the story.

www.foodb4fuel.com

GMA Is Fueling the Ethanol Backlash

Take Action Now to Stop Big Food’s Campaign against Ethanol

In an effort to encourage the Grocery Manufacturers Association to end its campaign against corn ethanol and the U.S. farmer, we urge you to call or e-mail these member companies and make your voices heard:

Kraft Foods 847-646-2000
Kraft-Board@kraft.com

General Mills 800-248-7310
Kris.wenker@genmills.com 

Lakeside Foods 920-684-3356
jdquick@lakesidefoods.com 

A sample letter can also be sent via e-mail from the NCGA Legislative Action Center.

Click here for background information on the issue.