Editorials

Dec 15, 2022

Key Issues: Ethanol

Author: Tom Haag

Published Real Clear Energy November 6, 2022   You’ve almost certainly driven by one. Maybe visited one as a student on a school field trip or tackled the challenge of their mazes in the fall. You might have even grown up on one, like I did.    Corn farms are an important part of the American ethos. Across the country, millions of farmers and their families help sustain the everyday way of life for millions more Americans they will never meet. Our efforts to grow crops and raise livestock year after year keep our nation self-reliant and secure.   It has been a tough year for a lot of people. Following months of record inflation, our nation faces an ongoing energy crisis while rising interest rates and continued impacts of climate change raise new concerns.    Fuel prices hit Americans especially hard this summer as the national average for a gallon of regular gas reached a record $5.01 in June. Following a steady decline thereafter, prices are rising yet again, averaging...

Dec 6, 2022

Key Issues: Farm Policy

Author: Brooke S. Appleton

It has been an incredibly busy year with many interesting twists and turns along the way. As 2022 draws to a close and the mid-term elections are all but wrapped up, we are beginning to gain clarity on what will be in and out as we enter the new year. So, with no further ado, here are my annual ins and outs as we end one year and head into another.   Ins:    The Farm Bill – The legislation, which governs many of the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s programs, is up for reauthorization in 2023. My staff and I, along with our state partners, are working to educate members of Congress about the importance of the farm bill for agriculture. We are already working with our congressional allies to protect and improve programs important to corn growers. Speak up on your priorities, and stay tuned for more updates as the legislative process proceeds.   Coalitions – As discussions about the farm bill intensify, we will work with the broad political partnerships that have been built over...

Dec 1, 2022

Author: The National Corn Growers Association

America is in search of long-term energy and climate solutions. In recent years, we have battled high inflation and supply chain disruptions, rising energy costs and interest rates, and persisting effects of climate change. But America’s corn growers are taking action today to create tomorrow’s long-term energy and climate solutions.   Across the country, farmers are fueling our nation’s clean energy future through the production of corn-based ethanol. Today’s ethanol plays a key role in enhancing U.S. energy independence, providing affordable fuel choices for American consumers and combatting climate change. Going forward, we need all environmental and economic solutions on the table, and low-cost, low-carbon ethanol is ready to contribute even more.   Reducing Dependence on Foreign Energy Sources Fuel prices often fluctuate, but over the past year, Americans witnessed record highs. Yet, ethanol continues to be priced lower than gasoline, and higher ethanol blends such as E15,...