Our Perspective
With Ethanol, Farmers Are Keeping Their Options Open
By Whitney Sparks, sustainability writer
Posted 10 months ago
Add a CommentShare this Page
Amid intense debate over budget deficits, the future of ethanol subsidies remains uncertain. But one thing seems clear: the number of acres planted to corn will continue to increase, because corn offers farmers a variety of ways to manage their farm business during volatile market swings and unpredictable weather conditions.
According to Martha Schlicher, Monsanto's bioenergy lead, farmers benefit from growing corn because they aren't tied to a specific market or customer. "Unlike many other proposed bioenergy crops, growers can plant corn and be certain they will have multiple markets for their crop," she said. "They can sell it for animal feed to export it for industrial purposes or convert it into ethanol-depending on what customers need the most."
"Similarly, by having ethanol-blended fuels available at the gas pump, consumers have an opportunity to express their choice of purchasing a locally produced fuel that is better for the environment and our economy." Schlicher noted we spend close to a billion dollars a day importing oil to meet U.S. gasoline needs.
She also points out there is a false perception that corn-based ethanol is somehow competing with food supplies. "Here, an important fact is being overlooked, which is that corn is a multi-purpose crop. When corn is used for ethanol, all you're using is the starch. All the protein, fat and fiber are still available for animal feed. The beauty of corn is that the same ear can be used for multiple purposes. That isn't true of many other crops. It's not a simple food-or-fuel question."
Another false belief is ethanol subsidies go to farmers or ethanol producers. In truth, they have been going to oil companies to encourage them to blend ethanol.
Schlicher adds, "New infrastructure investments are now needed to help retailers install pumps that dispense higher blends of ethanol. When this is done, automakers will feel more confident in manufacturing and selling vehicles that are optimized for higher ethanol blend levels."
There is a strong belief the biofuel industry will continue to advance. A mature industry will enable more of our energy needs to be met by agriculture. Technology advances will improve the cost-effective production of biofuels from corn, sugarcane, other crops, crop residues and waste products.
In the meantime, farmers who look out over their growing cornfields this summer will see more than just the emerging stalks of their next harvest. They'll see row after row of options.
