Yesterday it was an email, today it’s a comment on an article in the St Louis Post Dispatch, tomorrow it will be the tweet that is re-tweeted until it twitters out. And then the next day it will be the link on my news feed in facebook. What am I talking about? The never ending variations of the questions/claims that making ethanol from U.S. corn starves children in the poorest nations and converts land that would otherwise grow “food” to corn acreage.
But that’s okay, because one more question, email, tweet or status update is another opportunity to share accurate information regarding ethanol.
In short:
• Is there enough corn? Yes.
• Does making ethanol mean I won’t have corn to eat? No.
• Does growing corn for ethanol mean we won’t grow food? No.
• That’s not what other people say. I know.
There are all kinds of reasons the people will blog, write, say, tweet, youtube or status update that ethanol is bad. The corn industry is often criticized as an information provider about ethanol because we have something to gain. Um, ya, we don’t grow corn for free. But why would we cut off our nose (feeding livestock, exports to other countries, human food uses, industrial applications) to spite our face (ethanol)?
In case that reference didn’t make sense, let me say it more plainly. Does it make sense that corn farmers would forsake one or many market opportunities just to add another? No. Does it make sense that corn farmers are growing more corn using less land, chemicals, fertilizer, water, time and fuel? Yes. So does it make sense that they would continue to look for ways to use corn? Yes.
Well motivation is a two way street, folks. The naysayers have their own personal motivations and opportunities to gain. (Can you say resume padding, book deals, feature films, and speaking engagements?)
And FYI, being against something, in this case ethanol, doesn’t ordain you with some sort of “hall pass” to make claims that are irrelevant, irreverent, and irresponsible.
Here are some facts about ethanol and facts about corn. And before you go criticizing the source or calling me a liar, consider that these numbers come from the United States Department of Agriculture and their National Agricultural Statistics Service. That’s USDA NASS for short. Other numbers come from the U.S Energy Information Administration or USEIA.
ICGA/ICMBA Communications Director
Corn is the gold standard.
ReplyDeleteThose golden yellow kernels are literally the currency of agronomic trade, stamped with the seal of the true sovereign.
Can one do with fresh tomatoes what one does with corn? How about sugar beets? Yeah, more ethanol and all, but it aint corn. Sorghum? I see a bird-feeder and a weedy next year. Tasy bread but it aint corn. Wheat? Sometimes I do prefer fajitas rather than tacos. But it aint corn. Everything else is runner-up to corn.
People say corn "uses lots of inputs" but it should better be said corn CAN use lots of inputs, as that is the only way it can OUTPUT lots of food in such an efficient, practical and abundant manner.
Country'll grow.