“The market for ethanol has grown exponentially over the past decade, thus utilizing an abundance of corn to meet the already-present need for a renewable, domestic biofuel,” said Chad Willis, a Minnesota corn grower who serves as chairman of the committee. “Now, we face a myriad of challenges and opportunities as those in the industry continue to innovate while some outside of it continue attempts to deny ethanol’s incredible value to our nation.”

“After years of hearing rehashed iterations of the food-and-fuel debate, we found the tour of LifeLIne to be both interesting and inspiring,” Willis said. “Companies such as this demonstrate that, through a mixture of creative thought and hard work, we can find new ways to use corn even more productively and solve an array of societal needs.”

The committee of farmer leaders from around the Corn Belt also had the opportunity to meet the NCGA’s new Director of Biofuel Programs and Business Development Pam Keck, who is a scientist and educator with more than 20 years of experience in the agricultural and biofuels industry, academia and not-for-profit research.

Keck most recently contracted with Monsanto, coordinating an outreach program that brought together schools and scientists. She has previously taught chemistry at Southern Illinois University, Edwardsville and at Lewis and Clark Community College. She has also served as assistant director of workforce development and scientific projects at the National Corn-to-Ethanol Research Center.

“We applaud the President’s announcement that he is going to push for homemade, U.S.-energy after 40 years of being addicted to foreign oil,” said Tom Buis, CEO of Growth Energy. “We have to move ahead with American ethanol as part of that solution.”

“The U.S. biodiesel industry is proving that we can accomplish the president’s goals of creating jobs while building a clean-energy economy,” said Anne Steckel with the National Biodiesel Board. “That’s why we’re calling on the Administration to quickly finalize the delayed EPA rule for boosting biodiesel use under the Renewable Fuel Standard in 2013.”

National Corn Growers Association Chairman Bart Schott said they were pleased to hear President Obama’s continued commitment to the nation’s energy independence. “As family corn farmers have risen to the challenge to meet our nation’s energy needs, we are hopeful the direction the President outlined offers similar opportunities for others to expand our energy independence,” he said.

“Working with the President, we can help America become less dependent on foreign oil and a smarter consumer of energy,” Adam Monroe, President of Novozymes North America, said. “Innovations like advanced biofuels can play a major role in the President’s vision but we need steady policies like the Renewable Fuel Standard – and we look forward to working Congress to preserve them.”

The new look for the iconic car was unveiled this past weekend during the NASCAR Preview 2012 event in Charlotte, North Carolina, where it was also announced that the driver would be Austin Dillon, 2011 NASCAR Camping World Truck Series Champion. Dillon is also the grandson of team owner Richard Childress, who decided to bring the No. 3 car back full time into the NASCAR Nationwide Series last November. Dillon drove the No. 3 in the Camping World Truck Series last year.

American Ethanol has also teamed with RAB Racing and driver Kenny Wallace for the 2012 season. They will attempt to make their Sprint Cup Series debut in the 54th annual Daytona 500 on Feb. 26, with Wallace at the wheel of the No. 09 American Ethanol Toyota Camry. Wallace and the No. 09 team finished seventh in the 2011 Nationwide Series driver championship standings, a career-best for the team after posting 11 top-10 finishes.

“The Daytona 500 is the race I grew up watching every year as a kid in St. Louis. It’s a very important race to me,” Wallace said. “I take this opportunity very seriously. I want to thank everyone at RAB Racing for working so hard in preparing this American Ethanol Toyota Camry.”

This is the second year for the American Ethanol partnership between NASCAR, Growth Energy and the National Corn Growers Association (NCGA).

During the NASCAR Preview fan event in Charlotte, N.C. this weekend, American Ethanol announced that it will continue relationships with Richard Childress Racing and RAB Racing for the 2012 season. This is the second year for the racing partnership between NASCAR, Growth Energy and the National Corn Growers Association (NCGA).

“American Ethanol is getting a lot of positive attention because it’s a good fit for NASCAR’s green initiative, and because of the increased horsepower on the track,” said NCGA President Garry Niemeyer.

Austin Dillon, 2011 NASCAR Camping World Truck Series Champion, will drive the No. 3 Chevrolet during the 2012 NASCAR Nationwide Series season with American Ethanol serving as the primary sponsor for six races as well as one race in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series in 2012.

Dillon, pictured here with team owner (and grandfather) Richard Childress, is looking forward to representing the ethanol industry. “I’m proud to carry the American Ethanol colors in NASCAR,” he said. American Ethanol will also be an associate sponsor for the entire RCR family of drivers.

Kenny Wallace, a driver who has been a strong promoter of corn growers and ethanol over the past year, will drive the No. 09 Toyota Camry in the NASCAR Nationwide Series for RAB Racing. American Ethanol will partner with Wallace for the Sprint Cup Series Daytona 500, as well as five races in the Nationwide Series.

“I’m honored to represent American Ethanol. I not only talk about American Ethanol, I truly believe in it,” Wallace said. “I’ve been to the farms, I’ve met the families, I’ve been to the ethanol plants, and I’ve been in the hallways of the U.S. Senate in Washington, D.C., in support of it.” (Listen to a prior interview with Wallace)

“Through our partnerships with Austin Dillon and Kenny Wallace, we are telling NASCAR and its fans that American Ethanol is committed to the sport,” said Growth Energy CEO Tom Buis. “These drivers are ideal ambassadors for the American Ethanol team and will help tell the story of how American-made ethanol creates jobs, cleans our air and fosters energy independence.”

Representing a wide array of ethanol supporters, from farmers to bio-engineering firms, American Ethanol was established by Growth Energy and NCGA with NASCAR starting with the 2011 racing season, the same year that NASCAR switched its fuel to Sunoco Green E15.

Listen to prior interviews with Childress, Growth Energy and NCGA.

Texas Corn Producers Board member Wesley Spurlock of Stratford has been speaking to groups across the Midwest explaining how U.S. corn farmers continue to grow a crop abundant enough to meet all growing demands and he has gained attention from industry publications looking to find the truth behind the headlines.

“To put it simply, growth in demand from the ethanol industry has mirrored an increase in productivity that yields larger corn crops,” Spurlock said. “We are still supplying the livestock industry with the corn that they need for feed, but we now have a market that utilizes an increasingly abundant resource to help solve our energy problems also.”

Listen to an interview with Sprulock in the National Corn Growers Association’s podcast series “Off the Cob” discussing how corn farmers are growing a larger crop on the land already in production while decreasing inputs used. During this interview, he also discusses the innovations facilitating increased yield trends, how the Texas drought plays a major role in recent cattle industry shifts, and the amazing story of modern American agriculture.

“This ruling reaffirms our position that the state of California violated the U.S. Constitution when it created a low carbon fuel standard punitive to farmers and ethanol producers outside of the state’s border,” said National Corn Growers Association President Garry Niemeyer. “Corn farmers are good stewards and advocates for thoughtful, fair strategies that will improve our environment through the advancement of biofuels. We hope that this ruling will lead to an inclusive discussion where regulators join other stakeholders to find effective renewable energy solutions.”

The judge ruled that the LCFS discriminates against out-of-state corn-derived ethanol and impermissibly regulates extraterritorial conduct and that the California Air Resources Board (CARB) failed to establish that there are no alternative methods to advance its goals of reducing GHG emissions to combat global warming.

The groups, which includ Growth Energy, the Renewable Fuels Association, the American Coalition for Ethanol and the National Corn Growers Association, oppose a proposal by Sullivan and Peters to include language in the FY12 omnibus appropriations package that would prohibit the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) from using any appropriated funds to implement the E15 waiver.

The Sullivan-Peters proposed language — which did not receive a vote during this year’s appropriations process or a hearing in the Energy and Commerce Committee — is aimed at derailing and altering the long-standing process by which new fuel blends are brought into the marketplace. The EPA approved E15 after a more exhaustive study and data collection than any other of the 11 previously-approved fuel waiver petitions.

The letter from the organizations noted that “preventing the EPA from implementing the use of E15 for cars, pickups and SUVs made in model year 2001 and newer, further contributes to our nation’s reliance on foreign oil. Extensive testing has been done on E15 and it has been found to be a safe and effective fuel for use in the vehicles approved in the waiver. There has been no evidence to the contrary that would indicate problems in any vehicle regardless of vintage.”

Further, the EPA’s decision does not make E15 mandatory. Consumers are not required to use E15. Gas stations will not be required to sell E15. And the EPA will require a fuel label that clearly delineates that using E15 in model year 2000 vehicles, small engines and marine engines is illegal.

Lastly, the Sullivan-Peters language would inhibit new and innovative alternatives to fossil fuels. We are looking toward cutting-edge innovation to move to new ethanol feedstocks, like plant wastes, wood chips and switchgrass. The Sullivan-Peters language would solidify the status quo-a 90 percent mandate of our fuel supply from oil and would prevent American-made ethanol from being made available to consumers.

It was one year ago last week at the NASCAR Champions Week in Las Vegas that American Ethanol was announced, a partnership that includes Growth Energy and the National Corn Growers Association.

Throughout the 2011 NASCAR season, every race car and truck in the Sprint, Nationwide and Camping World Truck series ran on Sunoco Green E15 as part of the American Ethanol partnership. And every race weekend, NASCAR’s newest special award, the American Ethanol Green Flag Restart Award was given to the participating driver who recorded the fastest average speed on restarts and who finished the race on the lead lap – a reminder of American Ethanol’s dedication to NASCAR’s green initiatives.

At this year’s Champions Week in Las Vegas, Growth Energy CEO Tom Buis gave an overall award to No. 17 driver Matt Kenseth for winning the Green Flag the most times in the 2011 season.

“I appreciate American Ethanol and Growth Energy and Sunoco for making such a great fuel this year,” Kenseth said when he accepted the award. “It worked great, it’s been good for the environment, it’s been good for NASCAR and we appreciated being a part of it.”

According to NASCAR officials and drivers, the E15 fuel blend has met and surpassed expectations – providing increased horsepower with minimal decrease in mileage. In fact, NASCAR’s 2011 Million Mile Report, proved that NASCAR racing vehicles accumulated more than a million miles of practice, qualifying and racing laps on E15 without any problems.

Back in August, the Green Scissors Project identified ways the federal government could shave $380 billion from the federal budget over five years. But their $380 billion in proposed cuts included a major error that accounts for more that 10 percent of their suggested cuts – $38.8 billion that they argued the Volumetric Ethanol Excise Tax Credit would otherwise cost between 2012 and 2016. They conveniently ignored the important fact that there will be no VEETC between those years. VEETC expires about a month from now, and corn growers and the ethanol industry have long agreed to let it expire and have since stopped fighting for its renewal.

Let the record show that NCGA and our allies in the ethanol industry have left the playing field on this issue long ago and moved on. Those who continue to play are only showing their own foolishness by not realizing that there is no opponent still on the field and the game was called long ago. It’s time to work together on smart energy policies that promote our domestic economy and energy security.

The No. 33 Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet race car will feature a special-edition American Ethanol paint scheme at the race and will be driven by American Ethanol spokesman and recent Talladega race winner Clint Bowyer. In addition, the American Ethanol brand will be featured on-track and accompanied with a broadcast in-car camera on Sunday.

“This branded race car design raises American Ethanol’s profile in a powerful way, especially coming off Clint Bowyer’s win last week in Talladega,” said Tom Buis, CEO of Growth Energy. American Ethanol is a partnership between NASCAR, Growth Energy, and the National Corn Growers Association.

National Corn Growers Association NASCAR Advisory Committee Chair Martin Barbre says they are excited about the high profile ethanol will have in the upcoming race. “Of course, we again congratulate our spokesman on his major victory last week. Now, tens of millions of fans across the country will be keyed into Clint as he again shows the incredible performance of E15 as it fuels him back into victory lane again.”

All NASCAR series races this year have been powered by 15% ethanol. “The transition to E15 has been seamless and overwhelmingly positive for myself and my team, and I am honored to have American Ethanol on the No. 33 Chevrolet this weekend,” said Bowyer. “I support American farmers as they strive to develop energy independence for our country and I look forward to representing American Ethanol both on and off the track this weekend at Martinsville.”

The Martinsville Speedway Sprint Cup Series race will be on ESPN beginning at 1:30 Eastern at Martinsville (Virginia) Speedway.

Bowyer, a Kansas native, paired up with Richard Childress Racing teammate Jeff Burton as a draft-push partner in the closing laps and then jumped out in front of Burton in the final lap of the 188 lap race. It was Bowyer’s first win of 2011 and his fifth career victory.

The win also marked the 100th Sprint Cup Series win for Richard Childress Racing and its sixth win of 2011—the most of any Cup team.

After the race, Bowyer, whose contract with RCR ends at the end of this season said, “It’s just so important for me to be able to cap off such a good relationship with Richard. Everybody at RCR, it’s like family over there. Meant a lot for me to be able to win before we end this deal.”

American Ethanol is a partnership between NASCAR, Growth Energy, the National Corn Growers Association to promote domestically-produced ethanol. All NASCAR series races this year have been powered by 15% ethanol. The seventh race in the season-ending Chase championship will be next Sunday at Martinsville (Virginia) Speedway.

The organizations were reacting to a bill introduced by Representatives Bob Goodlatte (R-VA) and Jim Costa (D-CA) that would reduce or eliminate the volumes of renewable fuel use required by the Renewable Fuels Standard (RFS) based upon corn stocks-to-use ratios.

The groups point to a recent analysis by economists at the University of Wisconsin and Iowa State University that found growth in ethanol production reduced gasoline prices by an average of $0.25 per gallon, or 16 percent, over the entire decade of 2000-2010. “In 2010, for example, the authors found that the use of ethanol reduced wholesale gasoline prices by an average of $0.89 per gallon,” the letter stated, adding that the result of an immediate reduction in ethanol output “would be a dramatic increase in U.S. gasoline prices and the resulting increase in U.S. gasoline imports would also cause world gasoline prices to increase in the short run.”

Speaking to concerns over high corn prices, the groups wrote, “Numerous studies have concluded that the RFS is a minor contributor to corn prices. The most recent study, a July 2011 analysis commissioned by the International Centre for Trade and Sustainable Development, found that corn prices would have been exactly the same in 2009/10 if both the RFS and Volumetric Ethanol Excise Tax Credit (VEETC) had not existed.”

The groups are the American Coalition for Ethanol (ACE), the American Farm Bureau Federation (AFBF), Growth Energy, the National Corn Growers Association (NCGA), the National Farmers Union (NFU), the National Sorghum Producers, and the Renewable Fuels Association (RFA).

More analysis on the issue can be found on the RFA E-xchange Blog.

The “One Million Competition Miles on Sunoco Green E15” report, released today in Washington D.C., shows the qualities of E15 as a racing fuel this first year of use in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series™, NASCAR Nationwide Series™ and NASCAR Camping World Truck Series™. With more than 1.3 million miles accumulated in practice, qualifying and racing laps in NASCAR racing vehicles since the racing season began in February with the Daytona 500, the report details the performance of mid-level ethanol blends.

“Before NASCAR switched its fuel to Sunoco Green E15 at the start of the 2011 racing season, there was extensive analysis and deep consideration about the decision,” said Mike Lynch, Managing Director of Green Innovation for NASCAR. “Successfully transitioning to the new fuel and surpassing a million miles, all on America’s toughest proving ground, is a validation of Sunoco Green E15 as a high-performance racing fuel and is part of our overall effort to go green. NASCAR is proud to use this American-made product because it creates American jobs while also reducing harmful emissions.”

NASCAR’s switch to 15% ethanol fuel came together from a partnership with American Ethanol, established by Growth Energy and the National Corn Growers Association (NCGA).

“It is time we moved forward with E15. This is yet another testament to E15’s value as a fuel. If E15 can fuel the dozens of drivers in dozens of different vehicles every weekend without issue, then it stands to reason that E15 can be used in everyday street cars by everyday Americans,” said Tom Buis, CEO of Growth Energy.

“E15 is performing like champ in the most rigorous driving conditions on the planet and that’s good news for everyone who supports renewable fuels,” said NCGA president Bart Schott.

Read the report here.

The package includes two tickets to the race, as well as a personal visit with racing legend Jeff Gordon. Only members of NCGA who sign up for NASCAR-NCGA’s Fuel for Members Program before 12 p.m. central time this Friday, Aug. 5 will be entered for the drawing to win.

NCGA is part of the American Ethanol partnership with NASCAR, which began racing on 15% ethanol this season.

“The Environmental Protection Agency has been thorough in its work on the E15 waiver request and several outside researchers have been evaluating and analyzing E15 and other blends for a number of years,” said National Corn Growers Association (NCGA) President Bart Schott. “While EPA will have someone there to testify, the remainder of those on the list of witnesses testifying have a long-standing history of being critical of corn-based ethanol at any level. This is an extremely unbalanced panel and it is easy to see why some consider this hearing to be a sham.”

Those set to testify at the hearing this afternoon include representatives from the American Petroleum Institute, Environmental Working Group, Evinrude Outboard Motors, National Chicken Council, and the Outdoor Power Equipment Institute. Only one witness, Steven Burke with the Biofuels Center of North Carolina, will be representing the ethanol industry.

“This hearing pretends to look at the science behind E15,” Schott said. “We have a hard time understanding what makes the National Chicken Council or the Environmental Working Group scientific experts on the safety and efficiency of automotive fuels in modern internal combustion engines.”

The Renewable Fuels Association (RFA) is also questioning the witness list for today’s hearing. “This is little more than a congressionally-sanctioned witch hunt for those with an axe to grind against farmers and ethanol producers,” said RFA President and CEO Bob Dinneen. The RFA sent a letter to committee leadership to provide the ethanol industry’s point of view as it is not represented on the panel.

The hearing will be held at 2 pm Eastern time.

“It’s more of an award for the people that I work with, the farmers, our leaders, our great staff, the state groups,” said Rick Tolman after accepting the ethanol industry’s High Octane Award. “I think it reflects how committed we are to this industry, how much we have gotten engaged and involved.”

One way that NCGA has gotten involved in a big way in the promotion of ethanol recently is the commitment to the American Ethanol NASCAR program, which Tolman says has exceeded his expectations. “I think it’s one of the best things we’ve ever done,” he said. “It still has real potential to be a game changer for ethanol.”

Tolman says that NASCAR has proven to be a wonderful partner. “When they first came to us 2-3 years ago, I was impressed then that they did their homework. They knew the myths and the misinformation,” Tolman said. “They’ve been first class from day one.”

Listen to or download an interview with Rick Tolman here: Rick Tolman Interview

2011 FEW Photo Album

Our coverage of the 2011 Fuel Ethanol Workshop sponsored by the Renewable Fuels Association.

Our morning session includes a conversation between NASCAR CEO Brian France and Growth Energy CEO Tom Buis. That’s taking place now. I will also have that posted later today as well.

Post Update: Here are Rick’s comments from this morning’s award presentation. Rick Tolman Award Remarks

2011 FEW Photo Album

Our coverage of the 2011 Fuel Ethanol Workshop is being made possible by the Renewable Fuels Association.

When asked during the post-race press conference about NASCAR using 15% ethanol fuel this year, Keselowski said he applauded NASCAR for its green initiative. “It’s just an added benefit that (ethanol) comes from America,” he said. “That’s really cool.”

Fuel saving was what won the race for Keselowski and crew chief Paul Wolfe says he’s seen no change in performance since the series switched to 15% ethanol this year. “Seemed to be a pretty good fuel for us today,” he said.

Team owner Roger Penske is pleased with the NASCAR move to ethanol. “The reliability is there, the fuel mileage is there and you can see the performance, so I think it’s a win-win for everyone,” said Penske.

Listen to the STP 400 winning team talk about ethanol here: Brad Keselowski, Roger Penske and Paul Wolfe

See all the race photos here: American Ethanol at NASCAR Sprint Cup STP 400

Despite media attention regarding an “incident” between him and driver Kyle Busch on Saturday, Richard Childress was happy to come by the American Ethanol tent Sunday and voice his support for corn farmers and the domestically produced fuel.

“I’m a farmer myself and I understand the livelihood of farmers and I think it’s great for America what they are doing to help us not to have to depend on as much foreign energy,” he said. “I hope some day we can run it all on ethanol.”

Childress believes there is a good possibility that NASCAR could go to an even higher ethanol blend than the 15% started this year. “We tested the 30 and it ran really well but I think NASCAR wants to ease into it with fuel injection coming,” he added.

The American Ethanol paint job decorated the No. 33 Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet driven by Clint Bowyer at Kansas Speedway on Sunday.

Listen to my interview with Richard Childress here: Richard Childress Supports Ethanol

See all the race photos here: American Ethanol at NASCAR Sprint Cup STP 400

I talked with National Corn Growers Association president Bart Schott (right) of North Dakota and NCGA chairman Darrin Ihnen of South Dakota who were at the Sprint Cup Series STP 400 at the Kansas Speedway Sunday where American Ethanol was prominently displayed.

“This is the kick off and we’ve been waiting for it to come,” said Schott. “NASCAR has an 80 million fan base that is getting some real positive messages on burning a higher blend of ethanol.” All NASCAR series are running this season on a 15 percent ethanol blend.

Ihnen says they have a great representation at the race from corn farmers and ethanol producers, and they are getting a great message out to the fans with a big American Ethanol exhibit, especially when it comes to making the country less dependent on foreign oil. “The NASCAR fans, when they were polled, energy security is one of their major concerns,” said Ihnen.

Both Schott and Ihnen noted American corn growers are very able to grow enough corn to meet demand for all needs, including ethanol, despite weather issues. Schott says he has all his corn planted for the season while Ihnen does not, but he’s not worried. “It’s a long season,” Darrin said.

Listen to my interview with Bart Schott and Darrin Ihnen here: National Corn Growers at Kansas Speedway

See all the race photos here: American Ethanol at NASCAR Sprint Cup STP 400

The American Ethanol logo and paint scheme are not only on Clint Bowyer’s No. 33 Chevrolet, fans are also seeing the American Ethanol logo along the backstretch wall of the 1.5-mile Kansas Speedway to spotlight the partnership between the National Corn Growers, ethanol and NASCAR.

About 1200 farmers and ethanol producers from all over the Midwest are here today to cheer on Bowyer, following his first place win Saturday in the Camping World Truck Series. All NASCAR series are running this season on a 15 percent ethanol blend, so no matter who crosses the finish line, ethanol and America are both winners.

See all the race photos here: American Ethanol at NASCAR Sprint Cup STP 400

Growth Energy CEO Tom Buis is busy doing media interviews this morning, including a live shot with Fox News. “There’s no sport more American than NASCAR, and no fuel more American than domestic ethanol,” said Tom Buis, CEO of Growth Energy. “People in Kansas know the benefits of using ethanol as a fuel – from cleaning the air to creating jobs to fostering national energy independence. We’re pleased to raise the green American Ethanol flag in the heartland of America.”

Listen to my interview with Tom here: Tom Buis at Kansas Speedway

Introducing the bill, Grassley said the Domestic Energy Promotion Act of 2011 would reduce the VEETC for a two year period before transitioning to a tax credit that would adjust based on the price of oil. “When crude oil is more than $90 a barrel, there will be no blenders’ credit. When crude oil is $50 and below, the blenders’ credit will be 30 cents,” Grassley said. “When oil prices are high, a natural incentive should exist in the market to drive ethanol use.”

The bill would also improve upon current tax credits for the installation of blender pumps and ethanol fueling infrastructure as well as extend tax credits for small ethanol producers, advanced and cellulosic ethanol.

The American Coalition for Ethanol (ACE), Growth Energy, the National Corn Growers Association (NCGA), and the Renewable Fuels Association (RFA) issued a joint statement praising the legislation:

“This legislation rightfully recognizes budget constraints by reforming the ethanol tax credit and significantly reducing its cost. Additionally, this bill would improve current tax credits for the installation of blender pumps offering higher level ethanol blends and provide Americans more choice when they fill up. Critically, this legislation would also ensure progress made to commercialize advanced ethanol technologies utilizing new feedstocks such as grasses and municipal solid waste is accelerated. We thank these senators for their leadership in introducing this bill and look forward to working with them through the legislative process that ultimately ends with the President’s signature.”

The bill contrasts sharply with legislation introduced yesterday by Sens. Tom Coburn (R-OK) and Dianne Feinstein (D-CA) that would eliminate the U.S. tax credit for ethanol and the tariff on ethanol imports, a move that, based on a new report, the industry contends would result in significantly higher gasoline prices.

Also expected to speak were some of the organizations who have been outspoken for several years against the ethanol tax credit (VEETC) that actually goes to the blender of record, not to the ethanol industry, as well as the “food and fuel” debate. These groups included the International Food Policy Research Institute, Environmental Working Group and Taxpayers for Common Sense.

The ethanol industry responded to the forum with one voice. The Renewable Fuels Association, Growth Energy, the National Corn Growers Association and American Coalition for Ethanol released a statement. The organizations also noted that according to the Institute for Local Self Reliance, 75 cents of every dollar spent on biofuels re‐circulates through the local economy while 75 cents of every dollar spent on oil exits the local economy and, in most cases, the country.

“Any energy policy forum must include comprehensive and adult conversations about America’s entire energy agenda, including subsidies and other supportive policies for mature and aging technologies like petroleum. Unfortunately, it is unlikely this ‘forum’ will include any of those discussions. Rather, this is yet another example of defenders of the status quo wasting the time of Congress focusing on bogus claims against the ethanol industry instead of finding solutions to the real problems.

“Anyone who has filled a gas tank the last few months has unwittingly witnessed the prime cause of soaring prices for all consumer goods, especially food. The last time corn and food prices rose, the Congressional Budget Office found that factors other than biofuels were responsible for as much as 90 percent of the hike. The World Bank and the government of the United Kingdom have concluded that speculation and energy prices were chief drivers of the 2007-08 spikes in commodity and food prices. How anyone can point fingers at farmers for driving up food prices when they receive less than 12 cents of every food dollar defies common sense.

“Ethanol is the only viable solution we have today to help with our country’s energy security and independence. Today, when it can easily cost over $50 to fill a gas tank, critics would be wise to remember that domestic ethanol actually has helped motorists by lowering gas prices by estimates as high as 40 cents per gallon. To put it in even better perspective, the value of the crude oil displaced by U.S. ethanol amounted to $34 billion in 2010 – money that stayed in the American economy. In the end, that’s the best way to support food and energy security, not through holding make-believe one-sided policy forums.”

This beat-down occurred during his speech at the Council on Foreign Relations (CFR) in New York and was published by The Independent. During his presentation he said, “Today, 35 per cent of US corn goes into biofuel. From an environmental point of view this is a nonsense, but more so when we are running out of food in the rest of the world.”

Brabeck-Latmathe continued, “It is absolutely immoral to push hundreds of millions of people into hunger and into extreme poverty because of such a policy, so I think – I insist – no food for fuel.”

The fuel versus food debate has been raging for several years. For each report that debunks the theory, another is published that places primary blame on rising food costs at the feet of America’s corn and ethanol industries. Yet, scores of economists have publicly acknowledged while there are dozens of factors that affect food prices, the current spike is being driven by speculators, a global increase in demand for protein and the unrest in the Middle East to name a few reasons.

National Corn Growers President Bart Schott responded to Brabeck-Letmathe’s comments. “It is scandalous, ludicrous and highly irresponsible for the chairman of a global conglomerate that tripled its profits last year to talk about higher corn prices forcing millions into starvation. Perhaps if Nestle is so concerned about food prices, its board will consider putting more of their $35.7 billion in 2010 profits back into poor communities. Just their profits alone represent more than half the entire farm value of the 2010 U.S. corn crop.”

Schott continued, “It’s time for the food processing industry, which has been using higher grain prices to justify its price increases, to explain to hungry families why they have to eat less so those who can afford company stock can make more money. Profiteering off world hunger needs to end, and that is what is truly immoral. If there is a ‘food versus fuel’ crisis it exists because families are being forced to decide which of the two they can afford, gasoline from Big Oil or food from companies like these. That’s something I challenge Nestle to step forward and help alleviate. They certainly can afford it.”

Ironically, Nestle has its own brand problems – especially related to its use of water resources (Brabeck-Letmathe accused the biofuels industry of using too much water) and links to baby deaths in Africa and Burma as a result of its infant formula. In 2007, Brabeck-Letmathe was given the “Black Planet Award” for the company’s “irresponsible marketing of baby food contaminated by genetically manipulated nutrition, their tolerance of child labour and monopolisation of water resources.”

Today, Nestle is actively lobbying for European leaders to curb their biofuels policy even in the wake of many country’s commitments to reducing CO2 emissions.

So what lesson have we learned here? Maybe you should have a clean plate before you start throwing food at others.

Grassley said today during his weekly agricultural media conference call that there are two ways the vote can be avoided. “Either talking him out of it, or denying unanimous consent to bring it up, and I think we can do the latter,” he said. Grassley say he is trying to “reason with” Coburn and urge him to take up the issue within the context of energy legislation so to “have ethanol be viewed as part of an overall energy program” instead of having it be part of the spending bill debate.

According to Grassley, Coburn says he has 55 votes. “He probably needs 60 votes. I think we can probably keep him from getting 60 votes. But, quite frankly, I don’t want anybody on record, if we can avoid it, on the ethanol issue until we get down to discussing it as part of the energy debate.”

Listen to Grassley’s comments in answer to a question by Dan Looker of Successful Farming. Sen. Grassley

Meanwhile, as the future of the VEETC remains unsure in Congress, ethanol interests are reportedly in negotiations on a proposal for moving beyond the VEETC. According to DTN/The Progressive Farmer, representatives from the American Coalition for Ethanol, Growth Energy, National Corn Growers Association and Renewable Fuels Association have been working on a compromise proposal this week, getting input from lawmakers in Washington.

This year’s publication, available online now, highlights the wide variety of roles that farmers must play, from environmentalist to technology geek, in order to ensure that both their farm and their industry as a whole continue to meet growing demand in a sustainable manner. A special edition of the World of Corn featuring statistics in metric measurements will soon follow.

“Corn fuels nations around the world; as a food ingredient, a feedstock, a fuel, a fiber, an ingredient in building materials and pharmaceuticals, and beyond,” NCGA President Bart Schott and Chief Executive Officer Rick Tolman note in the introduction. “It is possibly the most versatile crop in the world, and demand is at an all-time high. Most importantly, we are fortunate to have enough corn for all needs and all customers around the globe.”

World of Corn Online

In a letter sent to Vilsack this week, the Governors’ Biofuels Coalition urged the change to reflect the fact that corn for ethanol usage produces livestock feed in the form of distillers grains in addition to ethanol. They argue that USDA’s current reporting methods distort the actual picture and provide ammunition for food versus fuel attacks on ethanol.

“In recent days, some pundits have even gone so far as to blame ethanol for the destabilization in Egypt,” wrote Kansas Gov. Sam Brownback and Minnesota Gov. Mark Dayton in the letter representing the coalition. “Unfortunately, USDA’s monthly corn supply and demand reports provide support for this sensationalized reporting because they identify “corn demand for ethanol” without immediately noting this is gross demand, and not the net use of the starch portion of the corn kernel. This overstates the use of corn for ethanol by as much as a factor of two or more, and fails to inform the public about what is truly happening in the food and fuel supply chain.”

National Corn Growers Association President Bart Schott agrees with the governors’ assessment. “People are exaggerating the amount of corn that goes into ethanol,” Schott said. “While we are proud of the role ethanol plays in creating jobs, improving the environment and growing energy independence, we want to ensure that an accurate representation is made of the important work our growers are doing to meet all needs – for feed and food as well as for fuel.”

Read the letter here.

U.S. Senators Tom Coburn (R-OK) and Ben Cardin (D-MD) this week introduced the repeal as an amendment to the small business reauthorization bill, currently under consideration in the Senate. “The ethanol tax credit is bad economic policy, bad energy policy and bad environmental policy,” said Coburn in a release on the amendment. “I’m hopeful my colleagues on both sides of the aisle will take a stand against business-as-usual special interest giveaways and eliminate this wasteful and harmful subsidy.”

The Renewable Fuels Association (RFA), Growth Energy and the National Corn Growers Association (NCGA) are all hopeful they will not, issuing their own releases urging the defeat of the amendment unless oil subsidies are eliminated as well.

From RFA: “Given Senator Coburn’s interest in what he deems unnecessary subsidies, we would encourage him to offer an amendment that would eliminate subsidies to oil companies posting tens of billions of dollars in profit quarterly. In lieu of that, the RFA urges the Senate to ignore this frivolous amendment.”

“We urge defeat of Sen. Coburn’s amendment as it is inequitable to have a debate about tax policy for one energy source—homegrown renewable fuels –without having that same debate about tax breaks for other competitive energy sources, including oil and gas. While we welcome a debate about future energy tax policy it should go through the appropriate tax committees and not on the whims of a senator from a major oil producing state,” said Growth Energy CEO Tom Buis.

NCGA President Bart Schott said, “We are disappointed that Senator Coburn is singling out the ethanol industry in his amendment to immediately repeal the Volumetric Ethanol Excise Tax Credit (VEETC) while tax credits to the oil and gas industries remained untouched. The American ethanol industry provides and supports 400,000 jobs here in the United States during a time of economic uncertainty. In addition, in the past year alone, ethanol added more than $50 billion to the national Gross Domestic Product and displaced the need for more than 360 million barrels of imported oil, valued at $16 billion.”

There is currently no vote scheduled on the amendment. Last December, Congress extended the tax incentive for ethanol use until the end of this year.

“Getting to know the hard working family farmers of this country has been a fantastic experience for me,” Wallace said. “I’m so excited to be a spokesperson for them, sharing true knowledge about what they do and the products and food that are made from their crops. The best part is that I’ve come to understand that our nation’s farmers are just like you and me. They want what’s best for their families, just like us. And like me as a NASCAR driver, they are responsible for their own work and take that responsibility very seriously. I’m humbled that they’ve chosen me to be an advocate for them with dedicated racing fans.”

The agricultural and ethanol industry joined together with NASCAR to further the message of ethanol’s benefits – a message that is expected to reach more than 80 million people throughout the season.

“We are thrilled to welcome Kenny Wallace as an official spokesman for American Ethanol on behalf of America’s green, clean alternative fuel component. Kenny is one of the most visible and popular drivers in Nationwide,” said Bart Schott, National Corn Growers Association president. “He comes from Missouri and truly appreciates the important role of corn farmers in providing consumers with a domestic fuel choice.”

Tom Buis, CEO of Growth Energy added, “RAB Racing with Brack Maggard and Kenny Wallace are great additions to the American Ethanol team. His enthusiasm for ethanol is obvious so he is a great spokesperson to carry ethanol’s positive messages of creating American jobs, cleaner air, and strengthening our national security by making our nation more energy independent.”