Colorado Ag Groups Defend Corn Prices
Posted: August 20, 2007
After hearing national media coverage citing ethanol as the reason for higher grocery costs, Colorado Corn Growers, Colorado Farm Bureau and Ag Commissioner John Stulp decided to take a stand. Several Denver media outlets featured the story. You can see their coverage using the following links!
“Farmers Defend Themselves Amid Growing Prices” – This is a KCNC News 4 story by Mike Hooker. In the story he writes, “Colorado agricultural leaders say the special interest groups, who want to put the ethanol business out to pasture, are misleading the public.
“They want the American public to think that they’re going to have to decide between food or fuel,” Troy Brendenkamp with the Colorado Agricultural Council said.
Fighting back, Colorado ag leaders called a news conference Thursday. They praised U.S. farmers and said corn growers aren’t getting a windfall from ethanol when production cost increases like labor and, particularly, the spike in fuel costs are considered.”
“Colorado corn growers address grocery prices” – This is a 9News.com story by TaRhonda Thomas. In the story she writes, “”The national media would have you believe the increased demand for corn… is responsible for increases in everything from apples to zucchini,” said Mark Sponsler, executive director of the Colorado Corn Growers Association. “The real impact of the corn for fuel industry is much less significant than some would have you believe.”
“They ignore the impact of petroleum and higher energy costs on production, manufacturing, transportation, packaging, utilities and the fact that wages account for more than sixty percent of every dollar spent at the grocery store,” said Sponsler.”
