Comments on: Ethanol Production and Water Use http://corncommentary.com/2007/09/26/ethanol-production-and-water-use/ The blog about corn farming and American agriculture Thu, 24 Jul 2008 04:20:59 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.3.3 By: Julie Gay http://corncommentary.com/2007/09/26/ethanol-production-and-water-use/#comment-190 Julie Gay Tue, 09 Oct 2007 19:03:42 +0000 http://corncommentary.com/2007/09/26/ethanol-production-and-water-use/#comment-190 I am an agricultural futurist. The following questions should be added to the NCGA's recent challenge to discuss the real issues involving ethanol: 1. No matter what the feedstock is (except maybe wood) farmers will be needed for production. How can we best guarantee the freedom to do so? 2. No matter what the biomass source is, it's production will be influenced by local soil and water conservation rules, which , in turn, will be highly influenced by environmentalists/conservationists. Will they be friends or enemies? 3. The giant oil and ag industry companies continue to real;ize huge profits from farm production. But the same companies are driving up farmers' production costs. Is it time to address this irony? 4. Farm commodity groups are funding research that, in turn, benefits the giant ag companies. The giant ag companies are joining with the giant oil companies in the biofuels market. Would farmers benefits themselves m ore if checkoff dollars were spent in other arenas? 5. Government programs will change with the new farm bill, but not solely because of biofuels. The major force of change for farmers is and will be fuel policies. How can famrers reconcile the difference? 6. Should national farm groups be involved in the development of the U.S. fuel policy or the development of the farmers' best position within the policy? I am an agricultural futurist. The following questions should be added to the NCGA’s recent challenge to discuss the real issues involving ethanol:

1. No matter what the feedstock is (except maybe wood) farmers will be needed for production. How can we best guarantee the freedom to do so?

2. No matter what the biomass source is, it’s production will be influenced by local soil and water conservation rules, which , in turn, will be highly influenced by environmentalists/conservationists. Will they be friends or enemies?

3. The giant oil and ag industry companies continue to real;ize huge profits from farm production. But the same companies are driving up farmers’ production costs. Is it time to address this irony?

4. Farm commodity groups are funding research that, in turn, benefits the giant ag companies. The giant ag companies are joining with the giant oil companies in the biofuels market. Would farmers benefits themselves m ore if checkoff dollars were spent in other arenas?

5. Government programs will change with the new farm bill, but not solely because of biofuels. The major force of change for farmers is and will be fuel policies. How can famrers reconcile the difference?

6. Should national farm groups be involved in the development of the U.S. fuel policy or the development of the farmers’ best position within the policy?

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