New column from MCGA President addresses food vs. fuel "debate"

The most recent “Corn Views” column from Minnesota Corn Growers Association President Ryan Buck appeared in the business section of Monday’s Star Tribune.

President Buck’s latest column covered the food vs. fuel “debate.” The word “debate” is in quotation marks because, at this point, it’s obvious that food vs. fuel is no longer a “debate,” more like a myth manufactured by ethanol’s detractors that has been debunked time and time again.

Buck writes:

Despite what the food vs. fuel naysayers will tell you, we’ve been growing enough corn to feed people and fuel our vehicles for a while now. And we’re not taking food off someone’s plate to do it.

For every bushel of corn used to make ethanol, we get 2.8 gallons of fuel and 18 pounds of dried distillers grains, a high-protein livestock feed.

Buck also discussed the role of ethanol and corn prices in what consumers pay at the grocery store:

There are many factors beyond corn prices that influence what you pay for food (and ethanol isn’t one of them). A new report by the Renewable Fuels Association found that even though corn prices have plunged 50 percent since their peak in 2008, food prices have stayed the same or gone up.

Be sure to take a few minutes and read the entire column from Mr. Buck. Then pass the link on to friends and family who continue pointing the finger at ethanol and corn prices leading to higher food prices.

“Corn Views” is a once-per-month column written by the MCGA President and sent to every media outlet in Minnesota. If your local newspaper isn’t running “Corn Views,” encourage them to do so.