Plenty of corn for everyone

Watertown (South Dakota) Public Opinion: The truth of ethanol is there for all to see

Reports of another 13 billion-bushel corn harvest for the United States will raise some eyebrows, especially among those groups who are so concerned about these alleged issues:

Ethanol from corn is causing food prices to increase.

Ethanol from corn is causing farmers to convert non-agriculture land to cropland.

Ethanol from corn is not an efficient renewable fuels source.

Unfortunately for groups opposing ethanol, the truth stands out. Ethanol from corn and other renewable sources is our best hope today for lessening our dependence on oil from nations that despise us.

We will produce an estimated 13.37 billion bushel corn crop this year, the third year in a row we’ve exceeded 13 billion bushels. This year’s harvest, however, will be on nearly 6 million fewer acres than the first 13 billion bushel crop.

In addition, the U.S. farmer, by extracting more corn per acre, is also using less fuel to plant and harvest the corn, making further improvements to the energy efficiency of domestically produced ethanol.

The forces opposed to ethanol are organized, have lots of money and, most of all, play on the ignorance of so many folks.