Debate over food vs. fuel could shift to farmland conservation

Wednesday, July 30, 2008 12:40 AM CDT
By CHRIS LUSVARDI - Herald &Review (Decatur, IL) Staff Writer

DECATUR - One of the state's leading agricultural economists predicted Tuesday that the debate over the cause of rising food prices soon could shift significantly.

The debate catching many consumers' attention recently has pitted food against fuel, but University of Illinois Extension expert Darrel Good expects that could change to a food and fuel vs. conservation debate.

"You haven't seen anything yet," Good told attendees at the Greater Decatur Chamber of Commerce's quarterly Ag Cafe luncheon.Good said that farmers could decide to shift unused acres back into production in an effort to alleviate rising crop prices, he said.

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