Quick Response to Call for Ending Ethanol Incentives

Farm Futures
(11/19/2008)
Jason Vance

Food Before Fuel campaign is attacking corn and ethanol.

On Tuesday several industry groups held a press conference calling for the end of tax incentives, import tariffs and biofuel mandates for ethanol. The event was sponsored by the Food Before Fuel campaign, a coalition of more than 20 groups that includes the National Turkey Federation, the Grocery Manufacturers Association, the American Meat Institute, the National Chicken Council and the National Cattlemen's Beef Association.

"The nation's renewable fuels standard, especially as it relates to corn-based ethanol, is in need of reform," said National Turkey Federation President Joel Brandenberger, who led the press conference. The coalition has asked that ethanol policy be revisited and rethought and were major backers of requests for a reduction of the RFS earlier this year.

Corn and ethanol industry leaders were quick to respond to the group's press event. National Corn Growers Association President Bob Dickey says he is terribly disappointed in the myths that are being put forward as fact blaming high food prices on corn and ethanol.

Read the full story