Difficult but Important Conversation at a Craft Fair

by Holly Jessen (Ethanol Producer Magazine) Talking to someone that has negative views about the ethanol industry isn't always easy. But if the conversation stays respectful it's possible for both parties to come away with a little better understanding of the other's perspective.
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This turkey farmer is firmly against anything where the government tells private citizens what they have to do. He mentioned ObamaCare as his prime example. In his mind, the renewable fuel standard (RFS) amounts to the government telling private citizens they must purchase ethanol. On that, I completely and wholeheartedly disagree. Without the RFS, the petroleum industry has what amounts to a monopoly. This is big business giving the consumer one choice and only one choice at the gas pump--fossil fuels. Why should they diversify the liquid fuel supply when they are raking in the profits right and left? Even if it’s good for the U.S., increases our energy security, makes the fuel supply more environmentally friendly and helps lower gas prices at the pump, Big Oil wouldn’t blend ethanol if they weren’t required to do it.
I believe the RFS is about providing consumers choice at the gas pump.
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One of the most interesting parts of our conversation was when he told me that livestock producers would be just as hard hurt, or perhaps harder hit, by corn prices going down drastically. READ MORE