Recipe for a Food and Fuel Smear Campaign

Grocery Manufacturers Put Forth Hype

By Rick Tolman
Chief Executive Officer
National Corn Growers Association

Regular readers of this column know I am proponent of biofuels and its benefits to our environment, economy and energy independence – and a proponent of agriculture solutions to help ease our energy woes. I am also an outspoken advocate of representing issues fairly and accurately. (More On This Story)

Imagining a World Without Ethanol

By Rick Tolman
Chief Executive Officer
National Corn Growers Association

When the price of oil hit, and then passed beyond, $100 a barrel, headlines were made. This week, an even more newsworthy headline has surfaced. All it could take is one major disruption and oil can hit $200 a barrel, according to analysts from Goldman Sachs. (More On This Story)

Outshouting the Prophets of Doom

By Rick Tolman
Chief Executive Officer
National Corn Growers Association

When it comes to corn ethanol, the Wall Street Journal has run more than its fair share of critical stories. So we were delighted to open to the Opinion page the other day and read an article that tells it like it is – at least when it comes to those who try to draw a connection between biofuels like corn ethanol and higher food prices. (More On This Story)

True Lies (12-10-07)

By Rick Tolman
Chief Executive Officer, National Corn Growers Association

In a recent issue of Business Week, GM's vice chairman for product development is quoted blasting the American Petroleum Institute (API) and accusing them of running a multi-million dollar smear campaign against ethanol. “They make it sound like ethanol is taking food out of the mouths of babes. According to them, we're going to have taco riots in Mexico because of ethanol” (Click here for the full article). (More On This Story)

Finding the Truth Among the Myths About Corn, Ethanol and Water (11-21-07)

By Rick Tolman
Chief Executive Officer, National Corn Growers Association

Four thousand gallons to produce one bushel of corn! That is according to the U.S. National Geological Survey (USGS), the government agency whose mission it is to provide “reliable scientific information.”  And, on top of that, it takes four gallons of water to process a gallon of ethanol! (More On This Story)

Why are they after us? (10-25-07)

By Rick Tolman
Chief Executive Officer, National Corn Growers Association

When my kids were growing up and I asked them why they had done something, their automatic response was always a simple “Because.” If I wasn’t careful, I’d end up in the frustrating why-because-why-because circle.(More On This Story)

Corn is No “Big Blue Frog” (10-18-07)

By Rick Tolman
Chief Executive Officer, National Corn Growers Association

Folk singers Peter, Paul and Mary were a very popular singing trio in my era.  If you grew up in the 1960s and 70’s, you will remember them as well, particularly their hit song “Puff the Magic Dragon.” (Or that may help explain why you may not remember them or much about that time period. But that is another story for another day.) (More On This Story)

DID YOU KNOW?

NCGA Releases Papers Answering Questions Regarding Corn Demands

Speech to the National Summit on Ag and Food Truck Transport for the Future May 2007

How Much Ethanol Can Come From Corn
NCGA answers the oft-asked question: “How Much Ethanol Can Come From Corn?” in a short paper. The paper explores corn growers’ abilities to meet the demands of the feed, fuel and export markets. To access the paper click here.

U.S. Corn Growers: Producing Food and Fuel
A companion to “How Much Ethanol Can Come From Corn?”, the short paper “U.S. Corn Growers: Producing Food AND Fuel” examines the most common myths that the “food vs. fuel” fallacy is built upon and demonstrates that U.S. corn growers will continue to be reliable suppliers of both food AND fuel. Click here.