Ethanol “Roughed” By “Big Game” Ads

BLOOMINGTON – Big Oil dollars were on display during the Super Bowl, with oil company funding behind advertisements derisive of ethanol during the “Big Game” on Sunday, February 3rd. Ads making false claims about ethanol and specifically E-15 were paid for by Big Oil interests to muddle the truth about America’s homegrown, renewable fuel for consumers, according to a “Daily Update” email from Illinois Corn.

IL Corn wants consumers to know that in spite of egregiously false claims made against ethanol during the Big Game– or on Fox News and USA today– the following represents the truth: 1) E-15, currently available at only a dozen or so pumps in the U.S. as of press time– is a fuel choice for motorists, not a government mandate for all vehicles. 2) Ford and GM cover E-15 under warranty in their new vehicles. 3) Regular gasoline has contained 10 percent ethanol for nearly three decades, with generations of drivers using the fuel successfully, and 95 percent of U.S. gasoline contains 10 percent ethanol. 4) Currently, ethanol is 45 cents cheaper than gas at wholesale levels, before blenders add their fees.

Expert: Ethanol Attacks Rooted in Profits

PEORIA – This reporter turned to a longtime associate with more than two decades involvement in the development and promotion of the biofuels industry about the interest Big Oil has in suppressing ethanol use, and why they used the pulpit of the Big Game to spread their message. My source agreed to speak openly and honestly, albeit anonymously.

“Why would somebody trot out a story as ludicrous as ethanol being responsible for a shortage of chicken wings for the (Big Game)?” the source asked rhetorically. “Big oil has fought the development of ethanol since its inception, sometimes behind the scenes in a subversive way and at other times in a very flagrant manner, with little or no lasting push-back from the public and insufficient action from Congress, government agencies and even state elected officials. The issue of the day continues to shift and evolve but the goal remains the same– maintain control of the supply and distribution of world energy sources in as few hands as possible, and with it control of the profits.”

To ascertain who stands to benefit from a diminished ethanol presence in the U.S. market, my source suggests simply following the money trail. “If the ethanol market continues to shrink, who benefits?” the source said. “Whether it is the oil industry, car manufacturers, or small engine makers their ultimate goal is profitability. For petroleum it is about losing market share. For others in related industries it is about delaying changes in fuels and related technologies because of an aversion to making additional investments and-or irrational concerns related to potential liability.

“Fear continues to be the most powerful motivator and comments like ‘ethanol makes your food more expensive’ hit us hard and at a very fundamental level even if they are wrong. Making these kinds of charges is like lobbing a hand grenade. They are short, easy to remember and they are backed up by decades of negative propaganda from Big Oil. Refuting there spurious allegations takes a much broader messaging approach and an investment of dollars and organization that ethanol supporters will always have a hard time matching or mustering.”

Annual Crop Survey Released

SPRINGFIELD – Production of corn for grain in Illinois during 2012 fell well behind 2011’s production, as did soybean production, according to the Illinois Annual Crop Summary 2012, released January 29 by the NASS-Illinois Field Office. Corn production totaled 1.286 billion bushels in drought-plagued 2012, far below Illinois farmers’ harvest of 1.947 bushels in 2011. Soybean numbers fell as well, totaling 383, 560 million bushels last year, down 10 percent from 2011 production.

For other commodities, the report noted wheat production was down 140,000 acres from 2011, while sorghum yields decreased by 34 percent and hay production by five percent. Illinois’ oats yield increased by 12 percent over 2011 production, as did potato harvested acreage with 7,400 acres in 2012, up from 6,800 acres. Fresh market sweet corn harvested acreage was down slightly, snap beans for processing were up 23 percent in tonnage, pumpkin production was slightly better with 16,200 acres and 5.55 million cwt., apple production was down and peach production was unchanged.

Farm real estate values and cash rents increased in 2012, with the average value of farm real estate increasing by 17.5 percent to $6,700 per acre. Cropland rented for cash average $212 per acre, an increase of $29 per acre over 2011, according to the report.

Soybean Sustainability Survey Coming

BLOOMINGTON –  The Illinois Soybean Association (ISA) is encouraging farmers to complete two National Sustainable Soybean Initiative (NSSI) surveys the will help soybean producers protect market access by proving the environmental, economic and social successes of soybean production. “Sustainability is a growing concern among soybean customers and the global marketplace,” according to Don Guinnip, ISA sustainability chair from Marshall. “These surveys help document that success and measure progress.”

Guinnip, in a news release, defined sustainability as taking care of today’s needs while ensuring future generations can take care of their needs and encompasses environmental, social and economic issues. “We know that impacts on the environment from soybean production have significantly improved in past decades,” he said. “Until recently, there haven’t been widely used methods to track improvements specific to soybean production in our state. The surveys will help develop baseline measures. We can share results with customers to support soybean sales.”

The first 150 farmers will be rewarded ($75) for completing the surveys, which take about 40 minutes to complete and are accessible at www.soysurvey.com. Paper surveys will be mailed to ISA members.

Illinois Farm Fact:

Illinois growers raised 25 million pounds of commercial apples in 2012, down from 33 million in 2011 and 43 million in 2010. (NASS-Illinois Field Office)

(Tim Alexander is a freelance reporter who writes agriculture, news and feature articles for the News Bulletin, Farm World and many other publications.)