Food and Fuel America.com

Tuesday, May 20, 2008

USDA Responds to Food and Fuel Critics

USDA Secretary Ed Schafer said ethanol is not having a "major" impact on food prices, and dismissed recent efforts to repeal programs that promote biofuels.

Schafer told reporters at a USDA press conference Monday that demand for biofuels is having an impact on food prices, "but it is not a major factor."

He said there would be few benefits from changing the renewable fuels standard, reducing the tax credit for producing ethanol as proposed in the farm bill or ending the ethanol import tariff.

"The change in the renewable fuel standard, the change in tariff or duty isn't going to affect food prices," said Schafer. "We need to focus on things that will actually have an effect instead of a short-term political solution."

Sources:

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Monday, May 19, 2008

Getting the Most Out of $4.00 Gas

With gasoline reaching the $4.00 per gallon mark in most of the country, most drivers are looking for ways to save their hard-earned money.

The Department of Energy has several tips for getting the most out of your money. In addition, the USDA just released this audio report on getting the most out of your fuel.

Here are some of the key tips for saving money:

Drive More Efficiently

Stay within posted speed limits. Gas mileage decreases rapidly at speeds above 60 miles per hour.
Stop aggressive driving. You can improve your gas mileage up to five percent around town if you avoid “jackrabbit” starts and stops by anticipating traffic conditions and driving gently.
Avoid unnecessary idling. It wastes fuel, costs you money, and pollutes the air. Turn off the engine if you anticipate a wait.
Combine errands. Several short trips taken from a cold start can use twice as much fuel as one trip covering the same distance when the engine is warm.
Use overdrive gears and cruise control when appropriate. They improve the fuel economy of your car when you’re driving on a highway.
Remove excess weight from the trunk. An extra 100 pounds in the trunk can reduce a typical car’s fuel economy by up to two percent.
Avoid packing items on top of your car. A loaded roof rack or carrier creates wind resistance and can decrease fuel economy by five percent.

Maintain Your Car

Keep your engine tuned. Tuning your engine according to your owner’s manual can increase gas mileage by an average of four percent. Increases vary depending on a car’s condition.
Keep your tires properly inflated and aligned. It can increase gas mileage up to three percent.
Change your oil. According to the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) and Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), you can improve your gas mileage by using the manufacturer’s recommended grade of motor oil. Motor oil that says “Energy Conserving” on the performance symbol of the American Petroleum Institute contains friction-reducing additives that can improve fuel economy.
Check and replace air filters regularly. Replacing clogged filters can increase gas mileage up to ten percent.

Source: FuelEconomy.gov

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Sunday, May 18, 2008

* Food and Fuel Quiz - May 18, 2008 *

Food and Fuel in The News

Weekly Trivia Quiz, May 18, 2008

How good are you at Food and Fuel trivia for the week? Try our new weekly trivia quiz. Answers and scoring below the questions. Post your scores in the comments. Good luck!

1. "The American Petroleum Institute, the industry's main lobby, has embarked on a multiyear, multimedia, multimillion-dollar campaign to do what? a) to increase gasoline refining capacity b) to invest in domestic biofuels research c) to shape and improve Big Oil's public image?

2. The average price of gasoline is HIGHER or LOWER than $3.70 a gallon this week?

3. Higher gasoline prices--$1.50 more per gallon--- may mean about how much more a year (20 gls a week for 1 year)? a) $15.00. b) $150.00 c) $1,500.00

4. Iowa governor Chet Culver signed legislation to allow new pumps for Flex Fuel Vehicles. These pump can dispense fuel different than what two existing blends?

5. Roll Call revealed which national association organized an attack campaign against corn ethanol?

6. Among other things, the campaign blames food cost increases on ethanol. What major cost factor is ignored?

7. A leading senator took to the Senate floor to denounce the stealth campaign. Name him.

8. According to the senator, leading DC lobbyists are leading the efforts to "denigrate the patriotic achievement of America’s farmers to reduce our dependence on WHAT"?

9. A new bill, H.R. 6066, would require oil and gas companies to do what to the SEC?

10. Who introduced HR 6066?

BONUS QUESTION: (also worth 10 points)

B1. How many pounds of corn are in a bushel?

SCORE

Earn 10 points for each correct answer.

100 points : Food and Fuel Champ
80-90 points : Great! Keep it up.
60-70 points : Good, but you can do better.
10 - 50 points : Need to visit the site more often
0 points : Are you working for Big Oil?

ANSWERS

1. c) to shape and improve Big Oil's public image
2. HIGHER, $3.722
3. c) $1,500.00
4. E10 and E85
5. Grocery Manufacturers Association (GMA)
6. Energy
7. Senator Charles Grassley
8. Foreign Oil
9. Report how much they pay foreign countries to extract natural resources
10. Rep. Barney Frank

BONUS
B1. 56 pounds

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Saturday, May 17, 2008

How Risky is That Foreign Oil?

Stockholders of oil and gas companies are at a loss to fully understand the associated risks with obtaining foreign oil.

But new legislation introduced by Rep. Barney Frank may help solve that problem.

The new bill introduced this week, H.R. 6066, would require oil and gas companies to disclose to the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) how much they pay foreign governments for the extraction of natural resources.

The new bill, "To require, for the benefit of shareholders, the disclosure of payments to foreign governments for the extraction of natural resources, to allow such shareholders more appropriately to determine associated risks", would allow shareholders to more accurately "determine associated risks" with investments in those companies.

Look for the oil industry to oppose this legislation in coming weeks.

Source: HR 6066 Summary, (THOMAS, Library of Congress)

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Friday, May 16, 2008

Sen. Grassley Responds to Ethanol Smear Campaign

Senator Charles Grassley Iowa Ethanol Smear Campaign

Iowa Senator Charles Grassley went to the senate floor this week to respond to the ethanol smear campaign orchestrated by the Grocery Manufacturers Association.

He shared the details of this recently uncovered "stealth" campaign to make ethanol the scapegoat for a variety of problems with his fellow senators:

"But, as was recently reported, this anti-ethanol campaign is not a coincidence. It turns out that a $300,000, six-month retainer of a beltway public relations firm is behind the smear campaign, hired by the Grocery Manufacturers Association.

They’ve outlined their strategy of using environmental, hunger and food aid groups to demonstrate their contrived “crisis.”

I think it’s important for policy-makers and the American people to know who’s behind this effort.

According to reports, downtown D.C. lobbyists, the Glover Park Group and Dutko Worldwide, are leading the effort to undermine and denigrate the patriotic achievement of America’s farmers to reduce our dependence on foreign oil while also providing safe and affordable food."

The senator went on to detail the plans put together by the GMA and a high-priced DC public relations group to oppose the American-grown renewable fuel industry. He also made the original documents available.

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Thursday, May 15, 2008

Quotes of Note

As we come across useful quotes, we'll place them here as a reference to our readers:

Food Prices

"The change in the renewable fuel standard, the change in tariff or duty isn't going to affect food prices. We need to focus on things that will actually have an effect instead of a short-term political solution." - USDA Secretary Ed Schafer, May 2008

"Important food items like bread, eggs, and milk have high prices that are largely unrelated to ethanol or corn prices, but correspond to fundamental supply/demand relationships in the world."
- Texas A&M Report, The Effects of Ethanol on Texas Food and Fuel, April 2008

"The facts are these: U.S. corn prices rose by 37 percent in the past year through March, year, wheat prices by 123 percent, and rice by 36 percent. Of the total 43 percent rise in global food costs, the corn price rise accounts for only 1.2 percentage points, according to Edward Lazear, chairman of the White House Council of Economic Advisers. In the U.S., food prices rose 4.5 percent—without ethanol, Dr. Lazear told a recent press briefing, they would have risen 4.25 percent."
- Senator Richard Lugar, May 2008

"First, a reality check on corn ethanol, which isn't quite the villain critics make it out to be. Last year, American farmers grew a record 13.1 billion bushels of corn on 85 million acres. Of that, 22% went to make about 7 billion gallons of ethanol. That still left enough corn to supply the domestic market, increase exports to record levels, and stockpile a 10% surplus."
- Business Week, May 2008

"For nearly thirty years, our nation has pursued policies to promote the development and use of domestic, renewable fuels. We've promoted renewable biofuels as a way to lesson our dependence on foreign oil and to improve air quality. During this time, the biofuels movement enjoyed overwhelming support. Now, an anti-ethanol smear campaign led by the Grocery Manufacturers Association is blaming U.S. biofuels policies for the rising cost of food and global food shortages."
- Senator Charles Grassley, May 2008 letter to GMA companies

"Here are the facts. In the last five years, despite the nearly threefold growth of the corn ethanol industry (or actually because of it), the U.S. corn crop grew by 35 percent, the production of distillers grain (a high-value animal feed made from the protein saved from the corn used for ethanol) quadrupled and the net corn food and feed product of the U.S. increased 26 percent."
- Robert Zubrin / Gal Luft Opinion Editorial, May 2008

"The propaganda being used by the Grocery Manufacturers Association and its high-paid lobbying firms in Washington, D.C., is patently false and should be disavowed."
- Senator Charles Grassley, May 2008 letter to GMA companies

"While many like to blame the increases on biofuels, specifically corn ethanol, a closer examination will reveal that other factors beyond ethanol have played a greater role in higher food prices"
- National Farmers Union President Tom Buis, May 2008

"What's happening in the US today today is not affecting global food prices to the extent that people are talking about."
- USDA Secretary Ed Schafer

"Regarding the impact of biofuels on world food prices, the current starch ethanol has little impact and production from cellulosic materials will have no impact (if residues of current starch production are utilized) or little impact if dedicated energy crops are used.
- Dr. Robert Wooley, Abengoa Bioenergy, testimony before Congress, June 11, 2008

Energy

"The underlying force driving changes in the agricultural industry, along with the economy as a whole, is overall higher energy costs, evidenced by $100 per barrel oil."
- Texas A&M Report, April 2008

"The launching of the second-generation cellulosic industry will only be possible through first-generation starch-based cash flows, know-how and infrastructure,"
- Dr. Robert Wooley, Abengoa Bioenergy, testimony before Congress, June 11, 2008

"Instead of helping Big Oil make more money at the expense of average Americans, we are forcing oil companies to change their ways. We will hold them accountable for unconscionable price-gouging and force them to invest in renewable energy or pay a price for refusing to do so.”
- Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, May 2008

"This analysis suggests that the growth in ethanol production has caused retail gasoline prices to be $0.29 to $0.40 per gallon lower than would otherwise have been the case."
- Iowa State Report on Effect of Ethanol

“Rising gas prices are contributing to the economic slowdown, straining the pocketbooks of hardworking families and the bottom lines of small businesses."
- Congressman Jason Altmire regarding the effects of higher gasoline prices, April 2008

“Iowa is becoming a national leader in the field of renewable energy. We’re building a very diverse renewable energy portfolio, and developing a statewide energy plan."
- Iowa Governor Chet Culver, May 2008

"These investments in leading-edge firms supports belief that ethanol has the greatest near-term potential as a clean-burning, renewable fuel that can help reduce oil dependence."
- General Motors President Fritz Hendersen

We estimate that over the past six years household expenditures on gasoline and motor oil have doubled, rising by more than $1200.
- Dr. Mark Cooper, Consumer Federation of America, Congressional Testimony April 2008

"While greenhouse gases from the tailpipes of cars get the most attention, the refineries that keep cars and trucks running also contribute to global warming. Fuel must be burned to make gasoline from oil, generating carbon-dioxide pollution."
- Chicago Tribune, February 2008

National Security

"...America has got to change its habits. We've got to get off oil."
- President George W. Bush, Wirec Conference, March 5, 2008

"Oil at $115 dollars a barrel in today's market is a deceiving figure, oil is a strategic commodity and should find its real value."
- Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad discussing that $115 a barrel oil is too cheap, April 2008

"We need energy security. We need food security. We can have both."
- Senator Richard Lugar, May 2008

"And the truth of the matter is it's in our national interests that our farmers grow energy, as opposed to us purchasing energy from parts of the world that are unstable or may not like us." - President George W. Bush, Press Conference, April 2008

Environment

"From fueling a national conversation about sustainability to fueling convention vehicles, we're working toward a green convention on every front,"
- Denver Mayor John Hickenlooper. (regarding using E85 from beer for the 08 Democratic convention)

Campaign Against Ethanol

"But, as was recently reported, this anti-ethanol campaign is not a coincidence. It turns out that a $300,000, six-month retainer of a beltway public relations firm is behind the smear campaign, hired by the Grocery Manufacturers Association."
- Senator Charles Grassley, Senate Floor Speech, May 2008

"Corn-based ethanol is directly responsible for major increases in the costs of not just corn products, but virtually all major food staples."
- Glover Park Group, Campaign Report to GMA, March 6, 2008 distorting the truth about food increases.

"The rocketing price for corn already is hurting Americans at the grocery store and the gas pump. Now it’s going to hurt us at the multiplex, too.
- Kansas City Star blaming ethanol for RAISING gas prices, food AND movie popcorn prices!

Misc

"I am pleased to note the drug industry’s willingness to work with us in addressing these problems. While we may differ on the details, in marked contrast to food manufacturers, the drug industry appears to recognize that a safer drug supply is not only in the interest of the public health, but also in the interest of their bottom line." - Representative John Dingell about efforts to build a better and safer FDA, April 2008

So when (in the movie) Curt and Ian take a bite of field corn, (not sweet corn) well past "roasting ear" stage and into the dent stage, throw it back into the field and call it "crap, " it hurts -- a lot.
- Missouri farmer Marcia Gorrell describing how she felt about her extended family member's movie, King Corn, April 2008

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Big Food's Big Food Fight Finally Featured

Roll Call Beating Up on Ethanol Grocery Manufacturers Association GMA

The Grocery Manufacturers Association's (GMA) frightful attack campaign on biofuels was finally revealed in Wednesday's Roll Call newspaper.

"Rising food and fuel prices have led the biofuel industry to take a beating on Capitol Hill the past few weeks. But the pummeling hasn’t been by chance — it’s part of a concerted effort spearheaded by the Grocery Manufacturers Association and the Glover Park Group."

The GMA launched its aggressive multi-million dollar, 6-month campaign against ethanol on behalf of its members to turn public opinion against the American-grown renewable fuel.

GMA officers come from well-known American food manufacturers which include Campbell Soup, Del Monte Foods, and Lakeside Foods.

The GMA's campaign comprises four main components:

Develop a left-leaning coalition of environmentalists, hunger and poverty activists and labor groups;
Blame food cost increases on biofuels (while ignoring the role of soaring energy costs);
Send anti-ethanol propaganda to food banks and other local opinion leaders;
Pay others to create "third-party" reports and spread their slanted points-of-view.

The goals apparently are to attack corn-based ethanol at every level, poison public opinion and to get Congress to reverse its support of the alternative fuel.

Unfortunately for the GMA, not all of its members think attacking American agriculture is such a good idea. Someone apparently provided Roll Call with a full and detailed copy of the attack plan.

And it's no coincidence that the American Petroleum Institute has launched its own multi-million dollar image campaign. Industry insiders tell us that the same PR companies are involved with both efforts.

How convenient.

Other bloggers have started sharing this amazing story to destroy ethanol through this well-funded and slick "inside the beltway" effort. Read more accounts HERE, HERE and HERE.

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