Agricultural News
Unbalanced Reporting Damaging to Future of Domestically Produced Fuel, NCGA President Says
Tue, 12 Nov 2013 12:54:39 CST
The following is a statement from National Corn Growers Association President Martin Barbre on the Associated Press's story today on corn ethanol and land use:
"Today's controversial story on corn ethanol and land use appears to simply be based on a complete misunderstanding of modern agriculture generally and the Conservation Reserve Program specifically, but unfortunately, the problem is much deeper. It is discouraging that the Associated Press appears to be following a political agenda which clearly targets our only renewable alternative to imported petroleum. Even the headline is a colorful but inaccurate indictment. 'The secret, dirty cost of Obama's green power push.' Secret? There are no secrets in how land is used, as their own reporting shows. Acres are tracked, and the U.S. Department of Agriculture guarantees a high level of transparency. No, these watch words 'secret' and 'dirty' show clearly that the reporters were sensationalizing the issue to a high degree, which is conduct unbecoming a true journalist."
"The fact is, farmers are doing a better job every day of meeting the dual challenges of productivity and sustainability. Land use per bushel is down 30 percent and soil loss is down 67 percent since 1980. Thanks to renewable corn ethanol, we're using 465 million fewer barrels of oil each year. Thanks to corn ethanol, rural economies are improving. And, yes, the air is getting cleaner. We have no regrets about these outcomes."
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