America’s unquenchable demand for energy in the 21st century is a central issue in the 2008 presidential campaign. Stumping for votes in Iowa and throughout rural America, presidential candidates have long hailed ethanol and biofuels as critical components to energy independence. But what would Senator John McCain or Senator Barack Obama change about biofuel policy once in office? What affect would their policies have on other renewable energy resources? Would a new administration adjust U.S. positions on global trade and agricultural policy?
In the coming weeks before election day, Market to Market attempts to answer some of these and other questions in our series the Politics of Ethanol.
We’re looking for your feedback on how ethanol and renewable energy policy may affect your farm operation or your vote on election day. Will either candidate’s position on ethanol affect your vote for President on November 4?
Since age 12 Have been aware of the importance of alternate energy. In 1968 Began studying different methods to run a tractor on our 116 acre farm. Parents did not have any confidence in my ideas. Now they struck oil and could care less. All of a sudden my sisters are interested in owning the farm! In the meantime I became a patent attorney with Law and technical degrees. Mom and sisters are getting along fine. I hear they have new cars! They have nutered my ideas and are floating in royalties! (who would believe a lawyer anyway?) farmers need to run thier tractors and other equipment on the wind and solar and hydrogen combined. They need to make great profits at farming. Without such an economic engine population sustaining families will cease to exist and the farms too!
Geesh am I the only one that watches this program ! ? Family owned Farms and ranches need many power tools and have large fuel expenses that can really eat into profits. Farmers have at thier disposal the assets and technology to produce thier own hydrogen fuel and can sometimes (depending on location) take advantage of the wind for a low investment device to generate hydrogen fuel as well as to drive compressed air hand tools. When you farm you need to harvest everything that is profitable. Hydrogen can be considered a 1st, 2nd or 3rd tier alternate energy storage medium. Self reliability is a major family owned farm paradigm. signed: since age 12
Rats! Since age 12 have mistaken ethanol for hydrogen. Please read ethanol above where I put hydrogen. Ethanol is arguably a lower technology than Hydrogen production. Many small independent farms are better for our economic stability than one large one which can more easily be wiped out by a desease. Ethanol can be produced from failed crops or stalk leftovers using the same farm equipment. E.G. little re-tooling expense. Ethanol need not replace primary crop production but could produce at minimum the farming fuel expense and thereby make the family farm more profitable and viable. signed: since age 12
Ethanol (ETOH) may not be perfect but it is American made. It has supported a rise in land prices. My fear is oil will come down and we will go back to business as usual. I remember the 70’s when people would say that if gas went to .50 a gal they would start riding horses. We will eventually find lots of way to create green energy and now more than ever BUY AMERICAN ETOH. (ETHANOL) I burn it in my non E85 car with no problem. I think I would be happy burning ETOH from sugar cane. We need to move away for OIL.
Anonymous, you are definately not the only one who watches Market to Market, just an early adopter of the blog. As usual, the political candidates will tell us whatever they think WE want to hear and whatever they think will get THEM elected. Obama says he’s for renewable energy. So does McCain, but he doesn’t want the government to subsidize ethanol production. That’s both frustrating and refreshing. Regardless of their position on alternative fuels, it probably won’t determine who I vote for. I guess I’m still undecided!
Since age 12 (SA12) says Nice! folks have begun chiming in ! Who was it that said, “Burn down your cities and they will rise up again; Burn down your farms and your cities will collapse” ? The electronic communications era that we are in is a major page in history. If families could get 40 acres, an ETOH tractor, The internet, and a small ETOH fermenting tank and a car/truck that runs on ETOH. We might be able to get it right. signed SA12
Anonymous, looks like it’s just you and me for now…
William Jennings Bryan was the politician who once said, “Burn down your cities and leave our farms, and your cities will spring up again as if by magic; but destroy our farms and the grass will grow in the streets of every city in the country.”
I like your “40 Acres and a Still” uh, I mean “fermenter tank” idea. Then again, someone (I’m not sure who) once said, “You can make a small fortune in farming - provided you start with a large one.” Undecided
Hey Undecided: sa12 here: some rambling follows: I got a teaching degree from a farming college here near the King Ranch. Seems to me th Wllm J Bryan Quote Which I thank you for profering is becoming more and more appropriate. The communications technology growth may be leading to lower demand for transportation and therefore the fears expressed by you or another fellow blogging here; that: Lowering price of oil may lead to abandonement of the green technologies has validity. None the less Adam Smith lamented that his division of labor and selfish interest market theories had a down side in the loss of self reliance. Farming is so great for teaching self reliance and cooperative efforts as well. Notice how many Westerns would not have been written if cell phones existed back then !! signed: sa12