Gas Prices Leave Farmers and Ranchers Coming Up on Empty

American Farm Bureau Federation ^ | June 2006 | Bob Stallman

[thackney]

On paper it takes 30% more ethanol to equal the same BTU value of gasoline. In reality is is less than 10%. In my experience with ethanol blended gas my mileage is actually the same but performance is better because the octane value is higher at 89 than unleaded regular at 86 to 87 octane.

You results greatly differ with every documented test I've read. And from organizations promoting ethanol as a good alternative. As an example:

2006 Flexible Fueled Vehicles, U.S. Department of Energy

Saab 9-5 Aero BioPower Concept

"The 9-5 BioPower can also run on any mixture of ethanol and gasoline," said Jan-Willem Vester, corporate communications manager for Saab Cars USA. If you can't find a gas station with E85 on tap, you just fill up with the regular stuff and the engine management system adjusts the timing and boost accordingly.

"Mileage is approximately 30-percent worse on ethanol," Vester concedes

And there are other sources of ethanol besides corn.

Your link that I quoted was not limited to corn.

Also your calculation of how much ethanol would have to be produced by Missouri to replace 10% of our gasoline. You are basing your figures on nationwide needs by saying Missouri would have to produce 45 times more ethanol to meet the national needs.

No, that is not what I am saying. I am saying Missouri, a larger state with good climate for agriculture could possible produce a relatively small amount of fuel (relative to the US fuel consumption).

In reality, Missouri would be able to produce more than 10% of national ethanol needs.

Only if the national ethanol needs remain small such as 2/1000th of our gasoline demand.

If each state produced 4-5 hundred million gallons of ethanol times 50 states America could produce 400 to 500 BILLION gallons of ethanol if I am correct using your figures

You ignore the realities in other states. Rhode Island, Connecticut and most others can never reach this amount. My home state, although huge, does not have a climate to be a significant producer of ethanol; neither does Arizona, Nevada and many others. Nebraska, Kansas and a few others can be relatively good producers. But you simply are ignoring reality in your optimism.

I am not against producing ethanol. Every bit of fuel we produce domestically is a very good thing. But electing a legislature that will release our resources from the environmentalists that hold them hostage will be our most productive action.

Also aviation fuel and jet fuel are exempt from ethanol additives.

Yes but my original question was can we replace 10% of America's fuel demand, not 10% of 57% of the fuel we use.

[thackney]

How much value could we place on the military subsidy spent to defend and protect and retake foreign oil fields, and the lives it has cost to do so?

I am a support of producing our own resources, not funding our enemies. Just how many aircraft carriers will we get to sell if we become energy independent?

[tertiary01]

In my area of N Cal the regulation and permit process generally concerning it's storage is so prohibitive that most small farmers opt to buy commercial fuel preps and pass on the cost to the consumer who is the one who really pays most taxes anyway.

[dimeadozen]

Obviously your not from thr houston or Dallas area, and it looks like from other post you know where I got my information. I agree that it is a good move on the part of the farmers to find a new and better market for their product. I also agree that we should drill more domestic oil. But why drill in ANWR at the moment? Why not solidify international interest so that our american oil companies aren't boxed into a corner by the Chinese, who are out bidding most of the US companies? We own ANWR, its not going anywhere, we should have oil when other areas are drained. Just an idea.
And I think you are a little oversensitive about ethenol and midwest farmers.

[o_zarkman44]

I heard a report today on a radio program that said that ALL oil producing countries had boosted production, excepting one. The USA. We are the only oil producing nation that has not increased exploration or output or otherwise added capacity.
That says a lot for just how unwilling our nation is to actually solve a problem that is not unsurmountable as some use as the arguement to not drill in ANWR and off the coast of Florida. Any untapped source has the potential to keep us from being held hostage to imports from hostile trading partners who just want our money to build nukes etc. The bidding war on oil would be less vulnerable to domestic markets if we actually increased production.

I am not overly sensitive about ethanol and midwest farmers. I am enthusiastic. Finally farmers can get a price for their produce that is fair and not as manipulated by outside interests. That is good for our regional economy.

When I lived in Houston in the late 1970's we had our first gas crisis. I waited in line for 10 gallons of gas. Odd and Even numbered days according to the license plate.
I could drive 50 miles from Houston and purchasing gasoline was not a problem. Neither was the price.
Texas should be swimming in domestic oil and not imports.
The corn belt should be swimming in ethanol.

I think one of the solutions to our energy independence should be a regional form of production based upon the natural material available. I realize that it may hinder the current flexible style of travel we currently enjoy to some extent. There are many exciting technologies in the works within the next two years that can make a major difference.
But as a nation, do we have the will to solve the problem?
We know our government is incapable of solving so called insurmountable problems. But if capitalism and free enterprise is allowed to work, we won't need a government solution.