[P-40]

The water that is used to produce the crops

If you are growing corn, or any crop for that matter, where the primary means of getting water to the plants is irrigation, you are asking for trouble unless you have one heck of a good water supply.

[Loud Mime]

The Oglala aquafer in CO/NE/KS, etc. is the primary source of water for the crops in those areas. It's dropping because of use, and it will not be replenished. Experts in the area (I know one well) are very concerned with our abuse of this resource and the use of fertilizers and other chemicals that cause downstream pollution.

At some point, the amounts of these items will become a real issue, not a scare tactic. Are we there yet?

Secondly, when the government has to subsidize something like it does ethanol production, I know something is wrong. Take the funding away, see if it can fly on its own.

[HEY4QDEMS]

If you are growing corn, or any crop for that matter, where the primary means of getting water to the plants is irrigation, you are asking for trouble unless you have one heck of a good water supply.

Perhaps genetically engineered corn, sugar beets, wheat, etc is in order here.

I realize that the USDOA, and FDA will not approve these products for food purposes but maybe they would approve them for fuel.

Engineered crops have shown to produce higher volumes per plant, in shorter amounts of time, without requiring pesticides, in otherwise poor soil, and using less water.

The technology is there, we should use it.