[garandgal]

If anyone is interested in the TRUTH about this issue, please read this study. It was released by Texas A&M University two weeks ago. You will learn what is truly driving up the costs of food; it is the price of oil.

http://www.afpc.tamu.edu/pubs/2/515/RR-08-01.pdf

[paltz]

Whatever, get the Ethanol lobby out of the taxpayer pockets first before they blame big oil. I swear it’s like hearing Democrats talk: Blame big oil and rape the tax while you’re at it.

[paltz]

And I say...follow the money to your Texas A & M report, considering they were the ones who were more than likely lobbied for Ethanol plants in Texas. It must be very lucrative for Texas A & M to come out with Pro-Ethanol studies.

SECO commissioned this 2003 report by Texas A & M University's Department of Agricultural Economics to provide a broad overview of ethanol production and to evaluate its potential as an economic development strategy for Rural Texas. This abbreviated version of the full report includes the Executive Summary and the Summary and Conclusions, Chapter 5 of the full report.

http://www.seco.cpa.state.tx.us/re_ethanol_plants.htm

[o_zarkman44]

Thank you for the link. This is one of the most detailed comparisons of food costs from the farm share of the grocery item to the retail share. I realize some people are still not smart enough to understand, or even have the ability to read.

Taking into account inflation, world demand etc, the farm percentage of grocery costs is only an amazing 19% of the total cost of retail food. 81% of retail food costs are attributed to costs other than the farm share.
Oil, packaging, transportation, labor, interest rates, taxes, transportation, marketing are all considered.
Ethanol has a very small impact compared to all the other factors.