[Mudboy Slim]

"The farm bill is destructive socialist economic policy that will do real harm on the American farm economy. That's the facts, take it or leave it."

It is also a blatant assault on our supposed FreeTrade mentality, and more than likely a violation of a number of Free Trade agreements? Who has standing to bring suit to have these illegal tariffs overturned?! Or perhaps Dubyuh's collectin' the tariffs so as to have more to barter away in future trade negotiations. In any event, it is horrific legislation based solely on political vote-buying!!

FReegards...MUD

[Free Vulcan]

The name of the game is added value agriculture. We are talking WAY beyond ethanol. We can forget about world grain supply levels, tariffs, lower foreign input costs, etc, if we just pour our resources in creating a farm policy that revolves around added value agriculture.

The technology exists right now to be able to take any plant, break it down via a cold milling process, and separate out anything you want: fuel, chemicals, nutritional supplements, medicines, protein...basically if it is in the plant it can be taken out. The beauty of this is that all the technology to do this is proven, inexpensive, and commonly used. What has never been done is bringing it to together to make the manufacturing process, not a big deal really, a much smaller hurdle than creating and testing the technology components of it.

Let me give you a scenario. Take corn for ethanol. What is not commonly known is that the protein in the corn actually gums up the process of ethanol. That protein is very valuable, even more valuable if it's vitamin content isn't destroyed by heat. It is a very profitable high dollar product. With this process you can take out the protein, and make ethanol, cheaper ethanol, because the protein isn't gumming up the process, requiring more energy to make it.

But you aren't done. On the back side, you can take out polylactic acids, which go into making polyester clothing. There may be other chemicals there too you can extract that have value. Finally, what you are left with are the DDG's or cellulose, which have no value, but can be burnt to make steam to make electricity...and you can subsidize the energy usage of making the ethanol, lowering production costs.

This process can be done with any plant product. Now, rather than having to grow wheat, corn and soybeans, farmers can now grow anything and everything, and do so profitably. By diversifying production, you will lessen supply and raise prices of WCS. The farmer is profitable again. All sorts of new products can brought to market, which mean it will bolster the manufacturing sector of the farm states too. It's a win-win for all. So why aren't we pursuing it, and getting away from subsidization?