SD Corn

Why does America continue to rely so heavily on the finite resource oil? As a nation we have left ourselves extremely vulnerable with so much to lose. It’s difficult to judge just what kind of damage fluctuating fuel prices have on our economy because everything depends on it. The ups, downs and constant uncertainties hurt families, businesses, farms, etc, and it appears things are only going to get worse.

Once again, gas prices are out of control and according to the Van Trump Report, rumblings of higher fuel prices are on their way beyond $4.00 per gallon by spring. Ouch! The report went on to say, “Do you realize In January, retail gasoline prices averaged $3.37 a gallon, setting a new record.”

But this next stat will probably blow you away as it did me…

“The bottom-line is that Americans spent more than $490 billion on gasoline in 2011, which is an increase of more than $100 billion over 2010.”

100 billion dollar increase in one year! Incredible, when you think about how one of the oldest and most profitable industries on the planet continues to receive billions in federal subsidies. And how is it possible to become less reliant on oil when our policy makers continue to keep the 90% gasoline mandate that they have created?

Fortunately help is on the way. With last Friday’s EPA final approval of E15 health effects testing, the ethanol blend should be available soon for people driving cars and light trucks 2001 or newer. The announcement couldn’t have come at a better time with oil prices rising and ethanol inventory high. The blend will save drivers money and allow non flex-fuel owners to use more of a clean-burning and locally produced product.

While it has been a long-time coming, making E-15 available to consumers will continue our country on a path towards energy independence, less greenhouse gas emissions and bolster rural America with additional jobs, tax revenues and infrastructure.

Anybody else tired of volatile oil prices and the effect they have on prices at the gas pump, grocery store and other transported goods? The price of a barrel of crude oil was back over $100 this week which means the cost of gas, food and many other goods will continue to climb as we approach the holiday season.

But what if there was a way to fight back against oil prices? Well there is, by choosing ethanol and other renewable fuels, consumers can not only save money, but lessen our countries dangerous dependence on foreign oil from countries that literally hate American freedoms. Think about it, no wars have been fought over ethanol! By choosing domestic biofuels, more young men and women will have the opportunity to work in green energy and less will be put in harm’s way overseas.

After swiping your card at the gas station, have you ever wondered where that money goes? Well about 50% of it leaves the country as America imports around half of its oil consumption. By choosing ethanol, your dollars stay right here in the USA stimulating green job growth and agriculture. In just five short years, ethanol has already helped our country reduce its percentage of imported fuel by 10%. American ethanol reduced our dependence on foreign oil by 445 million barrels in 2010 alone.

So how can we use more ethanol? First off, E10 has been approved for all cars and trucks. Next, the new blend E15 has been approved by the EPA for cars and light trucks 2001 and newer. Another way we can increase ethanol usage is to make sure you know whether or not your vehicle is flex fuel. If so, you can use ethanol blends like E30, E40 and all the way up to E85.

(For the flex fuel owners, click here for a complete map of ethanol blender pump stations)

So when fueling your ride, be sure to consider where your money is going. Is your hard earned dollar going to foreign lands or staying in the rural U.S.? Buy American, choose ethanol.

Let’s face it, not only is America addicted to oil, but our government mandates that addiction which leads to consumers and businesses to relying on imported oil from countries that literally hate us. Hundreds of millions of dollars leave our country everyday in exchange for dirty foreign oil. We have the ability to change all of that and alternatives are available now. Ethanol and other advanced biofuels are ready to continue relieving our nation from that dangerous dependence while creating jobs, energy security and a cleaner environment.

In order to consume our domestic renewable energy, we need vehicles that can utilize those fuels. There are currently around nine million flex fuel vehicles on the road today in the United States which may sound like a lot, but not when you consider that there are 143 million vehicles total. But with a few moves in Washington that trend could be changing.

This week, United States Senators, Maria Cantwell of Washington and Dick Lugar of Indiana introduced the Open Fuels Standard Act which would require that vehicles sold in the United States be able to run on alternative blends like E85 and other liquid fuels. Essentially the bill would start in 2015 requiring that 50% of new vehicles be flex fuel and increase to 80% by 2018. Some American manufacturers will balk at the requirement but those same companies are providing a large number of vehicles to Brazil who’s fleet is 90% flex fuel and the additional cost of production is around a mere $100 per vehicle.

Nobody likes a mandate, but the same could be said when it comes to fuel. American consumers deserve a choice when it comes to filling up at the pump, a choice between clean and domestically produced ethanol or dirty, imported oil. BIG OIL’s monopoly has been around for too long and it’s time to open America’s fuel market up for business.

 “All the ethanol industry has ever wanted was fair access to the market,” said SDCGA Executive Director, Lisa Richardson. “Biofuels can compete with oil if congress can level the playing field.”

Finally, a film that dares to defend America’s only available alternative to gasoline, ethanol. The job producing and environmentally friendly fuel has plenty of critics these days, but this film takes a much closer look at the truth behind this ever growing and evolving industry.

Green Planet Productions new documentary film, FREEDOM offers viewers an eyes wide open look at America’s dangerous addiction to oil and the possibilities that domestically produced ethanol brings to the table in terms of enhancing energy security and boosting the economy.

The film does an excellent job of debunking three popular myths about ethanol including Food vs. Fuel, Land Use Change Theory and Ethanol’s Energy Balance. The film makers go to the root of the myths with interviews with folks like Tim Searchinger and from there continue by investigating their findings by expanding on it with up-to-date science based research from multiple sources dispelling each myth.

Some of the film takes place in South Dakota as the crew visited with South Dakota Corn Utilization Council director, David Gillen, a farmer from White Lake who shares his insight on the importance of ethanol to farmers and the country.

“When Americans understand the truth about what we’re doing out here and what ethanol does, it’s a win-win for everybody in the United States,” says Gillen.

The film also visits with South Dakota consumers at an ethanol blender pump station in Baltic, SD. Fuel consumers explain in the film why they are choosing ethanol as they fill up their vehicles. One particular customer, Neal Stratman, a young military veteran spoke of his support for ethanol because it’s less expensive and it’s a way to support local agriculture.

“It just makes more sense,” says Stratman. “We need to get away from being so dependent on foreign oil and support the local farmers.”

The film finishes with a look at the many possible future biofuel feed stocks like algae, corn stover, grasses, wood chips and even garbage. Showing viewers just how real these concepts really are.

So whether you are a supporter, user or a non-believer of ethanol, please take 50 minutes to watch this compelling documentary and see if your feelings change about the energy we use and the affects it’s having on the country we live in.

Interested in seeing the movie?

The FREEDOM film tour is coming to South Dakota.

September 18, 7pm – Watertown Events Center – Watertown, SD

September 19, 7pm – Kresge Hall on the campus of Augustana College – Sioux Falls, SD

You can view the FREEDOM movie trailer by clicking here: http://www.youtube.com/user/FreedomTheFilm

It’s amazing how misinformation can spread these days with nothing other than uneducated opinions and easy-to-blame targets. This seems to be especially true in regards to our rising food costs and assumptions of what’s driving up those costs. Some media blast ethanol production and high corn prices as the reason for your growing grocery bill but those claims simply lack the facts.

First things first. According to the USDA, only 11.6% of every dollar spent on food goes back to its origins, the farm. The very place where our food is raised holds a very small percentage of what determines its retail price.

Next you can look at corn specifically and its price implications on products consumers buy regularly at the grocery store.

Even with corn at $7 per bushel, its effect on the prices of the food we eat remains very minimal. So while that seven dollar number seems like an easy answer to everyday consumers, its’ impact doesn’t justify the blame. But what exactly is causing the rise in food prices?

As this blog has stated before, if you’re looking for a real culprit in the reason behind rising food prices, look no further than outlandish oil prices which hold our country hostage. Oil related expenses total 33% of each dollar spent on food, three times more than what goes back to America’s family farms.

All in all, America’s farmers continue to provide its’ citizens with the most abundant, safe, nutritious and inexpensive food in the entire world, and our corn crop is a major contributor to that success.

A new report from the United States Energy Information Agency shows that imported oil has been reduced from over 60% of the United States fuel supply in 2005 to less than 50% in 2010. Causes for the decrease can be attributed to the sluggish economy, higher efficiency vehicles and domestic biofuel production.

Manufacturing plants producing biofuels like ethanol have grown throughout the Midwest during the past decade and production has more than tripled in the last five years pumping 779,000 barrels of clean-burning ethanol into consumers’ gas tanks daily which is up from 230,000 barrels per day in 2005. This increased production and usage is due in part to our farmers increased corn yields, manufacturing efficiency improvements and an increase in blender pumps spurred by the ethanol industry.

“Reducing our nation’s dependence on foreign oil has always been a driver behind America’s ethanol production and it’s rewarding to see how far we have come in such a short amount of time,” said South Dakota Corn Utilization Council President, Chad Blindauer, a farmer and rancher from Mitchell, South Dakota. “Creating additional blender pump infrastructure, producing more flex-fuel vehicles and an Open Fuel Standard will be necessary in continuing our progress towards energy independence.”