Robin Speer
August 20, 2008
There’s an interesting story gaining some traction in Canada this
week.

According to Reuters, officials in India are encouraging people to eat
rats instead of rice to alleviate some food shortage concerns. But
that’s not the most intriguing part:

“Eating of rats will serve twin purposes — it will save grains from
being eaten away by rats and will simultaneously increase our grain
stock,” Vijay Prakash, an official from the state’s welfare
department, told Reuters.

Officials say almost 50 percent of India’s food grains stocks are
eaten away by rodents in fields or warehouses.

The story has been picked up by the Canadian media. Here’s some
commentary from Kevin Hursh that runs on the daily ag radio in western
Canada:

It’s estimated that nearly 50 per cent of India’s grain stocks are
eaten by rodents, either in the field or when the crop is being stored
in warehouses. According to a report this week by Reuters news...

Cindy Zimmerman
August 19, 2008
Senator Sam Brownback of Kansas was out filling up cars with fuel
early Monday morning at the grand opening of a new ethanol blender
pump station in Colwich that was held in conjunction with the
announcement of a new initiative in Kansas that will help fuel station
retailers obtain funding and the equipment needed to sell higher
blends of ethanol. The new initiative introduced by the Ethanol
Promotion and Information Council (EPIC), ICM and the Kansas Corn
Commission aims to install a minimum of 100 blender pumps around the
state over the next year.
Brownback also helped ICM president Dave Vander Griend cut the ribbon
for TJ Convenience store’s new blender pumps, which offer ethanol in
four different flavors - E10, E20, E30 and E85. The higher blends can
only legally be used in flex-fuel vehicles.
Back in Washington, the senator is working on legislation that would
increase the number of flex-fuel vehicles that can use those higher
blends with the Open Fuel Standard Act, which he introduced last month
along with Senators Salazar of Colorado and Lieberman of Connecticut.
The act would require half of new automobiles to be flex-fuel by 2012, ...

Jackie Helling
August 19, 2008

The Atlanta Journal-Constitution blog Opinion Talk has posted snippets
of an interview with Murray Campbell, CEO of First United Ethanol.

Campbell defended biofuels on Monday at an event at Atlanta’s Commerce
Club, entitled “Biofuels in Georgia: Fact, Fiction and Future.”

He talked about water usage and other common concerns about biofuels.

“Talk about water usage. … It takes 44 gallons to refine a gallon of
gasoline. It takes three to four gallons of water to refine a gallon
of ethanol, and 87 percent of the corn in this country is grown on dry
land. Grant you, we grow a lot of irrigated crops down in our area,
and one of the assets for our plant is the ability to grow irrigated
corn. But our yield is significantly higher than the national average
of corn grown dry.”
Take a look.
http://www.goodfuels.org/2008/08/ceo-of-first-united-ethanol-in-ajc/

Test

Cindy Zimmerman
August 12, 2008

The USDA August crop production forecast is a demonstration of just
how resilient American farmers can be. Despite June’s severe flooding
in the Midwest, U.S. farmers are still on pace to produce the second
largest corn crop in history at 12.3 billion bushels.

Much of the credit must go to Mother Nature for having pity on the
farmers she had just belted with flooded fields, blessing them with
almost picture perfect growing conditions for the past month.

That pushed the yield forecast up to 155 bushels per acre for corn,
which would be the second highest on record behind 2004.

“This is great news not just for corn growers, but for everyone,” said
National Corn Growers Association President Ron Litterer. “We’re
committed to meeting all needs and this estimate indicates we are
growing the corn this year to do so – and provide a solid carry-out
into 2009.”

On August 7th, the Consumer Federation of America released an anlysis
by Dr. Mark Cooper, CFA’s Director of Research, submitted to the
Environmental Protection Agency which concluded that “slashing ethanol
production, as requested by the state of Texas in its request for a
Waiver of the Clean Air Act Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS), would
increase gasoline prices substantially.” Dr. Cooper’s analysis was
filed in response to a study prepared for the state of Texas by oil
economists Phillip K. Verleger and Darrel B. Chodorow “who erroneously
claimed increasing demand for gasoline and crude oil would lower
prices,” according to Cooper.

Because Dr. Cooper’s analysis was released just as the EPA was
announcing its decision to deny Governor Perry’s waiver request, most
news reports failed to appreciate the stunning findings that consumers
are far better off economically with having increased amounts of
ethanol in the gasoline market.

By Cindy Zimmerman
August 7, 2008
Ethanol producer groups and many farm organizations are doing the
happy dance today with EPA’s announcement that it would deny a request
by Texas Governor Rick Perry to reduce the Renewable Fuels Standard.
Naturally, the ethanol industry was pleased with the outcome.
Renewable Fuels Association President Bob Dinneen said, “We applaud
the EPA for keeping America squarely on the path toward greater energy
independence.” Ethanol Promotion and Information Council executive
director Toni Nuernberg said, “Today’s decision is an important win
for American consumers. Ethanol is one of the few things helping
families save money.” Ethanol producers like POET and Verenium also
issued statements reacting to the decision. The National Biodiesel
Board expressed its appreciation...

More new medievalism subversion of evacuation routes...

http://wwwtripwithinthebeltway.blogspot.com/2008/08/washington-gateway-chock_11....
http://cos-mobile.blogspot.com/2008/08/washington-dc-gateway-chock.html

Douglas A. Willinger
http://wwwtripwithinthebeltway.blogspot.com/
http://cos-mobile.blogspot.com

7 Ways to Declare Your Energy Independence!

The summer months are upon us. For most American families this means
family vacations, summer sports leagues and barbeques in the back yard
are in full swing. However, with high gas prices, many families are
being forced to cut back on some of these activities. In fact, the
latest trend is "staycations," or vacations taken in your hometown or
nearby. There is relief on the horizon though, if Americans are
willing to fight for it!

What can you do to help? Next time you go to buy a car, truck or SUV,
consider buying a hybrid or flex-fuel vehicle. You can also practice
fuel conservation. Here are some suggestions:

* Take your car in for regular engine tune ups.
* Install new air and fuel filters.
* If you car is renewable fuels compatible, use ethanol-blends like
E85 whenever and wherever possible.
* Drive slower...