Pickens fastasy

[Slipangle]

The issue is the use of land... I'm not a big follower of agricultural policy, but my understanding has been that we have excessive capacity.

On food prices, I think there's reasonable questions to be asked as to what role the changes in agricultural subsidy has played, there certainly has been a reduction in farm subsidies under Bush and it doesn't seem like that enters into the discussion about ethanol.

Farm Subsidies Over Time

I'm not saying that ethanol should be used as fuel, what I'm saying is that the way to go is to have vehicles with the flexibility to use it at those times when it may be the more prudent economical choice... What do you eat in any given week if you're trying to be thrifty at the grocery store? I buy what's on sale.

[Fantasy Chaser]

The issue is the use of land... I'm not a big follower of agricultural policy, but my understanding has been that we have excessive capacity.

On food prices, I think there's reasonable questions to be asked as to what role the changes in agricultural subsidy has played, there certainly has been a reduction in farm subsidies under Bush and it doesn't seem like that enters into the discussion about ethanol.

Farm Subsidies Over Time

I'm not saying that ethanol should be used as fuel, what I'm saying is that the way to go is to have vehicles with the flexibility to use it at those times when it may be the more prudent economical choice... What do you eat in any given week if you're trying to be thrifty at the grocery store? I buy what's on sale.

However, since ethanol crops would displace food crops, all food prices would go up.

[Dacabeti]

However, since ethanol crops would displace food crops, all food prices would go up.

Sorry man but that's a myth.

Ethanol is not made from food grain corn. Ethanol comes from grain corn. The same corn that goes into feed and fillers. Most of the guys now growing grain corn were taking non growth farm subsidies a few years ago because there was no one to sell their grain corn to.

[Fantasy Chaser]

Sorry man but that's a myth.

Ethanol is not made from food grain corn. Ethanol comes from grain corn. The same corn that goes into feed and fillers. Most of the guys now growing grain corn were taking non growth farm subsidies a few years ago because there was no one to sell their grain corn to.

Dac, it doesn't matter whether they're food-grade crops or fuel-grade. The crops- whether they're edible corn or fuel corn or poison ivy- take up farmland. If you go for ethanol in a big way, you're going to be displacing food crops, with a detrimental effect on food prices due to supply and demand.

[Dacabeti]

Dac, it doesn't matter whether they're food-grade crops or fuel-grade. The crops- whether they're edible corn or fuel corn or poison ivy- take up farmland. If you go for ethanol in a big way, you're going to be displacing food crops, with a detrimental effect on food prices due to supply and demand.

Not necessarily. I live in a farming community. Many of the farms in my area were getting money to not farm for years. Now they are growing grain corn for ethanol. Now I agree that Ethanol is not the only solution I do however believe that all forms of alternate fuels should be pursued.

[Fantasy Chaser]

Not necessarily. I live in a farming community. Many of the farms in my area were getting money to not farm for years. Now they are growing grain corn for ethanol. Now I agree that Ethanol is not the only solution I do however believe that all forms of alternate fuels should be pursued.

But how long would that surplus of land last, if ethanol got big?

[Dacabeti]

But how long would that surplus of land last, if ethanol got big?

I dont know, but we should use the land we have now instead of paying farmers NOT to use it.

[Fantasy Chaser]

I dont know, but we should use the land we have now instead of paying farmers NOT to use it.

The issue there is that the farmers shouldn't be getting paid by the Feds in the first place. Farming subsidies violate the 10th Amendment.

[Dacabeti]

The issue there is that the farmers shouldn't be getting paid by the Feds in the first place. Farming subsidies violate the 10th Amendment.

I agree, however, they are and should be using the land.

[Shottglass628]

T. "Boondoggle" Pickens is more apt a name.