Escalating food expenses have been blamed solely on higher corn and wheat prices, when actually the amount an ag producer receives from the increase is small (5 cents to 10 cents on a box of corn flakes; 10 cents on a loaf of bread).
The immediate impact on food prices has to do with the increased cost of energy, not the increase in commodity prices. If ethanol had not been available to displace a percentage of crude oil used in this country, the energy costs would be higher yet.
The investment in biofuels creates opportunities for rural America. When a dollar is invested, it is turned locally seven to 10 times by creating jobs and building tax bases that help educate our people — a much better investment than buying "big oil" and putting our young people in harm’s way to protect the supply.
The impact of global weather has more to due with wheat supplies than planted acres. Many of the wheat-growing areas suffered major weather problems last year, so that puts the commodity in a supply-and-demand situation. With the increased use of environmentally sound farming practices and the use of clean-burning biofuels, our earth will a better place for future generations.
Rodney Moe
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Waltham
