GasBuddy Blog

GasBuddy News Article

votes

The Choice: Feed Your Family or Feed Your Car?

Take Part -- Promoting ethanol as an alternative fuel may not be as good of an idea as it once seemed.

U.S. livestock and poultry producers have asked that the federal Environmental Protection Agency waive for the first time the required use of ethanol in U.S. gasoline....

The Guardian said, “research published last week by the New England Complex Systems Institute [Necsi] warned of an ‘imminent food crisis’ because of the diversion of corn stocks to ethanol.

Read the Full Article

Submitted Jul 31, 2012 By: leemun

Back To News

Category: Daily News Article Discussions > Topics	Add to favorite topics

Author	Topic: The Choice: Feed Your Family or Feed Your Car?	Post a Reply Back to Topics

REPLIES (newest first)Ignore Short Messages

First

Next Last

honda0105 Champion Author Tallahassee Posts:18,580 Points:1,605,520 Joined:Nov 2008	Message Posted: Aug 3, 2012 5:59:32 AM Ignore honda0105 Report Abuse EtOH from food product(s) was never a good idea. And it never will be.
treeguy Veteran Author Wisconsin Posts:261 Points:650,870 Joined:Aug 2005	Message Posted: Aug 1, 2012 11:32:43 PM Ignore treeguy Report Abuse For a moment, after reading the headline, I thought this article was going to be about the general economic situation of Middle Class America.
the1roadhog Champion Author Atlanta Posts:9,898 Points:2,052,005 Joined:Jun 2007	Message Posted: Aug 1, 2012 9:01:44 AM Ignore the1roadhog Report Abuse Ethanol was a bad idea then and still is now.
jrs4125 Champion Author Indiana Posts:2,738 Points:587,745 Joined:Sep 2011	Message Posted: Aug 1, 2012 5:26:18 AM Ignore jrs4125 Report Abuse Good article. Ethanol made from corn........ bad idea to start with.
SparkieMi Champion Author Kalamazoo Posts:3,239 Points:584,220 Joined:Sep 2011	Message Posted: Aug 1, 2012 1:46:24 AM Ignore SparkieMi Report Abuse Many good posts....
Cableman66 Champion Author North Carolina Posts:2,095 Points:486,920 Joined:May 2011	Message Posted: Aug 1, 2012 12:23:40 AM Ignore Cableman66 Report Abuse Old news
LanguageMan1 Champion Author Tampa Posts:11,702 Points:1,657,790 Joined:Apr 2008	Message Posted: Aug 1, 2012 12:22:26 AM Ignore LanguageMan1 Report Abuse This is part of what I've been saying for the last few years, especially since 2008 and 2009. Whenever the price is down, realize it's not going to stay down! Plus, when bread get's to be $5 a loaf or $10 a loaf, or eggs for $5 or $10 for a dozen, don't say I didn't warn you! It's going to happen! Maybe not within the next few months, but give it a year or two or even three and it'll be there! Don't buy into the bull that the media and government and analysts are trying to feed you either, that food prices will only rise three to five percent next year. They've already gone up, by over five percent overall in the last few months, and they'll go up another five to 10% before the year is out, and then they'll rise more next year. [Edited by: LanguageMan1 at 8/1/2012 12:24:09 AM EST]
ican2step Champion Author Pittsburgh Posts:1,666 Points:423,625 Joined:Feb 2012	Message Posted: Aug 1, 2012 12:16:11 AM Ignore ican2step Report Abuse Family ALWAYS comes first. ALWAYS !!!
METEOR49 Champion Author Ontario Posts:2,152 Points:451,225 Joined:Apr 2011	Message Posted: Aug 1, 2012 12:12:57 AM Ignore METEOR49 Report Abuse when food is scarce why would anyone contemplate using it for fuel.
jkpsr Champion Author New Jersey Posts:4,069 Points:1,099,105 Joined:Jun 2005	Message Posted: Aug 1, 2012 12:12:56 AM Ignore jkpsr Report Abuse The use of ethanol as a motor fuel is just plain stupid!
jrschl Champion Author Louisville Posts:2,947 Points:677,065 Joined:Jun 2011	Message Posted: Aug 1, 2012 12:12:10 AM Ignore jrschl Report Abuse Family.
rahcat Champion Author Grand Rapids Posts:2,448 Points:658,200 Joined:Jan 2010	Message Posted: Aug 1, 2012 12:11:52 AM Ignore rahcat Report Abuse Ban ethanol period!
tedjm1 Champion Author New York Posts:5,609 Points:800,300 Joined:Dec 2006	Message Posted: Aug 1, 2012 12:11:20 AM Ignore tedjm1 Report Abuse Food should be a priority.
etothek Champion Author Pennsylvania Posts:1,623 Points:326,680 Joined:Jun 2012	Message Posted: Aug 1, 2012 12:10:27 AM Ignore etothek Report Abuse Feed your family.
rollercoaster All-Star Author Hartford Posts:502 Points:567,660 Joined:Jul 2008	Message Posted: Aug 1, 2012 12:09:50 AM Ignore rollercoaster Report Abuse wow
NotmeuQc Champion Author Montreal Posts:5,636 Points:1,129,150 Joined:Apr 2009	Message Posted: Aug 1, 2012 12:09:15 AM Ignore NotmeuQc Report Abuse My stomach comes first, so I say feed the family. I love my corn on the cob and I know they don't use this corn for ethanol, but they do use feed corn, and I also love my meat.
txkrb Champion Author Texas Posts:1,551 Points:635,075 Joined:May 2011	Message Posted: Aug 1, 2012 12:09:00 AM Ignore txkrb Report Abuse Need to reduce ethanol use (not eliminate) and stop producing ethanol from food crops
Taurus1 Champion Author Ohio Posts:3,115 Points:1,669,950 Joined:Apr 2006	Message Posted: Aug 1, 2012 12:08:48 AM Ignore Taurus1 Report Abuse The animals need feed, we eat corn, it doesn't need to go in gas.
Number43 Champion Author Lexington Posts:8,672 Points:1,634,110 Joined:Oct 2008	Message Posted: Aug 1, 2012 12:07:58 AM Ignore Number43 Report Abuse Forget ethanol in gas, it's a bad idea. Make ethanol from something other than corn if you have to use it.
millerin Champion Author Orlando Posts:2,289 Points:477,315 Joined:Jan 2012	Message Posted: Aug 1, 2012 12:07:06 AM Ignore millerin Report Abuse hmm...
judgemobile Champion Author Ohio Posts:7,550 Points:2,441,135 Joined:Nov 2005	Message Posted: Aug 1, 2012 12:06:18 AM Ignore judgemobile Report Abuse I need the car to go get food for my family--unless the government offers a subsidy to pay for delivery service--then I would just call in my order.
Beau2140 Champion Author New York Posts:8,276 Points:1,653,160 Joined:Oct 2008	Message Posted: Aug 1, 2012 12:06:02 AM Ignore Beau2140 Report Abuse Feed the family.......
Number43 Champion Author Lexington Posts:8,672 Points:1,634,110 Joined:Oct 2008	Message Posted: Aug 1, 2012 12:06:00 AM Ignore Number43 Report Abuse Corn is people food.
ManOfLeisureII Champion Author Philadelphia Posts:1,854 Points:450,900 Joined:Jan 2012	Message Posted: Aug 1, 2012 12:04:53 AM Ignore ManOfLeisureII Report Abuse Feed the family, feed the car.....lose the cell phone....lose the cable TV
Ray_10589 Champion Author New York Posts:4,921 Points:1,178,010 Joined:May 2009	Message Posted: Aug 1, 2012 12:04:46 AM Ignore Ray_10589 Report Abuse it's not good for cars ...
joel27nc Champion Author Raleigh Posts:10,517 Points:1,854,370 Joined:Mar 2008	Message Posted: Aug 1, 2012 12:02:33 AM Ignore joel27nc Report Abuse Feed the family!
big_mac64 Champion Author Tennessee Posts:10,593 Points:1,485,590 Joined:May 2005	Message Posted: Jul 31, 2012 11:56:42 PM Ignore big_mac64 Report Abuse No choice really. Corn is food, and we need it to stay that way cuz we need to eat to survive. Ethanol gets lower MPG, does damage to engines (esp small moters like lawnmowers), and isn't needed in our fuel...we can do without!
v8gazguzler Champion Author Ottawa Posts:5,905 Points:879,860 Joined:Sep 2008	Message Posted: Jul 31, 2012 11:56:38 PM Ignore v8gazguzler Report Abuse get rid of ethanol in our gas! NOW!
Asbury09 Champion Author Iowa Posts:7,193 Points:1,525,555 Joined:Jan 2009	Message Posted: Jul 31, 2012 11:54:23 PM Ignore Asbury09 Report Abuse time to pay the piper
camaro_man Champion Author Kitchener-Waterloo Posts:2,208 Points:606,890 Joined:Jun 2010	Message Posted: Jul 31, 2012 11:52:37 PM Ignore camaro_man Report Abuse wow
SavALot Champion Author Virginia Beach Posts:8,449 Points:1,707,460 Joined:Apr 2005	Message Posted: Jul 31, 2012 11:51:32 PM Ignore SavALot Report Abuse how realistic is a situation where you would have to make a choice like this?
ferinko Sophomore Author Ontario Posts:139 Points:273,755 Joined:Jan 2012	Message Posted: Jul 31, 2012 11:50:52 PM Ignore ferinko Report Abuse eat or drive? that is question... :)
WIPACKERFAN Champion Author Chicago Posts:8,779 Points:1,838,475 Joined:Aug 2005	Message Posted: Jul 31, 2012 11:50:26 PM Ignore WIPACKERFAN Report Abuse It's unfortunate that it has come to this. It never should have gotten this far. Put the corn back on the table. Food prices will drop.
Jeeputtputt Champion Author Ohio Posts:3,002 Points:677,465 Joined:Aug 2009	Message Posted: Jul 31, 2012 11:49:22 PM Ignore Jeeputtputt Report Abuse gotta feed the car to go fishing and hunting
snappytom2 Champion Author Corpus Christi Posts:3,527 Points:273,565 Joined:Jul 2008	Message Posted: Jul 31, 2012 11:48:49 PM Ignore snappytom2 Report Abuse Would rather eat than drive any day of the week.
pgerassi Champion Author Milwaukee Posts:10,876 Points:2,127,605 Joined:Apr 2007	Message Posted: Jul 31, 2012 11:48:19 PM Ignore pgerassi Report Abuse Ban CIFs and you won't have to make the choice, you can feed your family and your compact car. You will still have park your gas guzzling SUV, RV or VAN. Sell it and get a compact car. You will be better off in the long run.
Dodge_Me Champion Author Atlanta Posts:2,214 Points:552,480 Joined:Mar 2006	Message Posted: Jul 31, 2012 11:47:01 PM Ignore Dodge_Me Report Abuse Duh!
HailstormCA Champion Author San Diego Posts:7,830 Points:1,467,045 Joined:Nov 2008	Message Posted: Jul 31, 2012 11:44:14 PM Ignore HailstormCA Report Abuse How can I get to the welfare office if I can't get fuel for my vehicle. I don't even know the way so I know I'll get lost, but I figure I can just follow the crowd.
pgerassi Champion Author Milwaukee Posts:10,876 Points:2,127,605 Joined:Apr 2007	Message Posted: Jul 31, 2012 11:43:45 PM Ignore pgerassi Report Abuse Also they failed to take into account that corn is of many different grades with the one for consumption as human food being the highest and the one used by ethanol makers is the next to lowest because they only care about the starch content, not color, smell, appearance, uniformity, etc. So even if they stopped buying corn, people won't eat the corn the ethanol makers buy. Hogs and chicken may not care, cattle are a little more discerning. Some grades of corn that are fine for ethanol production won't be eaten by cattle. Livestock feedlots hope that as hogs and chicken eat cheaper lower corn grades, the higher grades will be cheap enough for feedlot operators.
FlyNFool Champion Author South Carolina Posts:8,219 Points:1,680,225 Joined:Aug 2008	Message Posted: Jul 31, 2012 11:41:51 PM Ignore FlyNFool Report Abuse F the car!
justmedc Veteran Author Michigan Posts:382 Points:174,045 Joined:Mar 2012	Message Posted: Jul 31, 2012 11:39:46 PM Ignore justmedc Report Abuse prefer to feed the kids
gem1224 Champion Author Tulsa Posts:1,541 Points:491,640 Joined:May 2011	Message Posted: Jul 31, 2012 11:39:31 PM Ignore gem1224 Report Abuse If I don't feed my car I can't feed my family!!
umitb Champion Author Indianapolis Posts:3,653 Points:839,440 Joined:Apr 2010	Message Posted: Jul 31, 2012 11:39:12 PM Ignore umitb Report Abuse ok
bonzoonfmb Champion Author Florida Posts:1,757 Points:640,250 Joined:Feb 2010	Message Posted: Jul 31, 2012 11:38:49 PM Ignore bonzoonfmb Report Abuse Stop all ethanol production from corn immediately. Factor such as drought should have been written into the mandates to begin with.
humblepie Champion Author Toledo Posts:34,047 Points:2,367,370 Joined:Mar 2006	Message Posted: Jul 31, 2012 11:34:32 PM Ignore humblepie Report Abuse how obtuse
clermont40miles Champion Author Cincinnati Posts:10,543 Points:1,767,935 Joined:Apr 2008	Message Posted: Jul 31, 2012 11:34:20 PM Ignore clermont40miles Report Abuse Suspend ethanol production from foodstuffs. Permanently. E0.
mstearno Champion Author Dayton Posts:8,043 Points:1,727,235 Joined:Jan 2008	Message Posted: Jul 31, 2012 11:31:33 PM Ignore mstearno Report Abuse dumb
goodbuy Champion Author Michigan Posts:7,643 Points:1,418,205 Joined:May 2005	Message Posted: Jul 31, 2012 11:31:15 PM Ignore goodbuy Report Abuse Duplicate article.
pgerassi Champion Author Milwaukee Posts:10,876 Points:2,127,605 Joined:Apr 2007	Message Posted: Jul 31, 2012 11:30:37 PM Ignore pgerassi Report Abuse What BS by a study paid for by the US Army. The results of that study is the returns from a model where they assume ethanol from corn increases prices because it adds demand without any real justification for that. It also doesn't look at many other factors because they wanted it simplified. Third, it assumes a zero sum game which doesn't actually occur. They also don't take into account interactions between the causes. Another fact is that the subsidy they talk about is gone, the blender credit was revoked in 2011. There are no subsidies for ethanol as of right now. They also fail to take into account that grain prices aren't the only driver of food prices. In 2000, the cost of corn in a $3.39 box of corn flakes was 9 cents, the major price drivers were marketing costs of 102 cents, profits of 93 cents, and stocking charges of 83 cents. Actually making the flakes and boxing them up cost only 61 cents in supplies, manufacture and labor. $2.78 out of $3.39 is 82% of the cost. If anything, todays BS portion on a $4-5 box of flakes is likely higher than that 82% in 2000. Store brands of bagged cut rate cereals cost only 99 cents with perhaps a 5 cent drop in packaging so they still eek out a profit of 25 cents with distribution costs of 18 cents split half and half between the plant owners and the store.
Tekkersmom57 Champion Author Syracuse Posts:1,854 Points:696,665 Joined:May 2010	Message Posted: Jul 31, 2012 11:29:53 PM Ignore Tekkersmom57 Report Abuse Ethanol has been a crazy debate for many years. Lighten up on ethanol during this drought because food is more important on the table. Gas can still be gas without the ethanol and just oil. I prefer 100% gas anyway.