Biodiesel's fate in Farm Bill reauthorization uncertain
Will American farmers continue get Federal help to grow biodiesel feedstock? Under the current compromise in the Farm Bill that's going through a reauthorization, the answer to that question is yes. But the White House is apparently going to veto the biodiesel provisions that allow farmers who make up to $2.5m a year still qualify for crop subsidies. Rumor is that an official verdict might be coming out today sometime. The National Biodiesel Board (NBB), for its part, likes the compromise and said so in a press release that came out late last week. The issue revolves around the Commodity Credit Corporation (CCC) Bioenergy program, which the NBB says is "a key element in America's energy solution." Unfortunately for farmers, feedstock costs are jumping up in price (what isn't, these days? Houses, I guess). The CCC Bioenergy program is worth $300 million.
[Source: National Biodiesel Board, Domestic Fuel]
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Tim 12:43PM (5/12/2008)
Exactly why do wealthy farmers deserve my tax money?
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Jimbo 1:44PM (5/12/2008)
Maybe we should convert all those unsold houses into biofuels.
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Snark 2:00PM (5/12/2008)
Most farmers are not rich; farm subsidies actually support Cargill and ADM, not farmers. Now, I share your distaste for subsidizing profitable businesses, but your choice of target is misinformed - as typical from you.
Subsidies of farmers are necessary - despite the poorly-informed free-market worship that ignorant ideologues seek to apply to every aspect of economy and society, farm subsidies are necessary to support farmers in rough years, as their industry is governed by nature, not by the market. There are plenty of things to apply free-market economics to, but farming is not one of them.
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Bob Moffitt (Bob from ALAMN) 2:02PM (5/12/2008)
From Minnesota, happier news for biodiesel. I just left a signing ceremony at the Capitol for a bill that increases (over time) our first-in-the nation biodiesel requirement (aka mandate) from B2 (two percent) to B20 (20 percent).
For an update on where Miinnesota is on ethanol, google "Ground zero in the debate over ethanol," an article from the May 11 Star Trubune newspaper.
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Tim 2:23PM (5/12/2008)
Comrade Snark, most farmers ARE incorporated and on the take. I’m sure that if the government said that they would take $100K from your neighbor give you a check, you’d say O.K. You’ve been programmed that it’s OK to steal as long as you do see the faces of the taxpayer victims.
I'm also sure you're enjoying the cradle to grave big brother socialism complete with short leash. We wouldn’t want you to get lost in freedom (financial, thought or otherwise), would we? As for me, I don't want the short leash carried by jack booted black shirt neocon or democratic-socialist elitists masters, nor do I feel the need to steal money from my neighbors. If I fall, I will pick myself up without you’re help whether you want to give it to me or not.
It was the spirit of self-sufficiency that once made America the envy of the whole world and it is today’s spirit of helplessness without “government” (your friends and neighbors) that is destroying this once great nation. We are squandering all the work and sacrifice of our forefathers. It does NOT take a village. It takes strong, self-sufficient spirit with the will to overcome adversity without FORCING others to help.
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