In this same story, investigate the US agricultural policy of paying farmers not to grow any crops to help support the prices? If this policy were ended, maybe more corn could be grown and the prices dropped back to more affordable levels?

Or would that be too much like journalism for the NYT?

The day that "politician" became a career choice is the day we started losing the Republic. Let's get it back! Fred08.com

(out of many)...but there was not one word or hint in the article that government subsidies and mandates CAUSED the problem in the first place.

From Popular Tech's flat world repeat postings on bio fuels which are plants from banking oil cartel funding to this current fabrication of the Times being left by Newsbusters unchallenged does a disservice to readers who depend upon this site for facts.

First for example PT uses the term BTU's to show ethanol is "less" than diesel which is hillarious as ethanol is not being used to heat homes in engines as that is where BTU's are measured as British Thermal Units in the energy stored in and then released. Even if ethanol can be shown to provide less horsepower it does not make it a "disaster" as the propaganda from the oil companies tries to imply here. It only means less horsepower might be generated.
OH AND FOR THE UNINFORMED, the early Ford vehicles were all made to burn straight alcohol and there was never a "disaster" ever quoted in using this fuel by Ford or the government.

It was only when the oil producers gained control that diesel and gas replaced traditional fuels. For the record Mr. Diesel CREATED HIS ENGINE TO RUN ON VEGETABLE OIL and it was changed on his death to use less efficient diesel.

Not giving readers these facts nor explaining there is no corelation between starving people and corn prices. (Corn flour is WHITE CORN and not genetic hybrid corn) Along with the fact that traders in Chicago set price according the daily trade rates set in London BY THE BANKING AND OIL CARTELS for oil prices is what gears all of this.

I explained here before that crop niche in America for the most part IS NOT INTERCHANGEABLE. By this Kansas, Nebrasaka, Dakotas and Montana are wheat production areas in large due to the arid nature and short growing seasons corn or beans do not grow there. In the same way areas which produce vegetables will not resort to lesser crops like corn and beans as they do not generate what lettuce and spinach does.
The corn and bean belt always produces corn and beans. Even with fertilizer WHICH ARE FROM OIL, ground can be "beaned out". Meaning soil is depleted when constantly under the same crop cultivation. Nature abhores same crops and crop rotation is mandatory.......which means that beans and corn are rotated in and out yearly.

American corn and beans are not "food items" as they are genetic engineered for oil and bi products. Food soybeans and corn are different crops all together........just like you don't load up the 747 to mow your lawn you do not put the lawnmower with airmail bags on it to fly to Chicago.

So explain what propaganda is being generated by the oil and banking cartels to keep rural Americans from gaining wealth and being an independent threat to their global order and explain that world markets are set by these same cartels in buying "FUTURES" and they never buy or see one bushel of corn. It is all paper and is meant to make profits off of other people's labor and keep them poor.

Newsbusters not once had one story in the past 2 years about non break even prices on farm goods in the cereal grains. Farmers struggled in family operations as that is who raises cereal grains and not the corporate poultry, swine, dairy and vegetable operations. Now that these Americans which were impoverished for the past 40 years are actually paying off debt........gee it becomes a huge problem that bio fuels are being created as they were traditionally in America.

I will repeat the economics lesson which I posted before. Oil money goes to oil states and into oil banks OUT OF YOUR POCKET and never returns except in military contracts.
Bio fuels like all created wealth STAYS IN AMERICA. Those farmers spend the money locally and on American products. This in turn pays for the services of your job which you are working at and gives you a raise in pay as the money stays local and in America.

It astounds me the literal ignorance and the people who will literally cut their own financial throats thinking bio fuels are "bad" and yet have no problem buying South American food at inflated prices and dumping oil into OPEC and oil companies coffers.

THINK AMERICA. It is not that difficult to follow the economics and stop repeating propaganda as it comes down to the question:

Do you want money in America in your accounts or do you want money in European banks buying oil?

It should be simple to figure out.

*HIC IACET ARTORIVS REX QVONDAM REXQVE FVTVRVS

As the number of acres of corn for the production of ethanol increases , the number of acres left for barley and hops decreases.  This will result in an increase in the price of beer. 

 Maybe, just maybe this will be enough to make people realize that ethanol might not be the best way to go.

On another note, does any one have information on the use of sugar to make alcohol based fuels?  I believe they use it in South America.  If we lifted the tariffs on sugar this might be a cheap source of energy. 

Note:  The beer comment is sarcasm.  Obviously the issue of world hunger is far more important than the price of beer.  No need do berate me about my insensityvity. 

There are 10 types of people.  Those who understand binary and those who don't.

I'm posting this about my hunger. Specifically my hunger for fresh, white, glorious corn-on-the-cob. The kind you buy right off the farmers truck, run (not walk) straight home, light the charcoal and shuck while you wait for the charcoal to be ready. I'm talking the kind you wrap in HD aluminum foil, with a little melted butter, salt, fresh ground pepper and a half-slice of fresh jalepeno pepper. Yeah, that kind.

As a backyard chef of considerable ability (and I'm no slouch in the kitchen, either) I cannot begin to produce the words to convey upon all of you just how underwhelmed I was with the summer corn crop this year. The quality was abysmal, and the prices were through the roof.

I live for summer corn. I think about it all winter long. Normally here in Georgia, we get some of the best around. I'm talking huge cobs with big, fat, juicy white kernels. The kind that will literally squirt one in the eye. If there is a better side-dish for your favorite grilled foods, I have yet to find it.

Perhaps it was the drought we have been experiencing here in the southeast. Maybe it was sun-spots, or an Orwellian conspiracy of some sort, but something tells me it may have had something to do with the current bio-fuel fad. If so, then this lunacy must end, and it must end right now. I will not go through another summer without that delectable delicacy known around here as summer corn.

And I better be able to get twenty ears for a buck, too. Else I shall be writing my congressman.

Numerous times.

When I'm president, privatization is off the table because it's not the answer to anything.-Hillary Rodham, September 3, 2007 AARP Legislative Conference.

This story was on NPR months ago.

Another drawback to the ethanol insanity that doesn't get much coverage is the fact that it takes enormous volumes of water to supply the ethanol plants.  We're talking about 2 million gallons per day! 

They're building a plant in our back yard and it sounds like it is sure to eventually deplete the aquifer and drive our already-high water prices through the roof.