http://sportsmansblog.com/2008/06/13/blame-corn-pric/ NEWS * INSIGHT * OPINION Fri, 10 Feb 2012 10:36:09 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.com/ http://sportsmansblog.com/2008/06/13/blame-corn-pric/#comment-223 Thu, 26 Jun 2008 13:19:29 +0000 http://sportsmansblog.wordpress.com/2008/06/13/blame-corn-pric/#comment-223 I think it’s more than a bit naive to believe that farmers are plowing under CRP merely in response to a fortuitous turn in the commodities markets. The high price of corn today is largely being driven by the ethanol industry.
And who were some of the first promoters and financiers of ethanol plants? Farmer-owned co-ops. Which organizations have lobbied the hardest for ethanol subsidies of every kind, and for the recent ‘plow it and plant it’ Farm Bill? The aforementioned co-ops, along with their representatives in national and state corn growers associations.
Far from being impartial actors, farmers are up to their eyeballs in the current commodities market situation and have effectively manipulated it to their advantage.
So when it comes the impact we’re seeing today on the land, wildlife, and folks like you and I who enjoy the outdoors, I wouldn’t be so eager to let farmers off the hook.

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