Not only is ethanol under attack, but the renewable fuels standard as well. That assessment came from Congressman Steve King, (R-Kiron), representing Iowa's 5th District, when he stopped in at the Farm News booth Saturday at the Clay County Fair. King was responding to my question concerning the fate of the blender's credit this year in D.C. King said he sat in on Washington hearings when the livestock industry "gave ethanol a pounding." This in itself is nothing new, as the cattle and pork producers would like to see ethanol's rise eclipsed in order to bring the price of corn, and thereby feed costs, down. But what fired King up this day was the attack on the RFS. "It was frustrating to hear the misinformation on ethanol," King said, claiming he was one of the few voices there to defend the biofuel. He said the blender's credit will expire this year and that he thinks there's more chance to save biodiesel and cellulosic ethanol, rather than corn-based ethanol. But King said he got a glimpse at the ethanol opponents' new game plan when they attacked the RFS. That was a hint that the strategy is changing, he said. "Your readers have to know this," King said. "Now, it's time to organize. "We have to keep the RFS or ethanol will be eliminated." He noted that the livestock industries attack the blender's credit as a subsidy. "But back when corn was $2, farm supports were subsidizing corn," he said. He also noted that back in those days distiller's dried grains were not available. For each 56 pounds of corn crushed for ethanol, 17 pounds of DDG is produced, which has revolutionized livestock feeding. "I've never seen so many ditches being baled," King said, "as a result of cattlemen being able to sprinkle DDG in such rough feed to sweeten it." Last June, Farm News columnist David Kruse wrote: "The way ethanol gained market share is that the blender’s credit compensated the oil companies for lost market share. It also went to the blender which allowed the subsidy to circumvent the big oil companies. The blender’s credit earned through blenders pumps go to the blender, be that an ethanol company or local co-op. It forces open market access for ethanol." Back in June, Kruse wasn't concerned that the RFS was in trouble. But that was three months ago. Ethanol opponents have decided that the best way to defeat ethanol would be to eliminate the RFS which mandates its production and growth. Are they ready to kill biodiesel as well?? "The ethanol industry was one of the best things that have ever happened to the Midwest cattle feeding industry," Kruse wrote earlier this year. "So why then does the NCBA so aggressively oppose ethanol? Because it does not represent the Midwest cattle feeding industry." "It represents big feedlots in the same states like Texas and Oklahoma that also attack ethanol as Big Oil interests." So Congressman King says the ethanol industry, corn growers, ethanol end users and those concerned about the Midwest ag economy must organize to protect what has been accomplished and future potential. So … what’s the first step? I’d love to hear from ya.

Have a good week.

--kersh