Rising Gas Prices & Ethanol Demand Dropping

Rising Gas Prices & Ethanol Demand Dropping

Rising Gas Prices & Ethanol Demand Dropping plus Food Forethought. I’m Greg Martin with today’s Northwest Report.

A few weeks ago the lines at the gas station we’re pretty long as prices were at some of the lowest points in years. Inevitably those prices are beginning to creep back up again as fears of supply disruption in Iran and upbeat economic data from the world's largest oil user, the United States, have pushed oil prices up over the past month. AAA reports the average price of a gallon of gasoline in Oregon is $3.66, up 14 cents in a week. That’s 9 cents higher than the national average. In Washington it’s $3.64 gallon. 29 cents higher than on this date a year ago. Idaho sits at $3.16 a gallon.

And in the meantime, corn demand from ethanol is dropping as soaring gasoline prices depress gas and ethanol consumption. Senator Chuck Grassley says the fight is on to preserve a subsidy for non-food based cellulosic ethanol.

GRASSLEY: We need to continue the subsidy for cellulosic ethanol. That’s sunset so it has to be renewed. We’re not going to get the ethanol tax incentive back. We have to fight big oil on their efforts to do away with the RFS and we’ve got to make sure that there’s no legislative or regulatory impediments to go on the E15.

Now with today’s Food Forethought, here’s Lacy Gray.

4-H has been there for numerous generations of kids. It is one of the oldest and largest youth development programs in the nation and has reached millions of young people over its long life span. The support of government, foundations, corporations, and individuals is what enables 4-H to continue to enhance the lives of over sixty-five thousand young people every year. Sad then that support for 4-H programs has been steadily shrinking away. Memories of my own involvement in 4-H growing up are some of my fondest, and that even includes giving demonstrations. Some of the nation’s top movers and shakers were once 4-H members. In fact, right now teens are campaigning, giving speeches and learning about the political process during 4-H Know Your Government conferences at state capitols. The 4-H pledge, and yes I can still recite it, says it all: I pledge my head to clearer thinking, my heart to greater loyalty, my hands to larger service, and my health to better living. For my club, my community, my country, and my world. The last thing any of us should want to see is for the 4-H program to disappear, because it truly can “make the best better”.

Thanks Lacy. That’s today’s Northwest Report. I’m Greg Martin on the Ag Information Network. 

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