3/6/2009
Family Features
All materials courtesy of: National Corn Growers Association

The use of alternative energy is becoming more common in everyday life. Here are some facts to consider about one alternative source, ethanol.

-America's corn growers are harvesting the second largest crop in our nation's history, which means there will be enough corn to meet demands for food, feed and fuel as well as enough to provide strong exports to other countries over the course of the year ahead.

-U.S. growers will have reserve estimated at more than 1 billion bushels for other needs, as identified.

-Ethanol production creates co-products called distillers grains that are a high-protein source of animal feed and produces starch and corn oil that are used as common food ingredients.

-U.S. farmers harvest two kinds of corn, field corn and sweet corn. Field corn is used to produce ethanol. It typically isn't eaten by humans in its raw form. Sweet corn is eaten as a vegetable.

-Blending ethanol with gasoline extends gas reserves and lowers the price at the pump by about 15 percent, according to industry experts. Plus, ethanol was selected as an important replacement for Methyl tert-butyl ether (MTBE), a carcinogenic oxygenate in fuel.

-The Environmental Protection Agency concluded that ethanol reduces carbon monoxide emissions by as much as 25 percent, reducing ozone formation and the levels of greenhouse gases. Ethanol is cleaner than gasoline and helps reduce global warming.

-Many studies have shown ethanol provides 20 to 50 percent more energy than it takes to produce. This includes the energy needed to plant, grow and harvest the corn as well as to manufacture and distribute the ethanol.

For more information, visit www.ncga.com/FoodandFuel/FoodAndFuel.asp.