Ethanol Creation Cripples Beef Farmers

US - If you notice the price of beef going up in the next few months, don’t be surprised. As the government continues to push for more ethanol research, the main ingredient in the fuel is becoming more expensive and rare. It's hurting beef farmers.
calendar icon 12 March 2007
clock icon 1 minute read
“Those cattle, we paid an average for the corn at that time $87 to $104,” said Rich Brown, owner of Equity Angus Farm.

That was back in January, two months later, Rich is paying an extra $70 per ton of corn feed for his cows.

“I’m taking this full bucket and reducing it by half at this point in time, so I’m cutting back already on the amounts of feed I’m feeding,” Brown said.

Normally, he will feed his calves a special protein diet. Not this time, they have to rely on their mother’s milk.

“So basically, we’re taking a balanced nutritional diet that we fed to cattle and we’re disrupting it, we’re gambling with our food supply, bottom line,” Brown said.

This basically means we’re the ones who will pick up the cost.

Source: News Channel 9
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