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NCGA: Time to throw out land use change theory

The National Corn Growers Association says it’s time to throw out the controversial theory of indirect land use change.

NCGA president Darrin Ihnen calls it “junk science”, which he says “needs to go the way of the horse-drawn plow.

“They don’t give us credit for the fact that—this year—we’re going to produce 300-million more bushels than three years ago, on five-million fewer acres,” Ihnen says. “We just feel it’s flawed science—and the facts and the science continually prove that.”

Ihnen points to a recent study conducted by Purdue University. It found that the California Air Resources Board overestimated the greenhouse-gas impact of land use changes to corn ethanol by more than double. 

“They don’t take into account the biotechnology and how our yields continue to improve,” he says. “They don’t take into account our agronomic practices where we’re producing more corn with less fertilizer.”

The California law is being challenged in the state’s court system.  Ihnen says NCGA’s concern is that other states may try to use the same flawed theory.  “We need more energy sources—why would we hurt ourselves by limiting one of the great renewable energy sources  we do have.”

Ihnen says the oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico reinforces the need for a broad portfolio of domestic energy sources.

AUDIO: Darrin Ihnen (4:30 MP3)

  • The central farm production planning commitee is staffed with loyal party members. These points you bring up are just facts that get in the way of the agenda the party members have already decided on. The party members from San Francisco, Chicago and Boston have read brochures on farming put out by the cap and trade democrats, so they know all they need to know. Have a good day comrade and rest assured that government collective farms are just around the corner….

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