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PRESIDENT'S AWARD--Mike Geske (left), a farmer from Mathews, Mo., and president of the Missouri Corn Growers Association, gave the President's Award to Gov. Matt Blunt. The award was presented a the Missouri Corn Growers annual meeting held March 11 in Jefferson City, Mo. This marked the 30-year anniversary of this organization. (Journal photo by Doug Rich.)
Missouri Corn Growers Association celebrates its 30-year anniversary
By Doug Rich
The Missouri Corn Growers Association celebrated 30 years of success at its annual meeting on March 11 in Jefferson City, Mo. Governor Matt Blunt congratulated the corn growers for their help in setting good public policy and for being a powerful influence at the capital.
"When I took office as Governor in 2004, Missouri was producing about 61 million gallons of ethanol and had two plants," Gov. Blunt said. "Today there are five plants, soon to be six, and we are producing over 225 million gallons of ethanol. It is part of our growing economy."
Gov. Blunt said that in spite of a national recession, $107 per barrel oil price and a mortgage crisis that has affected the entire country, Missouri created 3,000 new jobs in February. He said Missouri's growing economy has created 95,000 new jobs since January 2005.
"Plant based renewable fuels are an important component of Missouri's growing economy," Gov. Blunt said. "You all know that is good for our environment and improves air quality. I am often frustrated by people who claim to be environmentalists who will not admit the benefits of plant-based renewable fuels like ethanol."
Gov. Blunt said that about 3,000 jobs in Missouri are directly tied to the ethanol industry. He said in many rural communities the best jobs in town are at an ethanol plant.
There is a national security element to ethanol production, as well. Gov. Blunt said we will never get to a position where we don't have to import any oil but every time we can replace one gallon of imported oil with ethanol that is good for our national security.
"One of my frustrations are those skeptics who ignore the facts about ethanol and biodiesel," Gov. Blunt said. "They have this view that high commodity prices are somehow bad for Missouri, I disagree. High commodity prices are something we should relish, not be ashamed of or run away from. It means we are getting more dollars into our economy. It is one of the strengths of our growing economy here in Missouri."
Gov. Blunt said these people are trying to blame increased food prices on ethanol and biodiesel while ignoring high gasoline prices and surging global demand for meat and other commodities.
"We need to make an aggressive defense of plant-based renewable fuels and remind people that only 19 cents of every dollar spent at the grocery store returns to farmers," Gov. Blunt said.
Doug Rich can be reached by phone at 785-749-5304 or by e-mail at richhpj@aol.com.
3/17/08
2 Star EK\7-B
Date: 3/13/08
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