AMI Urges Congress to Minimize Ethanol Policy Impact

WASHINGTON, D.C. - With increased demands on corn from the ethanol industry, Congress and the Bush Administration should consider tax incentives and other legislative vehicles to support energy-based opportunities for animal agriculture and minimize the adverse affects of rising input costs on meat and poultry packers and processors, said AMI President and CEO J. Patrick Boyle in testimony submitted this week to the House Committee on Ways and Means.

Boyle said that dramatically increased demand for corn has pressed market forces to demand higher feed prices. As a result, animal agriculture producers are considering alternatives to their feeding, nutrition, and dietary regimen, which in turn impacts meat and poultry quality, consumer offerings, livestock and poultry farm efficiency, and the management of livestock and poultry operations.

Boyle urged Congress to take four key actions:
- Expand research in ethanol byproduct safety, quality, and usability and renewable energy technologies, such as renewable diesel, biogas and cellulosic.
- Establish equity of incentives for all renewable energy including renewable diesel and methane conversion.
- Support a working lands conservation program to encourage environmentally friendly feed stuffs production.
- Expose consumers to more renewable fuels by allowing the ethanol tariff to expire.
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