The ethanol industry is again being threatened and U-S Ag Secretary Tom Vilsack is putting out a warning to leaders in states like Nebraska, which is the nation's number-two ethanol producer.
The ethanol industry is again being threatened and U-S Ag Secretary Tom Vilsack is putting out a warning to leaders in states like Nebraska, which is the nation's number-two ethanol producer. Vilsack says ethanol is clean-burning, renewable and helps reduce dependence on foreign oil.
US Ag Sec Tom Vilsack "a good thing"
Vilsack says U-S senators is oil-producing states are pushing legislation that would get rid of the renewable fuels standard. Critics say it artificially props up an industry that can't make a profit without federal intervention. Nebraska has 24 plants operating with a capacity of more than 2-billion gallons a year and consuming 700-million bushels of corn. Ethanol is responsible for about 1,200 jobs in Nebraska.
U-S Ag Secretary Tom Vilsack says looming federal budget cuts may have an impact on state programs that get federal grants or federal funding. Vilsack says he's carefully drawing up the budget-cutting plans for the U.S.D.A.
Vilsack "be replaced"
If congress and the president cannot agree on an alternative plan, across-the-board cuts in the federal budget will take effect March 1st.
Deep federal budget cuts are looming March 1st and many Nebraska programs that rely on federal dollars may be threatened. U-S Ag Secretary Tom Vilsack says instead of an across-the-board cut, agency heads like himself could make selected cuts. Vilsack says "it's frustrating" congress hasn't allowed that step.
Vilsack "to stop this"
President Obama has asked congress to delay the across-the-board cuts and, instead, pass a smaller package of spending cuts and tax increases, but Republicans in congress say they're not interested in raising taxes.
(courtesy of Nebraska Radio Network)
