Corn ... a-maize-ing or not?

"You call it corn ... we call it maize."

Ah ... the end of another week in the metropolis of Jefferson ... and, if you'll forgive the trip back in time and the borrowing of the line above from a favorite commercial from my childhood, let's return to the present and say it's been a very interesting week in the ongoing discussion of whether ethanol should be given greater consideration as an alternative fuel.

The week began with a study conducted by the economic consulting firm LECG and paid for by the Missouri Corn Merchandising Council. It showed there are big economic benefits in Missouri to the mandate that requires each gallon of gasoline to contain a 10 percent ethanol blend.

The next day at the State Capitol, a House hearing was held on HB 2536 - legislation to repeal the E-10 requirement. That bill, which is awaiting further action, is sponsored by Representative Mike Dethrow (R-Alton) who voted for the E-10 mandate but now believes his support was a mistake. He says he's heard from constituents expressing concerns about reduced gas mileage as a result of the ethanol blend.

Other opponents of the E-10 mandate have gone so far as to say the greater demand for ethanol is driving up the price of feed for livestock. And that results in higher costs to consumers when they buy food.

Today the Missouri Corn Growers sent out the organization's weekly e-mail newsletter StalkTalk ... with a link to a Texas study showing oil prices are to blame for higher food costs.

It's hard to tell what's right and what's wrong. Maybe it's not black and white, after all. Perhaps there's quite a bit of gray. But there is no doubt that while legislative efforts to change the E-10 mandate are not likely to go anywhere this year, the debate over ethanol is far from over and we'll be hearing a lot more from both supporters and opponents in the weeks, months, and years to come.

- Steve Walsh