Should Congress end subsidies for ethanol production?

I would recommend phasing out ethanol subsidies. While they have had a temporary effect of increasing farm incomes and somewhat lowering oil imports, I think using a food grain for fuel is ethically bankrupt and in the long run not a good use of our productive farm land. With the world's increasing population, this kind of land use is not defensible.

Food costs are rising world wide and conversion of corn to ethanol is one reason. The greater availability of fuel lowers its price and allows more wasteful fuel use. So everyone loses in the current system, except for the farmer. In order for ethanol subsidies to be phased out, I think for a period of time, the government would need to buy some of the excess grain to hold the price up during the transition. This grain can be held for worldwide emergencies or used in foreign aid or to lower world food prices. Some plants can continue to make the product, but without the subsidy.

This still leaves the problem that there will be increased oil imports due to lack of subsidy on ethanol. This is not a minor problem and we do not want to make the balance of trade worse than it is. I think another good use of the government's money would be to have another cash for clunkers program or a similar way to incent people into more fuel efficient cars. There are other uses for gas, such as with lawn mowers and home heating, for which further incentives can be made for efficiency. In time, I believe that oil use could be reduced to the point where the balance of trade issue is neutral.