Johanns defends ethanol production

Republican U.S. Senate candidate Mike Johanns reaffirmed his commitment to ethanol development and production during a campaign stop Tuesday at Homestead National Monument of America.

“Ethanol is being blamed for everything under the sun at the moment,” Johanns, former Nebraska governor and U.S. secretary of agriculture, said in an interview.

“Every gallon of ethanol produced means one less gallon of oil imported from volatile places in the world such as the Middle East or from places in the world that don’t like us, such as Venezuela. One thing we don’t want to do is back off from our development of biofuels.”

Johanns said while some have blamed ethanol and biodiesel production for an increase in food prices, he said other factors are involved, including strong demand for agricultural products worldwide and a major drought in wheat-producing areas of Australia.

In addition, he said there has been a “certain amount of speculation in commodities.”

Johanns, former Nebraska governor and U.S. agriculture secretary, made a stop at Homestead National Monument before making campaign appearances later Tuesday in Pawnee City, Falls City, Auburn and David City.

Johanns faces Pat Flynn in the May 13 Republican primary for the U.S. Senate seat now held by Sen. Chuck Hagel, R-Neb., who is retiring. The winner of the Republican primary will face the winner of the Democratic primary between Scott Kleeb, Tony Raimondo, Larry Marvin and James Bryan Wilson in the November general election.

In other remarks, Johanns said he hopes the final farm bill Congress passes will continue direct payments for wheat, corn and soybeans, which he called a “safety net” for producers. In addition, he said he is a strong supporter of U.S. Department of Agriculture rural development programs, such as water and sewer and other projects.

“Communities like Beatrice benefit from rural development dollars,” he said. “People don’t realize how important rural development programs are.”