Farm Bureau president: Ethanol one bright spot in country's energy plight

~ Charles Kruse discussed agriculture issues as part of a series conducted by the university.

Finding ways to replenish the country's dwindling energy supply is perhaps the most pressing concern in agriculture today, according to Missouri Farm Bureau president Charles Kruse.

"We've backed ourselves into a corner," Kruse said Thursday, speaking to students at Southeast Missouri State University. "And it's not just a problem in the agricultural community. It's the whole country."

Kruse spoke as part of an agriculture series sponsored by the university, which focuses on the role of Missouri agriculture in the local, national and global economy. The series has featured representatives from agricultural organizations, agencies and companies.

Kruse said several factors play into the problem. For example, he said, the last time an oil refinery was built in the U.S. was 1976.

"Elvis was still alive then," he said. "That tells you something. That demonstrates the kind of problem we have. It's just astounding."

Kruse said several "loud voices" don't want the U.S. to explore for oil and natural gas in places like Alaska's Arctic National Wildlife Refuge. "So now," he said, "because of things like that, we find ourselves in a desperate situation."

He said 95 percent of the cost of nitrogen fertilizer is based on the cost of natural gas. The U.S. used to be the largest exporter of nitrogen fertilizer, but now has become the largest importer.

The one bright spot -- perhaps the only one, Kruse said -- is the recent rise of ethanol, a renewable fuel that is made from corn. He noted that a new ethanol plant that will produce 100 million gallons of ethanol a year is in the works for Southeast Missouri.

But the U.S. also needs to recover more natural gas and oil from the U.S., he said. The country should also use more coal for energy, he said, noting that there are still massive deposits of untapped coal.

Kruse also spoke about the trade situation in the U.S. He said 96 percent of the world lives outside the U.S. He said doors need to be more open for trade. He said that embargoes against countries like Cuba aren't hurting the leaders -- they're hurting the people.

"It doesn't look like Castro has missed too many meals," he said. "It's not hurting him. It's hurting the people of Cuba and it's hurting our farmers, who aren't allowed to trade with a country 90 miles off our coast."

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