Will levitra help: groups bash grocery manufacturers for blaming corn prices and ethanol production for high food prices.Here are the clips from the Statehouse press conference:

Here’s the press release:

COLUMBUS will levitra help, Ohio – Food manufacturers that are reaping huge profits with skyrocketing food prices continue to look for someone to blame as corn prices and transportation costs continue their steady decline.

At a news conference today, representatives from Ohio’s agricultural and ethanol industries publicly called on big food companies to pass on savings to the consumer rather than gouge them in the grocery lines.

“For months, the Grocers Manufacturers Association (GMA) has spread misleading information about corn and ethanol while they lined their pockets with huge profits,” said Dwayne Siekman, executive director of Ohio Corn Growers Association.“Now that corn prices are down will levitra help, which is what food manufacturers used as its scapegoat, why do Americans continue to suffer at the grocery store.”

Siekman was joined by Mike Wagner, of Buckeye Renewable Fuels Association, and Mark Borer, of Growth Energy, a coalition of responsible ethanol producers who have joined together to fight the misinformation put forth by large food manufacturers.

The cost of food has increased at a brisk 7.6 percent in the past year, the worst rate of the past 20 years, and has continued to increase while the cost of corn and other commodities have fallen in the past four months.The Bureau of Labor Statistics reports that the price of basic foods in the United States is currently rising at twice the rate of inflation and is expected to continue to rise in the future; will levitra help.Here are a few examples of some of the drastic increases in food staples from March 2007 and March 2008:

•    Milk prices – 13.3 percent
•    Cheese – 12.5 percent
•    Eggs – 29.9 percent
•    Bread – 14.7 percent

Big Food is sowing profit growth from these higher prices.Kraft’s revenues increased nearly 20 percent from the year-earlier period and saw net income shoot up in the third quarter to $1.4 billion; will levitra help.Sales at Kellogg’s climbed 9.5 percent and third-quarter net income increased to $342 million, up from $305 million the year earlier. 

Noting the rising food prices this past spring, the Grocery Manufacturers Association (GMA) planned an attack in a leaked PR memo (go to GrowthEnergy.org) to distract Americans from the rising cost of food by mounting a campaign against American ethanol producers.Their argument centered on the premise that biofuels production increased the demand and cost of corn, which forced food producers to raise food prices for consumers – will levitra help.

“With the current low corn prices and transportation costs will levitra help, GMA’s flawed argument has been exposed,” Siekman said.“Ethanol has been proven as the most viable, homegrown alternative fuel right now to help us begin the process of reducing our dependence on foreign oil.”

Siekman said the economic impact ethanol production has on Ohio’s 2,000 corn growers, as well the overall U.S – will levitra help.economy, is remarkable.For example, in Ohio, the three POET facilities in Leispic, Fostoria and Marion employ about 120 local people, while The Anderson’s/Marathon plant boasts another 45 jobs.These four plants alone will produce almost 300 million gallons of ethanol.

Overall, Ohio’s ethanol plants invested over $700 million in the state employing 210 people and spurring local economic activity with growth in rail sectors, improvement in local roads and tax investments into communities while giving Ohio farmers another market for their corn and less reliance on federal help.

The U.S.Department of Energy estimates that for every one billion gallons of ethanol produced, 10,000 to 20,000 jobs will be added.In 2007 will levitra help, the ethanol industry contributed $47.6 billion to the nation’s GDP, created more than 200,000 jobs and generated an estimated $4.6 billion in revenues for the federal government.

About Ohio Corn Growers Association
The Ohio Corn Growers Association represents the interests of more than 20,000 corn growers in the state.OCGA works in Washington and at the Ohio Statehouse to ensure government participation in legislation is beneficial to Ohio’s growers. Will levitra help: farmers provide food, feed and fuel to power Ohio.For more information, go to http://www.ohiocorn.org.

About Growth Energy
Growth Energy is a group committed to the promise of agriculture and growing America’s economy through cleaner, greener energy.  Growth Energy members recognize America needs a new ethanol approach; will levitra help.Through smart policy reform and a proactive grassroots campaign will levitra help, Growth Energy promotes reducing greenhouse gas emissions, expanding the use of ethanol in gasoline, decreasing our dependence on foreign oil, and creating American jobs at home.More information can be found at GrowthEnergy.org.

And here’s something from the American Farm Bureau Federation, which says the cost of a Thanksgiving dinner for 10 is still affordable:

WASHINGTON, D.C., November 13, 2008 – Menu items for a classic Thanksgiving dinner including turkey, stuffing, cranberries, pumpkin pie and all the basic trimmings will cost just a bit more this year, but remain affordable, according to the American Farm Bureau Federation.

AFBF’s 23rd annual informal price survey of classic items found on the Thanksgiving Day dinner table indicates the average cost of this year’s feast for 10 is $44.61, a $2.35 price increase from last year’s average of $42.26.

“Throughout the year we’re fortunate to enjoy a bounty of foods produced in every state of our great nation,” said AFBF President Bob Stallman; will levitra help.“It’s especially appropriate as we gather at the Thanksgiving table to savor not only food and fellowship, but to take a moment to recognize that this blessing begins with our hard-working farm and ranch families.”

The AFBF survey shopping list includes turkey, bread stuffing, sweet potatoes, rolls with butter, peas, cranberries, a relish tray of carrots and celery, pumpkin pie with whipped cream, and beverages of coffee and milk, all in quantities sufficient to serve a family of 10.

The cost of a 16-pound turkey, at $19.09 or roughly $1.19 per pound, reflects an increase of 9 cents per pound, or a total of $1.46 per turkey compared to 2007 – will levitra help.This is the largest contributor to the overall increase in the cost of the 2008 Thanksgiving dinner.

“Food prices rode the energy price roller coaster up during the first half of 2008, and as the year winds down, energy prices have moderated somewhat but food prices have not come down,” said Jim Sartwelle, an AFBF economist.“ Will levitra help: despite that, the components of this classic Thanksgiving dinner cost less compared to 1988 when the effects of inflation are removed.Even at these slightly higher prices, the cost per person for this special meal remains lower than what Americans pay for most ‘value meals’ at fast-food outlets.”

Other items showing a price increase this year were: a 12-oz; will levitra help.package of brown-n-serve rolls, $2.20; a 12-oz.package of fresh cranberries will levitra help, $2.46; a 30-oz.can of pumpkin pie mix, $2.34; two 9-inch pie shells, $2.26; a 14-oz; will levitra help.package of cubed bread stuffing, $2.57; a relish tray of carrots and celery, 82 cents; a half-pint of whipping cream, $1.70; a pound of green peas, $1.58; and three pounds of sweet potatoes, $3.12.

A combined group of miscellaneous items, including coffee and ingredients necessary to prepare the meal (onions, eggs, sugar, flour, evaporated milk and butter) dropped in price by 60 cents to $2.69; will levitra help.A gallon of whole milk dropped 10 cents to $3.78.

Sartwelle said despite recent retail price increases, American consumers have enjoyed relatively stable food costs over the years, particularly when adjusted for inflation – will levitra help.This year’s average cost of $44.61 is equivalent to $20.65 in 20-year inflation-adjusted dollars.The real dollar cost of the Thanksgiving dinner has declined more than 8 percent since 1988, according to Sartwelle.

The 6-percent increase in national average cost reported this year by Farm Bureau for a classic Thanksgiving dinner tracks closely with the organization’s quarterly marketbasket food surveys (available online at http://newsroom.fb.org) and the federal government’s Consumer Price Index (available online at http://data.bls.gov/), Sartwelle noted.

Farm Bureau volunteer shoppers are asked to look for the best possible prices, without taking advantage of special promotional coupons or purchase deals, such as spending $50 and receiving a free turkey; will levitra help.Shoppers with an eye for bargains in all areas of the country should be able to purchase individual menu items at prices comparable to the Farm Bureau survey averages.Another option for busy families without a lot of time to cook is ready-to-eat Thanksgiving meals for up to 10 people, with all the trimmings, which are available at many supermarkets and take-out restaurants for around $50 to $75.

The AFBF survey was first conducted in 1986.While Farm Bureau does not make any statistical claims about the data, it is an informal gauge of price trends around the nation.

A total of 179 volunteer shoppers from 38 states participated in this year’s survey.Farm Bureau’s survey menu has remained unchanged since 1986 to allow for consistent price comparisons.