Comments on: Science in Brief: Fungal cowboys, King Corn and ant prophylaxis http://www.chrisdellavedova.com/2007/12/15/science-in-brief-fungal-cowboys-king-corn-and-ant-prophylaxis/ An American Expatriate -Upside Down Down Under Tue, 08 Sep 2009 07:10:34 -0600 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.4 hourly 1 By: Science Tuesday: Corny Carbon Conundrum | chrisdellavedova.com http://www.chrisdellavedova.com/2007/12/15/science-in-brief-fungal-cowboys-king-corn-and-ant-prophylaxis/comment-page-1/#comment-6363 Science Tuesday: Corny Carbon Conundrum | chrisdellavedova.com Tue, 04 Mar 2008 14:25:37 +0000 http://www.chrisdellavedova.com/2007/12/15/science-in-brief-fungal-cowboys-king-corn-and-ant-prophylaxis/#comment-6363 [...] that corn-based ethanol may not be the green giant that folks thought. Just before Christmas a letter to Science by a respected ecologist suggested that the jump in corn farming in the U.S. has led to increased [...] [...] that corn-based ethanol may not be the green giant that folks thought. Just before Christmas a letter to Science by a respected ecologist suggested that the jump in corn farming in the U.S. has led to increased [...]

]]> By: CDV http://www.chrisdellavedova.com/2007/12/15/science-in-brief-fungal-cowboys-king-corn-and-ant-prophylaxis/comment-page-1/#comment-3513 CDV Sat, 15 Dec 2007 19:26:08 +0000 http://www.chrisdellavedova.com/2007/12/15/science-in-brief-fungal-cowboys-king-corn-and-ant-prophylaxis/#comment-3513 Nathan, I don't know about whether the subsidies have anything to do with increased production. I do know that any politician with presidential ambitions (i.e. most of them) can never vote against subsidies as long as Iowa plays such an important role in the primaries. It's kind of the same way that no politician with presidential ambitions can vote against the Cuban embargo as long as Florida remains a "purple" state. There's no logic to either of these programs - just politics. There are certainly some uses for ethanol as an alternative energy source - sure. But, I think that the ethanol craze is being partially fueled by shortsighted politicians who aren't looking at more viable options - that maybe wouldn't get them votes in the Midwest. Nathan, I don’t know about whether the subsidies have anything to do with increased production. I do know that any politician with presidential ambitions (i.e. most of them) can never vote against subsidies as long as Iowa plays such an important role in the primaries. It’s kind of the same way that no politician with presidential ambitions can vote against the Cuban embargo as long as Florida remains a “purple” state. There’s no logic to either of these programs – just politics.

There are certainly some uses for ethanol as an alternative energy source – sure. But, I think that the ethanol craze is being partially fueled by shortsighted politicians who aren’t looking at more viable options – that maybe wouldn’t get them votes in the Midwest.

]]> By: Nathan B. http://www.chrisdellavedova.com/2007/12/15/science-in-brief-fungal-cowboys-king-corn-and-ant-prophylaxis/comment-page-1/#comment-3511 Nathan B. Sat, 15 Dec 2007 17:43:15 +0000 http://www.chrisdellavedova.com/2007/12/15/science-in-brief-fungal-cowboys-king-corn-and-ant-prophylaxis/#comment-3511 Chris, I think it's a bit short-sighted to blame subsidies on the rise in corn production since 2006. The subsidies have been there for years, but the price per bushel of corn was under $2. Demand has driven up the price more than 80%, and that more than anything caused the acres/production spike. And one of the references for that Slate article has Big Oil funding...not exactly fair and balanced. Not to say that corn growing associations put out great info either. I think, as with most things, ethanol (both grain and cellulosic) is one of the many things we need for energy independence. The article also mentions the problems with ethanol's volatility and energy content...one alternative is biobutanol (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Biobutanol). If a commercially-viable production system is developed, biobutanol will definitely replace ethanol's place in the biofuels marketplace. Chris, I think it’s a bit short-sighted to blame subsidies on the rise in corn production since 2006. The subsidies have been there for years, but the price per bushel of corn was under $2. Demand has driven up the price more than 80%, and that more than anything caused the acres/production spike.

And one of the references for that Slate article has Big Oil funding…not exactly fair and balanced. Not to say that corn growing associations put out great info either. I think, as with most things, ethanol (both grain and cellulosic) is one of the many things we need for energy independence. The article also mentions the problems with ethanol’s volatility and energy content…one alternative is biobutanol (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Biobutanol). If a commercially-viable production system is developed, biobutanol will definitely replace ethanol’s place in the biofuels marketplace.

]]> By: Jeff Keith http://www.chrisdellavedova.com/2007/12/15/science-in-brief-fungal-cowboys-king-corn-and-ant-prophylaxis/comment-page-1/#comment-3510 Jeff Keith Sat, 15 Dec 2007 14:42:52 +0000 http://www.chrisdellavedova.com/2007/12/15/science-in-brief-fungal-cowboys-king-corn-and-ant-prophylaxis/#comment-3510 Interesting post. It is amazing that insects work better together than humans. Could you imagine what we could do if we worked together in areas of medicine or other crucial research areas? Interesting post. It is amazing that insects work better together than humans. Could you imagine what we could do if we worked together in areas of medicine or other crucial research areas?

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