End the ethanol subsidies and import tariff. That’s the message that meatpackers, represented by the American Meat Institute, and groups representing beef, pork and poultry are sending in a letter to the House Ways and Mean Committee.

“Although we support the need to advance renewable and alternative sources of energy, we strongly believe that it is time that the mature corn-based ethanol industry operates on a level playing field with other commodities that rely on corn as their major input,” the letter says.

“Favoring one segment of agriculture at the expense of another does not benefit agriculture as a whole or the consumers that ultimately purchase our products.”

The letter was signed by the American Meat Institute, the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association, National Pork Producers Council, National Turkey Federation and the National Chicken Council.

Allies of the ethanol industry have introduced legislation in the House and Senate to extend both the 45-cent-a-gallon tax subsidy and the 54-cent-a-gallon import tariff for five years. They’re due to expire at the end of this year.

UPDATE: Matt Hartwig of the Renewable Fuels Association fires back in an email: “Once again, corporate livestock interests are seeking … a return to the days they bought corn under the price of production for the American farmer.  Such practices resulted in farmers getting more income from the government than they could from the marketplace, while corporate livestock industries prospered.”

Read the AMI/livestock letter here: LivestockLetterToWaysAndMeans

Author Philip Brasher