Midwest Flooding, Record Corn Prices Lead Experts to Urge EPA to Address Food Inflation...

Midwest Flooding, Record Corn Prices Lead Experts to Urge EPA to Address Food
Inflation Crisis

Economists, Environmentalists and Food Industry Leaders Call on EPA to Suspend
Ethanol Mandate

Leaders in agricultural economics, the environment and the food industry will
hold a call with reporters on Thursday, June 19, to discuss the urgent need
for the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency to revisit food-to-fuel mandates
given recent flooding in the Midwest and $8 per bushel corn.

A new study from FarmEcon LLC, to be submitted to the EPA on Monday, will also
be discussed. The study finds that the impacts of the Renewable Fuel Standard
(RFS) on gas prices is small but that the "effects on food prices and security
are huge."

EPA is considering Governor Rick Perry's (R - TX) ethanol mandate waiver
request, and its public comment period on the request ends on Monday, June 23.
Participants in the call will note the urgent need to grant the waiver and
suspend half of this year's mandate in light of skyrocketing corn prices and
their impact on U.S. consumers and business.

Who:
Rod Brenneman, president and CEO, Seaboard Foods, Kansas
Thomas Elam, president, FarmEcon LLC
James Herring, president and CEO, Friona Industries, Texas
Mark Hickman, president and CEO, Peco Foods, Alabama
Paul Hill, chairman, West Liberty Foods, Iowa
Daryl Thomas, senior vice president, Herr Foods
Richard Wiles, executive director, Environmental Working Group

When:Thursday, June 19th
10:30am - 11:30am EDT

Call In Information: (866) 818-1393
Conference ID: 1253820

CONTACT: Debra Greenspan, +1-202-741-5573, for American Meat Institute

/PRNewswire-USNewswire -- June 19/

SOURCE American Meat Institute