Ethanol from corn: does it need a subsidy?

Prominent researcher tells "newsweek" that corn and ethanol are not silver bullet for ernergy future. He also says the ethsanol industry does not need a subsidy for corn. growers Of course, the American electoral system will require corn subsidies ad infinitum. The folks who write the Farm Bill are all from the farm states with two Senators each.

One Minnesota economist estimates that 25% of that state's overall agricultural income is from federal subsidies. That's typical in states where corn, wheat, soybeans, corn, rice or cottom are grown in large amounts. Meanwhile a new farm bill, with little change from previous bills, is going before the full U.S. Senate this week.