State House ag committee to study ethanol mandate

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. -- A House committee will spend the summer studying some of Missouri's thorniest agriculture issues, starting with ethanol.

Republican House member Charlie Schlottach said his interim committee wants ideas for keeping the biofuels industry sustainable. The panel is also expected to study regulation of large animal feeding operations.

Starting this January, state law required Missouri gas generally to be blended with 10 percent ethanol. But some lawmakers have pushed to repeal the ethanol mandate. And Republican governor candidate Sarah Steelman has made an ethanol repeal part of her campaign platform.

Schlottach said he's worried Missouri agriculture has lost its focus on producing food but isn't trying to justify or debunk ethanol. He says he's searching for facts to help lawmakers in future decisions.