We had a massive drought 3 years ago that started with a drought in Russia that pushed up wheat prices here and the other commodities went up with it. As a result of the drought and lowered production, corn and beans reached record highs in price. Because of high grain prices and no pasture farmers sold off their cow herds. There was also a swine disease out break that drove up the price of pork and we are now seeing recovery in both cattle and hogs numbers. While ethanol has helped raise the price of corn, it has also lowered the money that is paid by the government in subsidies. soybeans are a main component in both animal feed and biodiesel the difference in lower fuel milage and lower cost of fuel makes E85 about the same as using regular. It is true that using corn for fuel isn't a good idea and with out the tax benefits and subsidies wouldn't pencil out but don't look for it to go away