Texas farmers look to expand cultivation of sweet sorghum, sugarcane to serve growing ethanol demand

In Texas, local farmers are looking at sweet sorghum, sugar cane and new varietals of rice to supply feedstock for first and second generation ethanol markets. Texas agriculture has traditionally focused on rice and soybeans in addition to the poultry and cattle operations in the state. The  Southeast Texas BioEnergy Alliance has been formed to attract bioenergy enterprises to Texas. Earlier this year, Governor Rick Perry of Texas led an effort to waive the Renewable Fuel Standard, saying that rising ethanol demand was creating high corn prices and putting traditional Texas agriculture out of business.

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