[flashbunny]

“Golly, we were talking about farmers having a captive market. Follow through on your thoughts.”

Ethanol is mandated for use by the government.
Ethanol is made from corn.
Corn is grown by farmers.
A product farmers make is mandated for use by the government.

Captive market. Why do you think farmers lobby for ethanol mandates?

[Mr. Lucky]

Ethanol isn't mandated by the government. Oxygenated fuel is mandated by the government. The oil industry largely chose to use a toxic waste as their oxygenate, but was caught by surprise when the government determined not to subsidize the practice by insulating the industry from environmental liabilities.

Ethanol is made from corn only beacuse corn provides the most economical feedstock, not because on any mandate or captive market. (If the price of corn were artificially high, some other feedstock would be used)