When Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack said he favors increasing the blend rate for gas/ethanol for non-flex-fuel vehicles, environmental and livestock groups alike were not happy. Vilsack said he favors a blend rate higher than 10% to "create more opportunities for the ethanol industry," despite calls by the by a livestock and poultry industry coalition for EPA to hold ethanol gasoline blending limits at the current 10% through 2010, a request echoed by environmental groups. The environmental groups also upped the ante by calling for freezing the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) at current levels While ag groups cite the negative impact on feed and food costs from the competition for corn, the environmental groups contend corn-based fuels are "causing environmental and social harm...including rampant deforestation and increasing food prices."<br>