The pros and cons of corn-based ethanol are being recited at a Senate Agriculture Committee hearing in Omaha.

U.S. Sen. Ben Nelson defended ethanol at the beginning of the hearing Monday, saying the biofuel had been unfairly blamed for soaring food prices.

Defenders of ethanol say its production has contributed only a little to the rise in food prices and that the meteoric rise in oil prices is the biggest culprit.

Two U.S. senators emerged from a special ag committee hearing on food, feed and fuel production with a strong sense of optimism.

Sens. Tom Harkin of Iowa and Ben Nelson of Nebraska were in Omaha Monday gathering information about the changing economic landscape for agriculture and renewable fuels' production.

Harkin said that as the biofuel industry grows there will be some headaches. But he said he believes that most people and businesses can get through the rough spots, given proper federal policies and advice from the private sector.

Livestock and poultry industry officials say they are paying billions of dollars more now to raise their food animals, blaming higher corn and other prices.

While a U.S. Senate committee hearing left many feeling optimistic about the path of ethanol and renewable fuels, livestock and poultry producers had a few other ideas on their minds.

Nebraska livestock and poultry farmers say federal policies including ethanol mandates are leaving them hurting.

Omaha-based Henningsen Foods vice president John Toney said he believes the hearing leaned too closely to supporting ethanol. While he agrees the long-term picture will likely level out and producers will adjust, he believes the worst is yet to come.

Toney said next year he expects to see higher costs for livestock and poultry producers and consumers alike.