With an industry so heavily influenced by government action, many Missourians wonder how the next governor will approach the issue of biofuels.

Biofuels are big business and a hot issue for politicians from the presidential race on down. Farmers say it means their crops are much more valuable but at what cost to taxpayers?

The great debate on biofuels affects nearly everyone.

"No matter if you're a farmer in rural Missouri, or if you're a lawyer in Columbia, Missouri," said corn farmer Gary Clark.

It affects prices from the gas in our cars, to the food in grocery stores.

"It's a hot issue because right now the argument is being framed by food versus fuel," corn farmer Harold Beach said.

And with the governor's race not so far in the distance, things are really heating up.

"I think it's quite evident to everyone that our country needs to be energy independent," corn farmer Winston Simpson said.

But in Audrain County, where biofuels dominate the economy, farmers reap a windfall. Every time soybean farmer John Cauthorn cracks open a shell, he sees a big profit.

"I've got about 800 acres," Cauthorn said.

He remembers a time when he could barely make any profit on his soybeans

"We've had tough times in the community. We haven't had exraordinary prices like this in a long time," said Cauthorn.

In 2005, Mexico became the home of the Mid-America biofuels plant, the largest biodiesel plant in Missouri. The plant produces about 30 million gallons of biodiesel a  year, adding big numbers to the bottom line for farmers like Cauthorn. But even these farmers recognize the biofuel industry is not perfect.

"It's really food, and fuel, and feed," Cauthorn said.

Missouri ranchers worry the biofuels industry is driving up their feed costs, while consumers worry ethanol production is increasing the price of their favorite foods. Many farmers, along with both gubernatorial candidates feel the future of biofuels may lie outside of corn and soybeans.

With the biofuels industry almost completely supported by government subsidies, like Missouri's Ethanol Mandate, the gasoline companies stand to lose a lot. For many voters like Cauthorn, their vote in the governor's election will depend largely on how they plan to handle the issue of biofuels.

Although Democrat Jay Nixon and Republican Kenny Hulshof have similar energy policies, KOMU talked to them to find out exactly where, they stand.

"I think there are significant differences between where I am and where I want to take the state and where Congressman Hulshof has been, which has been right with the oil companies voting for tax break after tax break refusing to support whats necessary at a federal level to make sure that we get in front of this energy challenge we've got right now," Democratic gubernatorial candidate Jay Nixon said. "It's not an accident that we got a real problem. Now the key is having somebody who's stood up to those special interests and lead the way I have over the last 20 years laying out a plan for energy independence for the state."

"So infrastructure is a way though, that we can harness some of our own energy sources here," said Republican gubernatorial candidate Kenny Hulshof. "We've also proposed, I've already been working with officials in the State of Illinois on, as we rebuild the locks and dams on the Mississippi River, hydroelectric capacity that we would share with the State of Illinois. Nuclear power, wind energy, clean coal technology, solar. To me, all of those things should be considered and we have some great opportunities in the State of Missouri. And so, in a number of areas I know the Attorney General does not support those domestic exploration activities, but on biofuels at least, we do agree."