“A formulation made from corn sweeteners may soon be the U.S. military’s bio-renewable solution for gun lubrication and protection,” agweb.com reports. “The National Corn Growers Association (NCGA) has teamed up with QMaxx Products Group in Fenton, MO to submit a new corn-based gun oil to the Armament Research, Development and Engineering Center (ARDEC). According to NCGA, the new oil would ‘reduce soldiers’ exposure to some harmful components.'” Wait. Is QMaxx saying . . .
that their rust-proofing oil has ‘harmful components’? No sir, they’re not. But I reckon they’re hungry for a big fat government contract; adding corn syrup to their formulation gives them political juice in Washington. Or is that me just being cynical?
“It’s exciting to think a product I used almost daily in the Army, soon may contain the corn I produce every year on the farm.” Said Larry Hoffmann, chairman of NCGA’s Corn Productivity and Action Team and a former U.S. Army officer. “While we project only a modest increase in additional corn demand from QMaxx’s CLP product there are other potential applications of this same corn-derived chemical that have significant market potential.”
Given that existing gun lubes aren’t making soldiers sick, the advantages here are [perhaps] environmental and economic. Is that enough to justify a switch? Big Corn, big con? We report, you deride.