Corn
Field corn is the most widely produced feed grain in the United States, accounting for more than 90 percent of total value and production of feed grains. Most of the crop is used as the main ingredient in livestock feed.
Food-grade corn is also processed into a multitude of food and industrial products including starch, sweeteners, corn oil, beverage and industrial alcohol, and fuel ethanol. The United States is a major player in the world corn trade market, with approximately 20 percent of the corn crop exported to other countries. (Corn, ERS, USDA)
U.S. corn production in 2009 reached a record 13.2 billion bushels, up 1 percent from the previous record of 13.0 billion bushels set in 2007. With corn yields averaging a record 165.2 bushels per acre, this year's crop was the highest corn yield on record. The average corn price fell, declining to $3.70 per bushel from last year's $4.06 per bushel. As a result, the total value of the 2009 corn crop fell to $48.6 billion. In terms of production, the top four states are (in order): Iowa, Illinois, Nebraska and Minnesota. (Crop Production Annual Summary, NASS, USDA, 2010.)
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