Key facts
- Corn accounts for over 95% of U.S. feed grain production and use.
- The U.S. is the largest producer, consumer, and exporter of corn globally.
- About 90 million acres of corn are planted annually in the U.S.
- Ethanol production accounts for nearly 45% of total corn use.
The U.S. Department of Agriculture's latest report has significantly altered the outlook for the nation's corn crop. Corn is the primary U.S. feed grain, accounting for more than 95 percent of total feed grain production and use. The United States is the largest producer, consumer, and exporter of corn in the world. On average, U.S. farmers plant about 90 million acres of corn each year, with the majority of the crop grown in the Heartland region. Most of the crop is used domestically as the main energy ingredient in livestock feed and for fuel ethanol production. Corn is also processed into a multitude of food and industrial products including starch, sweeteners, corn oil, and beverage and industrial alcohols. U.S. corn exports account for an average of 15 percent of the country’s total use. Corn production has risen over time on increased area and higher yields due to improvements in technology and production practices. Strong domestic demand for livestock feed and fuel ethanol coupled with growing exports has led to higher prices, providing incentives for farmers to increase corn acreage.