Safe and affordable food nourishes America’s bodies—and minds. As a nation with strong agrarian roots, America continues to depend on agriculture as a strategic national asset. An abundant, affordable and safe food supply provides America—and Americans—the security and financial flexibility to invest dollars in technology, innovation and opportunity. From the great flavor and nutrition of corn-fed beef to the tasty refreshment of a corn-sweetened soft drink to a hearty breakfast of cornflakes—Americans enjoy the safest and cheapest food in the world.

A powerful partnership for rural development The relationship among corn, livestock and ethanol production creates an economic engine that is reenergizing rural America. Ethanol plants increase demand for the local corn crop—adding value and income for area growers and stimulating economic activity and services in local communities. Many of the new ethanol plants are being built by farmer-owned cooperatives, providing growers with the opportunity to participate in an industry that adds value to the crops they grow—and generating more revenue and jobs in their communities.

Producing high quality protein The largest customer for U.S. corn growers continues to be the livestock industry. More than half of the corn produced is fed to livestock and poultry—providing delicious, lean and healthful meat and protein products for America and the world. The United States sets the standard for high quality beef—and many countries now define quality by the number of days beef cattle were on a corn-based ration.

Partnering with livestock producers Distillers grains, a co-product of ethanol production, have become a high-value feed of choice for beef, dairy, swine and poultry. Corn checkoff dollars are funding research focused on converting the solubles in distillers grains into protein blocks for use by cow-calf producers—thus reducing the level of phosphorus in feedlot operations while providing much-needed phosphorus in range and pasture cattle production.