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Bushel
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A unit of weight equal to 56 pounds. 39.4 bushels of corn equals approximately 1 metric ton.
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Corn Belt
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Region of the U.S. where much of the nation's corn is raised. Extends from western New York State to western Nebraska and from the Canadian border to the panhandle of Texas.
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Corn Checkoff
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For each bushel of corn sold in 19 different states, a specified rate or checkoff can be invested at the first point of sale. These funds are collected at the state level. A state checkoff or promotion board, commission or council made up of farmer-directors invests the money in state programs of research, market development and education to increase demand for corn. Farmer-directors can also invest in the National Corn Development Foundation (NCDF), which is the financial watchdog of the National Corn Growers Association. At the national level, the NCGA invests corn checkoff dollars in research, market development and education. The mission of the NCGA is to enhance corn profitability for corn growers.
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Corn Germ Meal
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By product of processed corn after oil has been extracted. Largely used as feed for swine and poultry.
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Corn Gluten Feed
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By-product of processing corn typically containing protein, fiber, phosphorus, and potassium. Largely used as feed for cattle.
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Corn Growers &
the Corn Industry |
U.S. corn farmers produce more corn than any other farm commodity. The value of corn at the farm gate totals more than $20-billion. Corn growers make up one segment of the corn industry, which includes: processors; merchandisers; millers; and exporters. The National Corn Growers Association (NCGA) represents American corn growers.
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Corn Varieties
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Most American farmers grow dent, or "field" corn. In 1936, farmers planted this type of corn on more than 100 million acres, and produced a little more than two billion bushels. In 1996, farmers planted dent corn on about 65 million acres, and produced more than 7.3 billion bushels.
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Corn Uses
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Most corn grown in the U.S. is used to feed livestock. Poultry, beef, pork and dairy producers use more than 60-percent of all the corn grown in the U.S. The rest is exported (most corn sold to other countries is also used to feed livestock) or processed into such things as: starch (examples: baby food, baking powder, salad dressing, bookbinders, glue, many more); syrup (examples: soda pop, chewing gum, dessert icing, fireworks, adhesives, many more); ethanol fuel (examples: popular additive to reduce reliance on foreign oil and improve air quality in polluted U.S. cities), dextrose (bakery goods, fruit juices, peanut butter, antibiotics, citric acid, lysine, many more) and oil (examples: margarine, potato chips, soup, soap, paint, rust preventative, many more).
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Dry Milling
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Processing method which separates elements contained in the corn kernel by mechanical force.
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E-85
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Clean motor fuel blended at a rate of 85 percent ethanol and 15 percent gasoline. First mass-produced, commercial automobile that runs on this type of fuel introduced by the Ford Motor Company in 1996.
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Ethanol
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Clean motor fuel derived through the conversion of starch by processing corn. Typically mixed in the U.S. at 10 percent ethanol, 90 percent gasoline.
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Hybrid
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Offspring of two different plants that grows better and with more vigor than parent plants. Corn breeders produce hybrid corn by placing pollen from the tassels of one desirable strain of corn onto the silks of another strain.
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National Corn
Development Foundation
(NCDF)
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The funding watchdog of the National Corn Growers Association. Five elected grower-leaders make up the officer team. The NCDF also has a 36-member board of directors also made up of corn grower-leaders elected by their peers. The NCDF invests farmer checkoff dollars in such things as research, market development, and communications in and outside of the corn industry.
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Oxygenates
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Motor fuel containing oxygen atoms in molecular structure which reduce carbon monoxide emissions.
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Wet Milling
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Most popular method of processing corn. Mix of water and grinding of dent or "field" corn separates corn into chemical constituents such as starch, protein, fiber and oil.
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Zea Mays L.
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Scientific name for corn.
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For more corn statistics visit The World of Corn. |
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