This morning, the US Department of Agriculture reported that corn farmers intend to plant 92.2 million acres of corn for all purposes in 2011, up 5 percent from last year and 7 percent higher than in 2009. If realized, this will be the second highest planted acreage in the United States since 1944, behind only the 93.5 million acres planted in 2007. Acreage increases of 250,000 or more are expected in Iowa, Kansas, Nebraska, North Dakota, Ohio, and South Dakota. The largest decrease is expected in Texas, down 150,000 acres.

Illinois Corn Growers Association Executive Director Rodney Weinzierl released this statement:

“Corn farmers have responded to market indicators and will plant more corn acres this year. This is exactly what we would have anticipated, given the fact that for years they’ve invested in building demand and take a great interest in meeting the needs of their customers.

In Illinois, we already see early field work being done and farmers are eager to take advantage of good planting weather.

Of course, Mother Nature plays the biggest role in what will happen as we progress through the growing season. Farmers will do their best to mitigate the variables over which they have control and deliver on their harvest promise this fall.

With corn at 92.2 million planted acres, a near-record number, the harvest promise is within reach, especially given our significant improvements and efficiencies that have tempered challenges to the corn crop in recent years.”

Corn, Ethanol, Food, and World Supplies

• Ethanol’s impact on the corn supply is almost universally overstated
• Those critical of the ethanol industry inaccurately proclaim that 40% of the corn supply goes to the U.S. ethanol industry
• Considering the fact that making ethanol doesn’t use the part of the corn kernel that’s good for livestock feed, the U.S. ethanol industry uses only 23% of the U.S. corn supply.
• 77% of the U.S. corn supply goes to the feed and food markets
• Corn is traded on the world market and overall, the U.S. ethanol industry uses only 3%  of the world’s grains, and none of its food grains like rice or wheat.