More corn consumed for biofuel than feed in the US

Corn consumption for biofuel has surpassed feed usage for the first time in US history, with the trend set to continue to at least 2014.

Ethanol refiners are consuming more of the US corn crop than livestock producers, according to Gerard Brickley, director of meat at Bord Bia, the Irish Food Board. Corn use for ethanol has risen almost fourfold from 1.32 billion bushels in 2005 to 5.02 billion in 2011, exceeding 40 per cent of the total harvest last year.

Conversely, feed fell by almost 22 per cent during the period to 4.79 billion bushels as livestock and poultry farmers in the US turned to alternative feeds, including dried distillers grain, an ethanol byproduct.

US ethanol production is expected to reach record 13.7 billion gallons this year, exceeding mandated levels by one billion gallons. Some environmentalists believe the increasing consumption of corn will increase food prices worldwide, however, recent figures indicate that the US is capable of rising to increasing levels of demand. 

Farmers in the US have planted the most corn acres since World War II, which has eased pressure on higher food and fuel prices. Famers will sow corn on 94 million acres of land, which is up 2.3 per cent from last year.

Posted by Lauren Steadman