Corn Commodity Chain Ryan Pringle, Emily Morgan, Angely Chand, Quinton Beasley

Corn Economics Rise in the demand for Ethanol has led to an increase in corn prices In 2006, approximately one-fifth of the corn harvested was used in the production of ethanol, up from 6% in 2000 USDA chief economist Keith Collins. "Ethanol could account for over 25% of the 2007 crop of corn," Collins told members of the Senate Agriculture Committee earlier this month. There are 111 ethanol plants in operation in the United States. Another 75 are under construction, according to the Renewable Fuels Association. Demand has risen during a year that corn production has fallen 5%. U.S. corn exports are rose 5% this year. Not only are other countries seeking corn to boost their own ethanol production, but they're also importing the grain for food and feed. Source: http://www.usatoday.com/money/industries/food/2007-01-24-corn_x.htm

Political Effects- NAFTA and Mexican Corn “Free Trade” benefitting the rich Increased Imports of corn in Mexico from the U.S. due to NAFTA and U.S. corn subsidies Creates prices for corn lower than the cost to produce the corn Increased imports of all U.S. corn based products Fewer agriculture jobs in Mexico

Corn and the Environment Most corn is grown as a monoculture, meaning that the land is used solely for corn, not rotated among crops. This leads to soil depletion Approximately 99% of U.S. corn is fertilized, requiring more fertilizer than any other crop. Nitrogen fertilizers, herbicides and pesticides are all made from fossil fuels, as is the diesel fuel, gasoline, LPG, natural gas, electricity, transportation and irrigation used to grow and transport the corn. Creates oxygen depleted “dead zones” in oceans through fertilizers and poor absorption of Nitrogen Wholly irrigated corn can take up to 1200 gal of water to produce 1gal ethanol, Between 1997 and 2009, the government paid Corn Belt farmers $51.2 billion in subsidies to spur production, but just $7.0 billion to implement conservation practices. The $18.9 billion spent to subsidize expansion of the corn ethanol industry rubs salt in the wound.

Endless uses for corn: food, fuel, farming, etc. Social Effects Increase of immigration of Mexican citizens into the United States because of NAFTA and the price raise of corn trade between the two countries The pros and cons of genetically modified corn and the health-risks that are associated with it Endless uses for corn: food, fuel, farming, etc.