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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