Farm and Field: Iowa corn fuels economy, feeds others
By Audrey Posten, Times-Register
The United States is the world’s top corn producer, growing 15.1 billion bushels as recently as 2017. According to the Iowa Corn Growers Association, Iowa is responsible for the largest portion of that, at 2.7 billion bushels.
“Our motto is that Iowa grows corn, but the truth is corn grows Iowa,” said Joe Shirbroun, who operates a family farm near Farmersburg with wife Suzanne and is also a Pioneer Hi-Bred seed dealer.
Corn is also the key commodity in Clayton County, where it makes up 150,000 acres. Shirbroun estimates 95 percent of all the county’s farmers grow it.
That’s why organizations like the Iowa Corn Growers Association are important.
“The goal at the local level is to bring awareness,” said Shirbroun, “but at the state and national level, it’s our voice in agriculture, promoting policies and sharing concerns of producers in the field.”
“Someone has to tell our story and talk to our representatives,” quipped Lisa Kubik, the Iowa Corn Growers Association field representative for northeast Iowa.
Kubik said over half of Iowa’s corn currently goes to ethanol production and another large percentage directly to livestock feed. Nationwide, Iowa Corn lists feed as the use for 39 percent of corn, while ethanol and fuel is at 27 percent, exports at 16 percent and food/industrial and residual both at 9 percent.
The four major components of a corn kernel, including starch, fiber, protein and oil, that can be processed in a variety of ways to create different products. A typical grocery store contains 4,000 items that list corn ingredients on the label, according to Iowa Corn.
“There are multiple uses for that kernel,” Shirbroun noted.
Kubik said Iowa Corn works closely with the ethanol industry as well as the U.S, Meat and Export Federation and U.S. Grain Council to export grain and find new markets. Clayton County’s proximity to the Mississippi River means much of what farmers grow here heads to the export market.
“You go to Prairie du Chien, McGregor or Clayton to the grain terminals. There are also elevators and [corn] is railed to other locations. But some farmers take corn to feed mills where it can be ground and mixed for their own livestock,” Shirbroun explained.
Much of the corn the U.S. exports as a whole goes to livestock feed in countries like Mexico and Canada. Kubik also listed China, Vietnam and Europe as buyers.
The United States, and Iowa in particular, has the best corn growing conditions. That’s something Shirbroun doesn’t take for granted as he watches war unfold in Ukraine.
“We’re in the bread basket,” he said. “It’s important to feed people, to make sure we have an abundant supply. And it’s important we continue to access markets to help feed others.”
Find more agricultural content in the “Farm and Field” special section inserted into select issues of The Trader this week. Created cooperatively between the Times-Register and Courier Press, the section can also be found on this website, under special sections.
