Corn & Other Feedgrains

This page provides information on:  

• Periodic and scheduled ERS publications and data on corn and other feedgrains 
• Recent ERS publications related to feedgrains

Corn is the most widely produced feed grain in the United States (U.S.), accounting for more than 95 percent of total production and use. The other three major feed grains are sorghum, barley, and oats. Most of the corn crop provides the main energy ingredient in livestock feed. Corn is also processed into a wide range of food and industrial products including cereal, alcohol, sweeteners, and byproduct feeds.

ERS provides a range of data products and reports on feed grain markets including domestic and international supply, demand, trade, and prices.

Periodic and scheduled ERS publications and data on corn and other feedgrains

• Feed Outlook, a monthly report that provides supply and use projections for U.S. and global feed markets based on the most current World Agricultural Supply and Demand Estimates.
• Feed Grains Database, a searchable database containing statistics on four feed grains (corn, grain sorghum, barley, and oats), foreign coarse grains (feed grains plus rye, millet, and mixed grains), hay, and related items. Data from the Feed Outlook and Feed Yearbook are also included.
• WASDE at a Glance, a monthly interactive visualization that provides key data and highlights from USDA's World Agriculture Supply and Demand Estimates on field crops as well as livestock and dairy. 
• Commodity Costs and Returns, a data product that provides annual estimates of production costs and returns for major field crops, including corn.
• USDA's Agricultural Baseline Projections, an annual report published in February that offers 10-year projections for the farm sector from USDA's annual long-term analysis. The associated Baseline Database covers projections for the four major feed grains (corn, sorghum, barley, and oats) in addition to the other major feed crops and livestock.
• U.S. Bioenergy Statistics, a dataset that includes U.S. ethanol and biodiesel production, consumption, and trade.

Recent ERS publications related to feedgrains 

In addition to the periodic Outlook reports and data products, ERS publishes reports covering issues important to feed grain markets in the United States and around the world. 

• Corn and Soybean Production Costs and Export Competitiveness in Argentina, Brazil, and the United States explores export competitiveness of soybeans and corn in the U.S. Argentina, Brazil by comparing farm-level production costs, the cost of internal transportation and handling, and the cost of shipping to a common export destination. In addition, the report analyzes prices received by farmers and average yields to calculate producer returns in these countries.
• Effects of Recent Energy Price Reductions on U.S. Agriculture, examines the impacts of the fall in energy prices on markets for agricultural products such as corn, soybean oil, and other biofuel feedstocks.
• “Boutique Brews, Barley, and the Balance Sheet,” a Special Article in the Feed Grains Outlook: January 2015 argues that recent changes in the industrial use of malt barley require an updated approach for estimating barley use for industrial purpose.