Our Changing Planet: Corn - An Update

 See The Future

• On July 13, 2012, corn production was forecast at 12.97 billion bushels of corn
• The expected yield per acre was about 144 bushels per acre

• As of August 10, 2012, corn production was forecast at 10.8 billion bushels of corn
• The expected yield per acre was about 124 bushels per acre

• A decade ago an average acre yielded about 129 bushels of corn per acre
• USDA began 2012 expecting 166 bushels per acre

• In 2010, we planted 88.6 million acres of corn
• In 2011, we planted 92.9 million acres of corn
• In 2012, we planted 96.4 million acres of corn, the most since 1937
• As of August 10, 2012, USDA forecasted we will harvest about 87.4 million acres of corn

• On July 12, 2012, 1,016 counties in 26 states were named natural-disaster areas, due to drought and high heat. This declaration had been the largest such declaration ever by the USDA
• As of August 10, 2012, almost 1,600 counties in 32 states were named natural disaster areas due to drought and high heat

• These numbers will affect your food prices
• These numbers will affect your energy prices

Here is a map of the expanded disaster area–as designated by USDA

• You are seeing the real time output of anthropogenic forcing of the radiative balance
• So far, we are not doing enough to stem the tide of disaster

Make a difference. Your legislators will not vote for meaningful legislation to address the changing climate unless they know they have your support. Tell your legislators how you feel about the problem of anthropogenic forcing of the radiative balance. The clock is not on our side.