Martin Lopez Jr

Angeline Olliff
English 115
7 November 2014
Issues in American Commodity Farming: Corn
Corn: a high-glycemic sugar fest, not a vegetable, but a negligible grain that forms the
assertion of the American diet. It is grown in immense amounts making it Americas number one
crop, bringing in monetary profit to the manufacturers that produce it yet put the economy and
the health of the public at risk. Corn is such a productive and versatile crop, it responds
effectively to investments in research, breeding, and promotion. It is the crop of choice since it is
potent to further develop solutions for our daily needs. It provides us with cheap yet harmful
foods, environment crippling ethanol, dubious pharmaceuticals, and more. Although corn
accommodates to our everyday needs by its endless solutions, it poses a threat to the farming
economy.
A distinction between corn itself as a crop and as a system which each contain their own
repercussions that contribute to a systematic collapse that has been deemed inevitable by
economic equilibrium. The corn system itself uses a large amount of natural resources and
operates at a big cost to taxpayers. More harm than good is done by corn, the manufacturers
hinder further research of other resourceful and efficient crops thanks to corn lobbying gaining
further support from politicians giving corn its own nickname: King Corn, similar to how the
term Big Oil is used.

It all began during the great depression, when President Franklin D. Roosevelt proposed
the New Deal which set forward the Agricultural Adjustment Act, incentives to fix the economic
hardship faced due to the dust bowl which crippled the farming system (Sreenivasan 117). The
incentive proposed government regulated pricing, distribution, and production eliminating the
free market for farming. The proposition paid farmers subsidies to not plant on part of their land
and to reduce crop surplus which effectively raised the value of crops as well as providing crop
insurance. These subsidies and insurances which are still paid out of tax payers pockets.
Although there is an abundant amount of corn, they continue to grow since the value of corn is
declining. Farmers rely on subsidizing and are forced to grow more crops to make a marginal
profit.
King Corns true intentions lies far from providing quality products or exceptional foods
at an exceptional price for our convenience. In fact, King Corns true intentions lies for the
benefit of King Corn itself; the manufacturers. Pollan states, Exactly what corn is doing in such
food systems has less to do with nutrition or taste than with economics. (93). Pollan claims that
the food companies dont take into consideration if their food is natural or beneficial, as long as
its increasing profits. Manufacturers keep a keen eye on price over the health of the public
which increases the rates of obesity and heart disease since corn and its products have been a
cause of heart disease. The overall health of the people has plummeted as corn product sales has
risen. Contributing significantly to the problem is high fructose corn syrup (HFCS) which is
really cheap and sweeter than sugar. HFCS goes into soda, sports drinks, kids snacks, candy,
and breakfast cereals, almost everything we eat now a days.

Although U.S. corn is a highly productive crop, the resulting delivery of food by the corn
system is far lower. Todays corn crop is mainly used for biofuels and as animal feed. Much of
the rest is exported. Only a tiny fraction of the national corn crop is directly used for food for
Americans, much of that for high-fructose corn syrup. Deeming corn inefficient at feeding
people. Rausch and Belyea in "The Future of Coproducts from Corn Processing" claim that,
Marketing of coproducts is important... their economic sustainability could be strengthened if
existing markets could be expanded or new markets could be developed (51). A belief in
contrary to what Pollan claims, the authors believe that using the rest of corn could benefit the
economy overall rather than just the manufacturers.
If new markets were developed, potentially more people could be employed and would
continue to improve the economy. The article discusses the potential of corn having sub-market
potential, creating new resources from corn (Rausch, Belyea 84). Since overproduction of corn is
critical, it is important to take into consideration the different uses that could be made from corn.
The growth production from corn that isnt consumed as well as the limitation of corn used in
food could substantially improve the economy. A more effective and efficient way to process
and use corn is important too. Expanding the coproducts of corn would allow for an expansion in
economic gains not only for the manufacturers but for the overall general economy.
Since food has become abundant and cheaper compared to more organic and natural
choices, the option is clear. People would much rather eat cheaper food as it is more convenient.
Busy schedules typically diminish the number of time to prepare a healthy, nutritious meals, so
they choose for a faster and easier option. Vegetables and meat take time and kitchen equipment
to cook properly, while fast food is usually served within minutes of ordering. Over time, that
convenience can becomes a habit and eventually a necessity to keep up with such a fast paced

society. Disrupting that routine requires an investment of time, and most people prefer to stick
with the faster option since it is more convenient. Eating fast food can also lead to other
problems such as stress and anxiety. Increased stress levels can cause the body to expend more
energy, stimulating hunger for calorie dense foods and driving people to eat fatty, sugary junk
food. High levels of anxiety can also cause people to seek out junk food as a means of comfort.
When stressed, people look for ways to calm themselves, and junk foods positive effects on the
brain make it a comforting choice. Were practically funding and contributing to our dependence
on corn.
Although using corn for other coproducts rather than just high fructose corn syrup may
seem like a solution, it is important to decentralize the production of corn and only allow
independent farmers to farm. Decentralizing would stop the corn monopoly and prevent
manufacturers to lobby to gain support from higher powers such as politicians. Currently there is
a lot of influence between manufacturers and politicians making the political system exploitable
by these manufacturers. The political aspect of corn is greater than its use. It to show that having
a dependency on something increases power if that dependency is on your hands. These
manufacturers are limiting the potential of the agribusiness, hindering farmers from receiving
more than a marginal profit. This solution would stop the subsidizing since the subsidizing is
coming from tax payers pocket. As well as diminish the government control over the farming
market. All together hindering manufacturers from having political control over policies and
laws that the FDA puts forth. For example Monsanto, Monsanto has great political influence and
they practically get away from everything because they have connections within the system.

The corn industry is a huge trade off. Although corn provides us with essential resource
we need in our daily lives, its killing us too. Corn is exploiting our political system, damaging
our environment, poisoning ourselves all making a monetary profit for the manufacturers. The
processing of corn should be deemed unethical and immoral, it is definitely harming the United
States. Even though it has provided many with a cheap source of calories, it has eliminated the
diversification of foods. Instead of eating different and healthier foods were eating corn because
its cheaper and abundant, not specifically speaking of corn but its coproducts make up most of
the supermarket. As a society we would benefit the most if we had a natural and organic diet.
The image of America wouldnt be the same, it would differ in a greater sense.

Works Cited
Pollan, Michael. The Omnivore's Dilemma: A Natural History of Four Meals. New York:
Penguin, 2006. Print.
Rausch, Kent D, and Ronald L Belyea. The Future of Coproducts from Corn Processing.
Applied Biochemistry and Biotechnoloy, 128.1 (2006): 47-86. Print
Sreenivasan, Jyotsna. "Agricultural Adjustment Act." Poverty and the Government in America :
A Historical Encyclopedia, 1 (2009): 117-119.