Flows of corn from the Upper Mississippi River Foodscape

Using FoodS³, we can see how corn moves from where it is grown to where it is used - either fed to animals or transformed into ethanol. The maps below show the corn grown in the counties that make up the Upper Mississippi River Foodscape, and where it goes. For each map, the yellow color indicates the amount of corn going to a given destination - darker colors indicate more corn. The lines connect each county to another county where the corn is fed to animals or to an ethanol plant. The thickness of the lines indicate how much corn travels between the two locations, which we refer to as the flow of corn.

The fermentation and distillation process used to make ethanol also produces dried distillers grains with solubles (DDGS) from the solids that remain. That DDGS contains most of the fiber and protein that was in the corn being processed, so it is a valuable component of animal feed rations. FoodS³ tracks corn through this 2-stage process of conversion to DDGS and feeding to animals.

Maps of corn flows

Flows of corn from UMR Foodscape going to hogs

Shades of yellow representing corn production in the foodscape counties. Lines depict flows of corn; very little goes to other parts of the country

Flows of corn from UMR Foodscape to broiler chickens

Shades of yellow representing corn production in the foodscape counties. Lines depict flows of corn; large amounts go to AR and TX, with smaller amounts to other states west of the Mississippi River.

Flows of corn from the UMR Foodscape going to cattle on feed

Shades of yellow representing corn production in the foodscape counties. Lines depict flows of corn; a lot goes to TX and OK, and a smaller amount to eastern WA.

Flows of corn from the UMR Foodscape going to ethanol plants

Shades of yellow representing corn production in the foodscape counties. Lines depict flows of corn; most remains within the highlighted counties, with a small amount going to KS and TX

The maps below show the flows of corn as DDGS. Black lines indicate flows of corn to ethanol facilities, and colored lines represent flows of DDGS from those facilities to their destinations.

Flows of corn from the UMR Foodscape, converted to DDGS and fed to hogs

Shades of yellow representing corn production in the foodscape counties. Black lines show flows of corn to ethanol plants, mostly within the highlighted counties, and other lines show flows of DDGS (a co-product of ethanol) to hogs. These are mainly to Midwest states including the highlighted counties.

Flows of corn from the UMR Foodscape, converted to DDGS and fed to broiler chickens

Flows of corn from the UMR Foodscape, converted to DDGS and fed to cattle

How is foodscape corn used?

The tables below show FoodS³ estimates of the percentage of corn and DDGS sourced from the Upper MIssissippi River Foodscape used by sectors including animal feed, ethanol production, and exports.

Destinations of corn from the Upper Mississippi River Foodscape and national averages, by industry

	National average	Foodscape
Ethanol	38%	60%
All animals	37%	25%
Hogs	7%	11%
Poultry	12%	5%
Cattle	14%	9%
Export	15%	14%
Other	10%	1%

Destinations of DDGS from the Upper Mississippi River Foodscape and national averages, by industry

	National average	Foodscape
All animals	68%	47%
Hogs	14%	17%
Poultry	19%	14%
Cattle	29%	13%
Export	32%	53%

Emissions intensity for foodscape corn

Emissions intensity for corn grown in the foodscape varies from a low of 0.28 kg carbon dioxide equivalent (CO₂eq) per kg of corn produced to a high of 0.68 kg CO₂e per kg corn.

Shades of grey representing emissions from corn production in the foodscape counties in SE MN, SW WI, NE IA, and NW IL. — Emissions intensity (kg CO2eq / kg corn) for counties in the Upper Mississippi River Foodscape. The county in grey is Washington County, MN, where corn production volume is too low for a reliable estimate.