List of Top 10 Corn Producing States in the U.S

Largest Producer of Corn: Corn, also known as maize, has been an important part of human life for thousands of years. Originally grown by Indigenous people in Mexico around 10,000 years ago, corn is now one of the most widely produced crops in the world, even more than wheat or rice.

In the United States, corn plays a huge role in both farming and the economy. It is used in tons of products, from animal feed and cooking oil to whiskey and even biofuels like ethanol.

Today, the U.S. is the world’s largest corn producer, growing it across about 96 million acres of farmland. Most of this comes from the Heartland region, which includes states like Iowa, Illinois, Nebraska, and Minnesota, basically, the ‘Corn Belt’ of America.

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Top 10 Corn Producing States of the US 

Let’s see the top 10 corn-producing states in the U.S., as per the World Population Review data:

Which State Produces the Most Corn?

Iowa produces the most corn in the U.S., with a production of 2.6 billion bushels. It is often called ‘The Corn State’ because about 90% of its land is used for agriculture, and it grows over 16% of all U.S. corn.

1. Iowa

As the nation’s top corn grower, Iowa has the most fertile land, which allows it to consistently produce billions of bushels. The majority of its massive harvest is used domestically to produce ethanol fuel and animal feed for its huge livestock industry. However, the corn that leaves the state flows into the international market, where top buyers of U.S. corn include Mexico and Japan.

2. Illinois 

With rich soil and an ideal climate, Illinois is the second-largest corn producer. Its immense output contributes heavily to both domestic use and the U.S. export supply. Shipments often travel via the Mississippi River to reach destinations like Mexico (the single largest buyer of U.S. corn for animal feed) and other steady markets such as South Korea.

3. Nebraska

This state ranks third and has an economy highly integrated with its corn production, using much of the harvest for cattle feed and being a national leader in ethanol production. As part of the overall U.S. supply chain, its corn is exported to major international buyers like Japan, where it is a critical source of feed grain.

4. Minnesota

Minnesota is the fourth-largest corn producer, with key growing regions in the south that often rotate corn with soybeans. While a large portion is used to support local hog and poultry farming, its exports are part of the U.S. supply destined for countries like Colombia and Canada, which rely on U.S. corn for their own livestock industries.

5. Indiana

Rounding out the top five, Indiana dedicates a majority of its cropland to this valuable commodity and is also a primary producer of popcorn. Its field corn contributes to the overall U.S. export market, reaching global destinations, and like the other states, supports the demand from major feed-importing nations across the world.

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Conclusion

Corn isn’t just food; it is a fuel, feed, and finance. It is used in everything from popcorn and corn syrup to biofuels and whiskey. The U.S. even exports nearly 38% of the world’s corn, making it a global leader.