What is the economic importance of corn?

         Corn is one of the most important crops grown in the world, equaled by only a few others in its usefulness. Originally grow simply for food, it serves that purpose not only for human consumption, but as an important staple in the diets of farm animals. As a food it takes many forms, such as regular corn on the cob or just kernels, popped kernels, corn meal and corn flour, oil and even alcohol. As alcohol, it is currently being added to gasoline to reduce dependence on foreign oil. When you put together all the uses, corn represents a multi-billion dollar industry that supports not only a good portion of the United State's economy, but the world.