The main grain producer in the world is the United States of America, according to the most recent FAO statistics. Today the great North American country is the largest producer of agricultural food inputs; grains and cereals such as corn, beans, soybeans, barley, etc. The United States has only been surpassed by China when it comes to rice and wheat production.
The United States of America has maintained a solid agricultural industry over the years, guaranteeing the national distribution of products, the export of surpluses, and the storage of large quantities of food as reserves in crisis situations.
Corn from the United States.
Grain production in the United States has been mired in the implementation of new technologies and methods to take advantage of the scarcity of arable land and maximize the harvest of the product.
Despite the fact that most of the grains are grown and produced in almost all the states of the nation, they have had to resort to genetic intervention processes in order to increase the nutritional value of the harvest in relation to the amount harvested each year.
Grains produced in the United States of America
Corn
Corn plays a major, if not the most important, role in North American agriculture. According to the latest FAO statistics (2014), the United States produced a total of 361 million tons of corn within its national territory, of which approximately 15% is destined for exports.
The land destined to the cultivation of corn covers approximately 38 million hectares throughout the national territory.
The main corn producing states are those located in the northeast, with the state of Iowa as the main national producer, followed by others such as Nebraska, Minnesota, Illinois and even Alaska.
The vast majority of the farms and companies dedicated to the production of corn are private, so the State does not find itself appropriate to the mechanisms of primary production.
From these growers, the corn is destined for processing and distribution companies like General Mills, the nation's largest food industry.
Annual expenditure on corn products per citizen is estimated at almost $ 300, however, the demand for and dependence on this item in the United States has increased over the years, which has led the nation to seek to maximize its production through alternatives of a private nature.
US corn has been one of the main items to be affected by transgenic intervention.
Without taking a position in the face of its benefits or losses in agriculture and the final consumer, the nation has seen in this a viable option to satisfy internal demands and keep export levels under control.
Wheat
Almost all US states produce wheat within their territories. Despite presenting total annual production figures lower than those of countries such as China (126 million tons from the Asian country compared to almost 60 million tons from the North American country in 2014), the US wheat industry represents a fundamental pillar in agriculture national.
However, the United States has the first place in the world in terms of volumetric wheat exports, allocating 50% of its national production to export.
Of the types of wheat exported, white wheat represents the highest percentage (66% per year of all exported wheat).
The national statistical production of wheat is supervised by the National Department of Agriculture, which classifies eight official types of wheat produced in the country and the states of Kansas and North Dakota as the main national producers, with other states in the center of the country as minor producers.
Despite the increase in wheat production each year, the United States has had to make efforts to ensure that its product remains present in the international agricultural commercial scene, compared to nations such as Canada, Argentina and the European Union.
Soy
The United States is the world's leading soybean producer, with more than 108 million tons per year (2014).
Soy produced only within the United States represents approximately 35% of world production. Because of this, it is also the leading soybean exporter in the world.
There are 34 million hectares under soybean cultivation in the United States, with states such as Ohio, Kentucky, and Pennsylvania as the main producers.
National soy is the raw material used by North American companies for 90% of the production of soybean oils and other derived products.
Dry beans
Compared to China, the United States leads in the production of beans according to the most recent official statistics, with more than one million metric tons per year.
Although they are smaller numbers compared to other types of grains, they are considered sufficient to supply the domestic US market.
Despite this, the United States is among the top 10 world producers of beans, with a difference of just over 50% in annual volume compared to the first place.
Like other crops, almost all national products are purchased internally by the large food industry, such as General Mills, mentioned above, which will then take care of its processing and distribution through its more than 100 affiliated companies.
Rice
As with wheat, the United States is behind China in terms of volumetric rice production (with a difference of more than 190 million tons in favor of the Asian country).
However, the North American rice industry represents one of the most profitable within the national territory compared to other agricultural options.
The United States allocates approximately one and a half million hectares nationwide for irrigated rice production. The top rice-producing state in the United States is Arkansas, followed by California.
References
- Delate, K., & Cambardella, CA (2004). Agroecosystem Performance during Transition to Certified Organic Grain Production. Agronomy Journal, 1288.
- Neumann, K., Verburg, PH, Stehfest, E., & Muller, C. (2010). The yield gap of global grain production: A spatial analysis. Agricultural Systems, 316-326.
- Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations. (2014). FAO Stat. Obtained from FAO: fao.org
- United States Department of Agriculture. (2017). Crop Production 2016 Summary. National Agricultural Statistics Services.