2026-09-20 · percent of US corn use
US corn goes to feed, fuel, and exports
Ethanol policy reshaped American maize markets.
How America splits its biggest crop shapes livestock markets, fuel supply, and global trade. Of US corn use, animal feed takes 38%, ethanol 36%, and exports plus other uses 26%. Corn is more than 95% of US feed grain production, so these shares ripple through meat prices, ethanol policy, and export competitiveness.
1 cell = 0.1 percent of US corn use (0.1% of US corn disposition) · 1,000 cells
Context
Corn is the most widely produced feed grain in the United States, accounting for more than 95 percent of total feed grain production and use, according to USDA's Economic Research Service. Sorghum, barley, and oats make up the rest of the major feed grains.
Ethanol now rivals animal feed as a corn outlet, taking 36 percent of US corn use to feed's 38 percent — evidence of how deeply fuel policy has reshaped American maize markets. USDA tracks the fuel side through its U.S. Bioenergy Statistics and the monthly Feed Outlook.
The remaining 26 percent covers exports and other uses. Beyond feed and fuel, corn is processed into cereal, sweeteners, alcohol, and byproduct feeds, and USDA's Feed Grains Database and monthly Feed Outlook — both updated in 2026 — keep the supply-and-use picture current.
USDA ERS corn use categories.
Share and export
Credit this grid as Inagrid — https://inagrid.com/e/2026-09-20-corn-ethanol