The equivalent of the US importing corn is to say that Saudi Arabia is importing oil.
The drought is part of the problem, but only a part. The real problem is US law that requires corn producers to convert their crops to ethanol.
Not sure about the rest of you, but it seems to me that when we start importing corn without need, it's probably time to change the way things are being done.
QuoteThe problem here is the man-made element that is exacerbating the U.S. drought. There should be plenty of corn from U.S. reserves after recent record harvests for exports — 61 million metric tons in 2008 — were it not for the 2007 law that forces U.S. corn producers to turn ever greater percentages of U.S. corn into ethanol.
Source: http://news.investors.com/article/619723/201207251831/a-drought-of-us-leadership.htm
Call 911....my head just exploded.... >:(
So much for "amber waves of grain (http://www.scoutsongs.com/lyrics/americathebeautiful.html)."
I'd say it's about time we changed or got rid of the law that requires corn producers to convert their crops to ethanol.
Even though the drought will (likely) be a one-time thing (remember the rice harvest fail a couple of years back?), the corn industy has indeed run amok.
Briefly...40% of corn is used for ethanol production; 40% is used for animal feed; and 20% is used for human consumption (most of which = high fructose corn syrup).
The mandate to use more ethanol was introduced in 2005 and 2007; the US government also introduced a subsidy of ethanol (a $6 billion-with-a-"b" investment), which btw is now cheaper than oil..so the US is IMPORTING expensive Saudi oil whilst at the same time EXPORTING the cheaper ethanol.
Some more information, here...
http://blogs.scientificamerican.com/plugged-in/2011/10/07/the-u-s-now-uses-more-corn-for-fuel-than-for-feed/
http://www.nytimes.com/2011/06/25/opinion/25Rattner.html?_r=3