U.S. corn farmers succeeded despite a challenging year in 2011, producing a near-record harvest (12.4 billion bushels) for a crop valued at approximately $76.62 billion despite harsh weather, the NCGA reports in its newest World of Corn statistical look at the corn industry both domestic and worldwide. 

"The world of corn has come a long way since the single seed kernel was planted next to a fish for fertilizer," NCGA President Garry Niemeyer and Chief Executive Officer Rick Tolman note in the introduction. "Given those humble beginnings, it's incredible to imagine that 10 years from now, American farmers will be producing 17 billion bushels annually... We can only imagine how much further it will go."

World of Corn is a respected collection of the most important statistics about corn production, exports and consumption, providing key information in a readable format, comparing numbers and trends across the years. 

This year's publication, available online now, also includes a poster-size chart that provides an interesting look into the innovations and achievements that have culminated in today's U.S. corn industry in a concise timeline format.  A special edition of the World of Corn featuring statistics in metric measurements will soon follow.

In addition to the online version, the publication, generously co-sponsored by Monsanto, will be distributed in select Farm Futures publications and at the 2012 Commodity Classic in Nashville, Tenn.