Study expects needed corn acres for ethanol to fall to just 11% by 2026

In Illinois, a new study has found that several factors will gradually lower the amount of land dedicated to corn for ethanol to as little as 11% of U.S. corn acres by 2026, when adhering to the EPA’s 15 billion gallon ceiling on domestic ethanol production. The study was done by researchers at the University of Illinois’ College of Agricultural, Consumer, and Environmental Sciences

The new study explores the impact of technological improvements on corn grain production, ethanol production, and their interrelated effect on land use through a variety of scenarios over a 15 year period beginning in 2011, the year used to establish the base case. The researchers found that land area attributed to corn ethanol will consistently drop because plant breeding improvements and new technologies will result in significantly higher yields.