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King Corn Case Study

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In King Corn, college friends Ian Cheney and Curtis Ellis moved to Greene, Iowa to grow an acre of corn. It is interesting to find out how corn has changed from the native Mexican corn to today’s yellow dent that it uneatable as is. Under the leadership of Earl Butz in the 1970’s, there was a push to increase production under the subsidy program that is still in effect. Butz wanted to bring the cost of food down with his program but failed to examine the long-term effects of his program, namely health.

Technology truly changed the corn industry. Just 150 pounds of anhydrous ammonia fertilizer helps to produce four times the amount of corn. Farm equipment means that a single farmer can work 1000 acres. It only took 18 minutes for them

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