If petroleum, which fuels most machines and is used as an ingredient in millions of products, is the backbone of the energy industry then maize, or corn, is the backbone of the food industry.

This ever-important yellow-orange kernel of tightly packed energy and nutrients has allowed America to prosper by giving our nation a foundation of food security unmatched anywhere in the world. The reason for its power in the global economy is because it is a basic ingredient to most foods, an alternative energy source and a feed for America’s livestock.

Unfortunately, most of the country is suffering from drought conditions with nearly 90 percent of the nation’s corn crops inside of the drought stricken area. Already corn prices are up a staggering 50 percent and expected to rise even higher. According to estimates, the current drought is on track to mirror the devastating Dust Bowl conditions of the 1930s.

Corn is the basic ingredient in ethanol, a very popular alternative fuel. In recent months, ethanol producers have scaled back production and several sites are considering closing the doors because of the escalating price of the basic ingredient.

Obviously, the most important use for corn is in food. It is a ready to eat vegetable that has been grown on our continent by Native Americans for centuries and provided the first settlers much needed sustenance during the tough colonial times. As technology improved, America was able to export this versatile grain to other parts of the world and frequently used it as a “diplomacy carrot” to gain allies by agreeing to provide the friendly nation with a constant food supply.

The last and often forgotten reason corn is such a valuable commodity, in some respects as valuable as oil, is that it is used to feed another section of the food pyramid — meat.  Corn is the main feedstock for most of the nation’s livestock. Every steak, egg, gallon of milk or pork chop consumed needs corn to be produced. We are seeing prices of these items steadily rising alongside the price of corn, and the impact on the average American’s wallet will soon be felt in every supermarket and restaurant.

As we all work toward rebuilding the American economy through new businesses, innovation and supporting a particular political candidate, it might be worth it to spend a few moments each day doing a rain dance. Unless things turn quickly in the Midwest, America and the world will take a punch in the gut (pun intended) as food supplies shrink and hungry populations revolt.

The last bite…

I chair the Marketing Committee of the St. John United Way, and I make sure there is food at every meeting. Shocking I know. Usually we have breakfast, so this month we headed to The Donut Hole in LaPlace. Of course, I enjoyed my egg whites and wheat toast with no butter (a special request). However, my favorite part of breakfast was opening my bag of donut holes and finding nine holes when I only ordered three! I was forced to eat each and every one, shucks! I give coffee and donut holes from The Donut Hole 5 out of 5 crumbs!

Buddy Boe, a resident of Garyville, owns a public relations and program management company and is well known on the local political (and food) scenes. His column appears Wednesdays in L’Observateur.