Ontario is Canada’s largest grain corn-producing province, accounting for over 60% of Canada’s total corn production on average. Corn is primarily used domestically, accounting for 89% of total demand. Forty per cent of the total demand is destined for animal feed, providing a high-energy source of readily available calories for livestock, including swine, poultry, and beef and dairy cattle. Ethanol distillation accounts for 34% of corn demand and produces fuel, livestock feed, beverages, and bioproducts. During distillation, corn starch is converted into alcohol while about one third of each bushel returns to the food system as high protein distillers’ grains for livestock feed. Ontario produces both fuel grade ethanol to reduce transport emissions and high purity ethanol for beverage, chemical, and pharmaceutical uses. Corn oil is also produced and used in renewable fuels or feed. Demand in this sector remains steady year over year. Grain corn for human consumption represents 15% of the market. Significant applications include sweeteners, starches, citric acids, biogums and spirits, including Canadian whisky. Ontario exports roughly 11% of its corn production to several key international markets, including Ireland, Spain, the United Kingdom, and the United States. Note: This report focuses on grain corn. Other corn crops like sweet corn (marketed as a fresh vegetable for direct human consumption), popcorn, and silage corn are excluded. CORN Grain corn is Ontario’s second largest crop in terms of acreage and is the largest volume crop in Ontario. On average, 9.17 million metric tonnes are grown on 2.16 million acres of land across Ontario.
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