AGRICULTURE REPORT - Corn, Part 3

AGRICULTURE REPORT — December 10, 2002: Corn, Part 3

By Mario Ritter

This is the VOA Special English Agriculture Report.

Last week, we told about the many uses for corn. It is America’s most successful
crop. Today, we tell about the hidden costs of corn.

American farmers grow about four times more corn than the country’s second
biggest crop, soybeans¹. The United² States controls seventy percent of the corn export
market. In fact, forty percent of the world’s corn supply in grown in America.

But, some experts say it is possible for a crop to be too successful. Michael Pollan, an
expert in plants and agriculture, says that there are hidden costs to growing corn. He
says government aid to corn growers represents³ a cost to all Americans who pay
taxes. Mister⁴ Pollan also notes that it is very difficult to make a profit from growing corn.

Farmers who grow corn receive more government aid than any other group of farmers. The Iowa Agriculture
Review reports that corn growers received twenty-seven percent of all related⁵ farm aid in nineteen-ninety-nine.
Yet, in the same year, corn produced only ten percent of the value of all crop sales.

The price of corn continues to drop even though the price of products made from it continues to rise. For
example, in the last five years, the price of food products made from grain, called cereal⁶, increased by almost six
percent. In the same time period, the price of corn decreased by forty-three percent.

Corn production continues to increase, even though prices continue to drop. Today, farmers produce more corn
per hectare⁷ than they did in the past. The Economic Research Service of the Department of Agriculture studies
the causes of price changes in crop markets. It has found that farmers get about seventy-two percent more corn
from their land than they did in nineteen-sixty-five. And far more land is used to grow corn today.

Other forces cause corn prices to remain low. The Export Enhancement⁸ Program is one of several laws that gives
payments⁹ to crop exporters. These payments help to keep prices low so that American crops can be sold in
foreign markets. But, they also keep prices in the United States low and that hurts American corn growers.

Experts say people have made corn more productive¹⁰ than it is naturally. Scientists have genetically¹¹ changed corn
so that it cannot be damaged by most insects. Michael Pollan likes to point out that corn now controls the people
who use it.

This VOA Special English Agriculture Report was written by Mario Ritter.

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1 soybeans   

n.大豆，黄豆( soybean的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• Soybeans are very rich in protein. 大豆含有丰富的蛋白质。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• In Europe, soybeans aren't as common. 但是在欧洲，大豆的情况并非如此。 来自英汉非文学 - 生命科学 - 口蹄疫疯牛病

2 united   

adj.和谐的；团结的；联合的，统一的

参考例句：

• The whole nation is closely united.全国人民紧密团结。
• The two men were united by community of interests.共同的利益使两个人结合在一起。

3 Represents   

v.表现( represent的第三人称单数 )；代表；体现；作为…的代表

参考例句：

• This represents a volte-face in government thinking. 这代表着政府观点的彻底转变。
• The Russian Revolution represents a landmark in world history. 俄国革命是世界历史上的一个里程碑。 来自《简明英汉词典》

4 mister   

n.(略作Mr.全称很少用于书面)先生

参考例句：

• Mister Smith is my good friend.史密斯先生是我的好朋友。
• He styled himself " Mister Clean ".他自称是“清廉先生”。

5 related   

adj.有关系的，有关联的，叙述的，讲述的

参考例句：

• I am not related to him in any way.我和他无任何关系。
• We spent days going through all related reference material.我们花了好多天功夫查阅所有有关的参考资料。

6 cereal   

n.谷类，五谷，禾谷

参考例句：

• I have hot cereal every day for breakfast.我每天早餐吃热麦片粥。
• Soybeans are handled differently from cereal grains.大豆的加工处理与谷类的加工处理不同。

7 hectare   

n.公顷

参考例句：

• A hectare is equal to 15 mu.1公顷合15市亩。
• The lands were to be sold at $2.50 per hectare.土地的售价为每公顷2.50美元。

8 enhancement   

n.提高；增加 (v.enhance)

参考例句：

• Cracks developed in the coating are usually not visible without enhancement. 涂层中产生的裂纹通常必须经过增效处理才能看得见。
• Taylor argues that microwaves are a best bet for enhancement. 泰勒论证说，微波比较适合于用来起增强作用。

9 payments   

n.支付，付款，缴纳，报酬( payment的名词复数 )；付出的[要付出的]款项；报答，报偿

参考例句：

• Welfare payments cease as soon as an individual starts a job. 一旦就业，即停发福利救济。
• The law can compel fathers to make regular payments for their children. 这项法律可强制父亲定期支付子女的费用。

10 productive   

adj.能生产的，有生产价值的，多产的

参考例句：

• We had a productive meeting that solved some problems.我们开了一个富有成效的会议，解决了一些问题。
• Science and technology are part of the productive forces.科学技术是生产力。

11 genetically   

adv.遗传上

参考例句：

• All the bees in the colony are genetically related. 同一群体的蜜蜂都有亲缘关系。
• Genetically modified foods have already arrived on American dinner tables. 经基因改造加工过的食物已端上了美国人的餐桌。 来自英汉非文学 - 生命科学 - 基因与食物