(March 31, 2008) -- You could soon see another spike in grocery prices after many farmers decide to cut back on the land they're planting in corn this spring.
The Agriculture Department predicts farmers will plant 86 million acres of corn this year. That would be down 8 percent from last year, which was the highest since World War II.
Corn prices have skyrocketed in recent years, almost tripling since 2005. And there are favorable prices for other crops, such as soybeans.
You may not realize how ingrained corn is in the U.S. Food supply.
Poultry, beef and pork companies use it to feed their animals. High fructose corn syrup is used in soft drinks and many other foods, including lunch meats and salad dressings. Corn is often an ingredient in breads, peanut butter, oatmeal and potato chips.
Corn components are even used in many grocery store items that aren't edible -- including disposable diapers and dry cell batteries.
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