TIL that beef is responsible for over 70% of all deforestation in South America, and is the #1 cause of deforestation globally.

Directly from IowaCorn.org: "A bushel began as a measurement of volume, but the accepted standard for a bushel of corn is now measured in weight (56 pounds). This weight is specifically for shelled corn (after the husks and cobs are removed). Think of it as about the size of a large bag of dog food."

Water requirements for growing corn Let's assume a really modest yield of 150 bushels per acre with the maximum water requirement of 594,000 gallons. So that's 594,000 gallons/ 8400 lbs of corn. That works out to 70 gallons per lb of corn. Again, "corn" being the end product that gets frozen or canned, and shipped out to consumers.

Okay how a bushel is weighed has nothing to do with water usage to grow a crop. It's 107 gallons for a pound of corn. I don't know why you keep throwing 25 gallons around. The average ear of corn, husk (which is full of water) and all weighs nearly one pound. All of that is water weight. Just like a cows slaughter water are factored into that 440 gallons number. Slaughter weight includes everything but the hide. You don't say "well take away the bones, and then weigh it." You don't get a discount at the grocery store for the weight of the cob when buying corn.

Next time you eat corn. Eat the corn as your normally would. Then weigh the cob. Then let it dry out... now how could something dry out... oh that's right it has to have water in it. Then weigh the dried cob. I'm betting it's 90% lighter because it was full of water... Water that didn't magically appear from nothing. Now how did those kernels of corn grow? Oh that's right by being attached to a corn cob and stalk all of which were full of water.

/r/todayilearned Thread Parent Link - ucsusa.org