(West Lafayette, IN.) - Coronavirus is not doing corn growers any favors. Corn is used to make ethanol and most gasoline has 10 to 15 percent ethanol. Less driving has lowered demand for gasoline.
Jim Mintert, an agricultural economist with Purdue University, said corn prices are headed lower as a result. Mintert says some ethanol plants could close if the lockdown on the economy runs for an extended period. 38 percent of all corn in the U.S. is used for making ethanol.