From Biofuel Conversions (pdf):
Figures based on 2012 harvest estimates:
Maize
1 acre produces 158.6 bushels/acre 2.77 gallons ethanol/bushel 439 gallon/acre
Sugar Beets
23 tons/acre 24 gallons ethanol/ton 522 gallons ethanol/acre
Soy (soya) Beans
42.8 bushels/acre 11.28 libs soybean oil/bushel 7.7 lbs unrefined soybean oil/gallon of biodiesel 63 gallons biodiesel/acre A doo run-run-run, a doo run-run
Meeting Bush's goal of 35 billion gallons of "alternative fuel" would require 79,726,651 acres of maize, 67,049,808 acres of sugar beets, or 55,555,555 acres worth of soybeans . The estimated
Projected plantings for the eight major field crops in the United States increase from about 246.5 million acres in 2007 to over 252 million in 2008 as the market responds to current high prices prompted by strong demand and lower global supplies of oilseeds and wheat.
Food to Fuel reduction percentages:
Maize - 31.64% or 1,264,464,000 bushels switched Sugar Beets - 26.61% or 1,542,145,584 tons switched Soy bean - 22.05% or 2,377,777,754 bushels switched
Total US exports in 2007/2008:
Maize - roughly 1,000,000,000 bushels Soybeans - roughly 900,000,000 bushels
(Note: Sugar Beets exports are insignificant)
Basically, meeting the goal removes US agricultural production from the world markets. A doo run-run-run, a doo run-run
Forgot to add:
Corn acreage nationally is projected at 86.0 million acreage and soybean at 74.8 million acreage; this is an 8 percent reduction and 18 percent increase relative to 2007, respectively.
