We produce so much corn already that the government encourages its use in many other things (corn syrup, ethanol). And of course the government subsidizes growers..

Since 1995, 75 percent of federal subsidies have gone to 10 percent of farms, the same consolidated group of commodity crop growers who will continue to eat up a disproportionate share of the subsidy pie under the new system, too.

These payments fund a massive industrialized food system that takes its toll on our land and water, while our diets are full of all that extra corn, from our corn-fed burgers to our Halloween candy — and so are our cars.

http://grist.org/food/our-crazy-farm...ies-explained/