Corn supply could affect the coming year's food prices as an unusually hot summer dried out plants.
Farmers planted the largest corn crop since World War II, but demanding weather meant less harvest.
"We just didn't have a good growing year. It was too hot, too warm, too dry at the wrong time," an analyst with Northstar Commodity in Minneapolis Jason Ward says.
Corn is a staple ingredient in American foods, from cereal to soda to livestock feed. It will take about six months for the prices to effect the market.
The USDA estimated about 672 million bushels of corn will be available at the end of the summer -- down from initial estimates, and well below the average.
Read More:
- Smaller corn surplus could push food prices higher (Associated Press)
- USDA Expects Higher Food Prices as it Cuts Corn Crop Outlook (Wall St. Cheat Sheet)