Nebraska’s Golden Triangle
Maximizing Uses of corn to build a thriving economy
Nebraska’s Golden Triangle describes how corn, livestock and ethanol biofuel form an interconnected system that drives the state’s economy and fuels the world.
The system is based on two of the top uses for corn: livestock and ethanol. Grown in abundance across the state, Nebraska corn is fed to livestock or made into ethanol at one of the many Nebraska ethanol plants. This produces red meat, dairy or poultry product for people to eat or drink and a renewable fuel that helps reduce the world’s dependence on fossil fuels. In addition, having easy access to these two markets right here in the state boosts profitability for Nebraska corn farmers.
While many states have one or two aspects of this system, Nebraska is a state with all three equally thriving. That’s possible due to the state’s biodiversity: it has the corn grown across the state, a concentration of livestock farms and ranches out in central and western in combination with the sandhills and two dozen ethanol plants throughout the state.
Here’s a closer look at how the Golden Triangle works and how Nebraska corn farming, livestock and ethanol production combine to power the state’s economy.
Corn
Nebraska is one of the major corn-producing regions in the world, ranking third in the nation by annual corn production with more than 1.8 billion bushels harvested in 2024. The majority of corn grown in Nebraska—a whopping 99%—is field corn, the yellow dent corn most often used in livestock feed and in the production of ethanol.
While Nebraska does export corn, most of the corn harvested stays within the state’s borders. In addition to being made into ethanol and fed to cattle, field corn is used for commercial livestock feed for other animals, such as hogs and chickens.
By using Nebraska-grown corn at home, we’re capturing more of the corn’s value right here in the state. That’s good for the state’s economy, rural communities and Nebraska corn farmers.
Ethanol
Ethanol is a clean-burning fuel that reduces pollution by lowering the amount of greenhouse gases in vehicle exhaust. Made from field corn, ethanol is created by breaking down the starches in kernels into sugar and fermenting that into a liquid. Approximately 98% of the fuel sold in the United States is an ethanol-gas blend.
In addition to ethanol’s environmental benefits, its production also creates two valuable co-products for livestock feed. These co-products, corn gluten meal and distillers grains, are often mixed into the livestock rations, providing essential nutrition for the animals.
Nebraska ranks second in the nation in ethanol production. More than 2.3 billion gallons of ethanol was manufactured in 2023 at the two dozen ethanol plants in Nebraska. The availability of these plants provides farmers with a valuable market for their corn crop.
Livestock
Nebraska has a strong diversity of livestock raised in the state, but is especially known as a national leader in cattle production, with more than 6.8 million cattle sent to market in 2023. Many of those cattle are born on ranches in Nebraska and then fed corn as part of healthy and balanced feed rations.
Because field corn is plentiful in Nebraska, cattle born in Nebraska can be prepared for market without leaving the state. This gives Nebraska cattlemen and women an edge over other states, because cattle eat more than just corn kernels. In addition to eating corn kernels and byproducts of the ethanol-making process, cattle also eat corn sileage — a blend of chopped-up fermented cornstalks.
Other livestock in Nebraska also eat corn daily. It is a crucial ingredient in the commercially produced feed products eaten by swine and poultry. Dairy cattle also frequently eat corn in their rations, often in the form of silage.
This means high-quality corn livestock feed is often just a short truck ride away from farms and ranches. Such readily available, nutritious feed made from corn grown on Nebraska farms is a key part of the success of the state’s livestock industry.
That’s possible due to the state’s biodiversity: it has the corn belt to the east, a wide variety of corn-fed livestock raised across the state and two dozen ethanol plants spread throughout Nebraska.
Tying It All Together
The Benefits of The Golden Triangle
Nebraska’s Golden Triangle plays a crucial role in supporting corn growers and Nebraska agriculture with two profitable markets: ethanol production and livestock feeding.
Ways the Nebraska Golden Triangle benefits the state:
- Enhances profitability for Nebraska corn farmers by providing thriving, local market opportunities for their crop.
- Increases efficiency in the corn, livestock and ethanol industries with product availability and reduced transportation costs.
- Enables corn growers to diversify and add value to their operations by feeding corn to livestock.
- Powers the state’s economy by producing nutritious, corn-fed livestock and renewable ethanol, all within the state’s borders, for sale in local, national and international markets.
By making the most out of these two major uses of corn in Nebraska, The Golden Triangle captures more of Nebraska corn’s value right here in the state. That’s good for the state’s economy, rural communities and every Nebraska corn farmer.
