11 June 2008 - The heavy rainfalls and flooding, which have heavily damaged the newly sown crop, has forced the US Government to revise its forecast for corn output down by 3%.
US June crop was forecasted at 11.7 billion bushels, down from the May 2008 forecast of 12.1 billion.
Rainfall in some areas of Iowa a large US corn-growing state, last week averaged about 5 inches, nearly 6 times the normal rainfall for the week, local weather stations said.
Some food manufacturers are preparing for eventual flooding, say local media.
PepsiCo unit Quaker Oats, and corn starch producer Penford Products Corp., both with locations near the Cedar River in Cedar Rapids, have reportedly begun implementing their emergency response plans for flooding.
The companies will attempt to physically protect their facilities from flooding.
A Quaker Oats spokeswoman told the local media that the plant was up and running.
She said efforts are being made to anticipate equipment needs in event of flooding problems.