Maize is the most widely grown grain crop throughout the Americas, with 361 million metric tons grown in the United States in 2014 (Production table). Approximately 40% of the cropâ??130 million tonsâ??is used for corn ethanol.[5] Genetically modified maize made up 85% of the maize planted in the United States in 2009.[6] Sugar-rich varieties called sweet corn are usually grown for human consumption as kernels, while field corn varieties are used for animal feed, various corn-based human food uses (including grinding into cornmeal or masa, pressing into corn oil, and fermentation and distillation into alcoholic beverages like bourbon whiskey), and as chemical feedstocks. Maize is also used in making ethanol and other biofuels. Maize Production in 2014 Maize production â?? 2014 Country Production (millions of tonnes) United States 361.1 China 215.6 Brazil 79.9 European Union 77.6 Argentina 33.1 Ukraine 28.5 India 23.7 Mexico 23.3 World 1037.8