Study Quantifies How Red Meat Exports Boost Domestic Feed Demand for Corn and Soybeans

Red meat exports delivered significant returns to corn and soybean producers in 2025, according to an independent study conducted by the Juday Group and released by the U.S. Meat Export Federation (USMEF). Nationally, U.S. beef and pork exports accounted for $2.18 billion in market value to corn producers in 2025, $375 million to distiller’s dried grains with solubles (DDGS), and $1 billion to soybean producers, according to the study. U.S. beef and pork exports contributed an estimated total economic impact of 13.5% per bushel to the value of corn and 10.3% per bushel to soybeans in 2025. 

Beef and pork exports in 2025 utilized the equivalent of 70.31 million bushels of Illinois corn, adding more than $301 million in value to the state's corn industry.

The findings reinforce the importance of export markets and livestock production as key drivers of profitability for Illinois corn farmers.

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