To meet the demand, the nation would have to expand its corn acreage by at least 30 percent.

Last year, with heavy surpluses still depressing markets, farmers had to agree not to plant at least 20 percent of their normal corn acreage.

One result is likely to be less switching of corn acreage to soybeans than many analysts had projected.

To qualify for subsidies, the farmers must leave 20 percent of their normal corn acreage idle.

Under the rules for 1987, farmers were required to set 20 percent of their corn acreage aside to lie fallow.

In 1988, some drought-damaged corn acreage was not economical to harvest.

Eight years ago, for example, less than 30 percent of the nation's corn acreage was enrolled in Government benefit programs.

None of the figures were greatly surprising, although traders said the corn acreage, at 66.024 million acres, was bullish.

Today, there are two million farms and just 1 percent account for 10 percent of all corn acreage.

In 1900 corn acreage was double that of wheat in the United States.