Corn isn’t just on the cob; it’s on the rise.

Mariam Wassmann, director of information for the DeKalb County Farm Bureau, anticipates more corn planted this year than ever before.

“The price of corn is very appealing,” Wassmann said.

The rise in the value of corn has made it more profitable than DeKalb’s other main crop, soy beans, causing a higher percentage of acreage to be used for corn.

“Ours is about 10 percent higher,” said Sycamore farmer John Weberpal. “Some are planting 30 percent more. Corn demand is quite a bit higher,” Weberpal said.

Wassmann said one reason for the increased value of corn is production of ethanol, which is used as fuel.

Lyle Paul, an agronomist with University of Illinois Agronomy Research, said ethanol is likely the main driving force.

Paul said the price of corn is about 70 percent higher than last year and the acreage being used for it across the country is at its highest since World War II.

Just because more corn is planted doesn’t mean the yield will be higher.

“In any given year, yield could be lower depending on the weather,” Paul said. “It’s still heavily dependent on the weather.”

Paul said it also depends on when the crop is planted, something that hasn’t happened yet.

“It’s usually between April 15-25 when people get started,” Weberpal said.

Because the soil is wet, Wassmann said, planting will not occur for at least another week or so.

Although DeKalb has exceptional soil and generally favorable weather, Wassmann withheld final judgment on the season.

“We won’t know until the corn and soybeans are counted,” Wassmann said.