The farmer can win from sale of the excess stover. The paper, food and chemical processing industries win by expanding the market for fiber, low cost sugars used in fermentation and refined to sweeteners and ethanol.
Corn stover consists of the stalks, leaves and cobs remaining after the corn kernels are harvested.
About one pound of stover is produced per pound of corn. In addition, its lignocellulosic composition can provide the same amount of sugar as an equivalent amount of corn. The fiber has similar properties as the fiber from hardwood, offering a replacement for paper production. Its lignin contains enough energy to meet the steam and electrical needs of the process. What is excess corn stover varies by region, dependent on soil type, crop rotation, topography and other factors, often including value judgements.