The spike in ethanol demand in Midwestern states may bring serious consequences to the Gulf of Mexico, according to the Associated Press.

Intensive corn production relies on nitrogen-based fertilizers, which eventually run-off into the gulf through the Mississippi River. So far, this fertilizer run-off has managed to create a seemingly ever-growing 8,000 sq. mile area, the size of New Jersey, that is so starved of oxygen, fish, crabs, and shrimp basically choke to death.

With the price of corn doubling since 2002, the "dead zone" is not going to be reversing its trend of growth over the past twenty years. In fact, this could cause a possible ecological catastrophe if growth continues or farmers don't adopt some sort of limitations on nitrogen-based fertilizers and run-off. This outcome could have a devastating impact on the people that depend on the Gulf as well. "People's livelihood depends on the shrimp, fish and crabs
in these waters," Matt Rota, director of the New Orleans-based Gulf Restoration Network said. "Already, some of these shrimpers are traveling longer and longer distances to catch anything."

The red in the picture above indicates the extent of the "dead zone" in the Gulf.