While USDA will have the more definitive word on this year's U.S. corn crop with its 10 August WASDE, estimates from private analysts are shrinking the crop by the day. The informal consensus is that yields are in the low 130s per acre and with more yield-harming weather in the forecast. Add in higher abandonment rates and production this year is unlikely to satisfy all comers. Still, the ethanol industry staggers around to every media opportunity denying there is a problem. Today's public assertion was that it expects no waiver of the mandate either this year or in 2013.However, the number of people in Washington expecting an eventual waiver is growing. Grumbling from U.S. livestock producers is not the worst impact of the renewed food v...