To help stabilize feed costs, Japan’s Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry, and Fisheries (MAFF) announced a $415 million subsidy. Compound feed costs have seen significant increases due the the doubling cost of corn. According to the USDA Gain Report, the money will help absorb feed cost surges and will last until March 2009. Nearly 75% of imported corn to Japan is used for miscellaneous livestock feed, and almost all corn is imported from the United States. The subsidy represents more than 16.5% of the total cost of corn used for feed according to USDA.