Iowa Cornfields Could Look Very Different Soon

Iowa cornfields have looked the way the way they do for hundreds of years.  Tall stalks of corn.  There were modifications through the years.  The one notable difference was when stalks started showing up with multiple ears of corn.  That may have been a result of hybrids where the primary ear was damaged, failed, or didn't pollinate properly. Other than that not much has changed when it comes to height, but that is all about to change if Bayer has anything to say about it.

How has growing corn changed in 100 years?

With the introduction of hybrid corn varieties in the 1930s that dramatically increased yields.  Over time, advances in genetics have led to genetically modified (GM) corn that can resist pests, tolerate herbicides, and withstand environmental stresses.

Bayer is experimenting with a little something new in Iowa that could dramatically change the landscape.  No longer would it be tall corn stalks filling fields from sea to shining sea.  The science of short corn is here.  I say new and that is this strain but Bayer has been working on short corn for 20 years according to the company.  The major push for this project was the Derecho.  It devastated many industries and corn was one of them.  Bayer says they plan to increase production of short corn by 2027.  They hope that it will become standard across the U.S. and globally.

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What are the benefits of shorter corn?

Short corn is designed to resist winds up to 50 mph.  It can be planted more densely which could potentially increase yields on the same land. That's crucial for farmers facing low prices.  The smaller plants may require less water, addressing growing drought concerns.

That would make cornfields look a lot different.  How would you feel about that?