Sweet Corn

Year 9

Sweet Corn

Industry statistics 

NSW

QLD

VIC

TAS

WA

SA

NT

Aust

Tons

41377

6905

30226

106

1197

656

N?A

80467

Hectares

2408

1697

743

321

163

96

6

5434

Average yield

14.2

8.7

9.9

16.7

10.2

13.5

1.6

11.9

Average Total Yield for Windsor/Camden area

= 475ha * 14.2t = 6745

Most corn grown in NSW is for the processing sector mostly sold as tinned kennels, frozen kennels or cobbetts.

Growth & Development of sweet corn

Corn is thought to have originated in Mexico, THe ancient Inca, Mayan and Aztec civilization are credited as being the first to domesticate corn as a crop. Archaeological excavations in Mexico unearthed wild corn cobs which were dated about 5000 BCE and cultivated corn cobs about 2000 BCE. Corn is now one of the chief food plants of the world and is grown in most countries. Corn is thought to have originated from Teosinte 7000 years ago. The first domesticated corn was in 1494. In 1947 adaptations to Europe. Selective breeding of corn was done by ancient farmers. Once humans started manipulating the breeding of Crops or Animals to select favorable traits, the products are considered domesticated. 

Types of corn

There are 3 types of corn

1. Maize: Is commonly fed to livestock and is used to make breakfast cereals, most maize grains are dent type (the grains dent/shrink at the top when dry)

2. Sweet Corn: The corn cobs you can buy at woolworths and coles for steaming and stuff

3. Pop corn: The seeds are popped for human consumption

Equipment

CHISEL PLOUGH

ROTARY HOE

DISC PLOUGH

PRECISION ROW CROP PLANTER

OVERHEAD SPRAY IRRIGATION

FURROW IRRIGATION

BOOM SPRAY UNIT

6 ROW SELF PROPELLED HARVESTER

Sweet corn is a late spring-summer growing plant. It grows best in temperatures 50-90 degrees, it is frost sensitive. Sweet corn must be harvested prior to the first frost in winter. It grows best on loam. In the Sydney basin area, ideal soils are found along rivers that have well drained alluvial soil. Soil PH 5.5-6.5 so slightly acidic. The nutrient levels ideal are N:P:K (nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium) is 40:11:20. Sweet corn plants need water and sunlight to grow. They photosynthesize. They need a regular water supply. Sweet corn requires 16-20 Fl Oz of water per day. This is supplied by irrigation. Furrow irrigation or overhead fixed spray irrigation (JRAHS Farm).

Pests of corn

Corn earworm: 

Corn earworms are pests native to the southern U.S. and Canada, causing damage by gnawing corn ears or parts of the plant. They spread seeds across regions but don't reach northern areas due to climate. Control methods include pesticides and integrated pest management (IPM) practices like cultural practices such as crop rotation. Helicoverpa Zea is the scientific name. It can be controlled by a chemical spray. Freq of using the spray will be determined by the level of infestation. There are some varieties of sweet corn that are able to resist serious attack. Resistant crops have a much tighter husk to prevent the corn earworm larvae from penetrating into the husk. Hosts are restricted to sweet corn and maize.apply fertilizer and irrigate when necessary to ensure vigorous growth. 

Variety

The sweet corn variety being grown on the JRAHS farm 2025 is Duration from Monsanto. Seed sown 2nd of January. Expected harvest date is May 7th. It is a fresh market variety with good shelf life. In the sweet corn world sweet corn is either grown for fresh or processed. This variety that we’re growing has (no surprises) is for the fresh corn market. The sweet corn crop has been sprayed with an insecticide killing corn earworm and cabbage white butterfly and armyworm. And the last little dot point there please: fertilizer initially YaraMila Complex (N12P11K18) this is a complete fertilizer which are required the most by plants.

Fresh corn are sold/.presented in 2 ways: with the husk still around it, or in punnets wrapped with polyvinyl chloride or low-density polyethylene or polyvinylidene chloride (basically wrapped in plastic).

Processing variety 

Empire is grown for processing such as frozen or canned. This variety has very high yield and it has high sugar content. Very sweet to eat. Corn is processed in many different ways: Frozen, Canned, Creamed, Juiced etc. 

When corn is processed, Ethanol ( Di-Methyl Ether or C2H6O)

• Starch Conversion:

  • Corn kernels are primarily composed of starch. To produce ethanol, this starch must be converted into simple sugars.

  • This conversion is achieved through a process called saccharification, which involves using enzymes to break down the starch molecules.  

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• Fermentation:

  • Once the starch is converted into sugars, yeast is added to the mixture.  

  • 
    

  • The yeast consumes the sugars and, through fermentation, produces ethanol and carbon dioxide.  

  • 
    

• Distillation:

  • The resulting mixture, known as "beer," contains ethanol, water, and other byproducts.

  • Distillation is used to separate the ethanol from the water and other components. This process involves heating the mixture, as ethanol has a lower boiling point than water.  

  • 
    

• Dehydration:

  • The distilate is then ran through a dehydration process to remove the remaining water, producing a high proof ethanol.

• Denaturing:

  • Finally, a small amount of gasoline or another denaturant is added to the ethanol to make it undrinkable. This denatured ethanol is then ready for use as fuel.  

  • 
    

Key Production Methods:

• Dry Milling:

  • This is the most common method in the U.S.

  • The entire corn kernel is ground into flour, which is then processed through the steps mentioned above.  

  • 
    

  • Dry milling also produces valuable byproducts, such as distillers grains, which are used as animal feed.  

  • 
    

• Wet Milling:

  • This method separates the corn kernel into its components (starch, germ, fiber, and protein) before processing.

  • Wet milling produces a wider range of coproducts, including corn oil, corn starch, and corn syrup, in addition to ethanol.

Harvesting

When corn is ready for harvest, all silk is brown and dry, the cob is sticking out π/6 radians from the stalk and feels solid and firm. The top kernels when squeezed have a milky juice (not clear). Harvesting at JRAHS is done by hand. This method is slow but effective as the person can decide whether a cob is ripe or not. A harvesting machine is unable to differentiate between ripe and unripe cobs (this may change). Hand picking is done by Ayaansh by holding the stalk and bending the cob off. The cob is then topped and tailed using a sharp knife or machete or axe or sword. The cob is then ready for sale. 

Commercial harvesting is done by using a machine called a self propelled harvester. The harvester snaps the cobs away from the stalk complete with husks and loads them into a large holding bin. The holding bins are emptied into trucks and are taken either to a processing plant or to the fresh market. 

Marketing pathway

Corn is sold for money…

Recipes Involving sweet corn

Chinese Sweet Corn Juice (玉米汁 - Yùmǐ zhī)

• Ingredients:

  1. 3 ears fresh sweet corn, kernels removed

  2. 4 cups water (or milk for a creamier version)

  3. Sugar or honey to taste (optional)

• Instructions:

  1. Remove the kernels from the sweet corn cobs.

  2. Place the corn kernels and water (or milk) in a blender.

  3. Blend until smooth.

  4. Strain the mixture through a fine-mesh sieve or cheesecloth to remove any pulp. Or keep the pulp if you like.

  5. Add sugar or honey to taste, if desired.

  6. Chill the juice in the refrigerator before serving. Or serve hot in winter

  7. serve cold or hot

Cheesy Sweet Corn Fritters

• Ingredients:

  1. 2 cups sweet corn kernels (fresh or frozen)

  2. 1 cup shredded cheddar or Monterey Jack cheese

  3. 1/2 cup all-purpose flour

  4. 1/4 cup cornmeal

  5. 1 teaspoon baking powder

  6. 1/2 teaspoon salt

  7. 1/4 teaspoon black pepper

  8. 2 large eggs, lightly beaten

  9. 1/4 cup milk

  10. 2 tablespoons chopped green onions (optional)

  11. Vegetable oil for frying

• Instructions:

In a large bowl, combine the sweet corn, cheese, flour, cornmeal, baking powder, salt, and pepper.

In a separate bowl, whisk together the eggs and milk. Pour the egg mixture into the corn mixture and stir until just combined. Add the green onions if using.

Heat about 1/4 inch of vegetable oil in a large skillet over medium heat.

Drop spoonfuls of the corn mixture into the hot oil, flattening them slightly.

Cook for 2-3 minutes per side, or until golden brown and cooked through.

5. 
   

6. Drain the fritters on paper towels and serve hot.

Gross Margin budget

The growth margin budget is how much

When discussing a "growth margin budget" in sweet corn farms, we're essentially talking about a financial tool used to assess the profitability of sweet corn production. Here's a breakdown:

Understanding Gross Margin

• Definition:

  • The gross margin is the difference between the revenue generated from selling sweet corn and the variable costs associated with producing that sweet corn.

  • In simpler terms: Gross Margin = Revenue - Variable Costs.  

• Variable Costs:

  • These are costs that change depending on the level of production. In sweet corn farming, they include:

    • Seeds

    • Fertilizers

    • Pesticides  

    • Irrigation costs

    • Labor (especially harvesting)

    • Packaging materials

  •  

• Revenue:

  • This is the income received from selling the harvested sweet corn. It's influenced by:

    • Yield (quantity of corn harvested)

    • Market price

    • Quality of the corn

Growth Margin Budget's Purpose

• Profitability Assessment:

  • The budget helps farmers determine if growing sweet corn is financially viable.

  • It allows them to estimate the potential profit per hectare or per unit of production.

• Decision-Making:

  • Farmers use it to compare the profitability of sweet corn with other crops they could grow.

  • It helps in making decisions about:

    • How much land to allocate to sweet corn

    • Which inputs to use (e.g., fertilizer types)

    • Marketing strategies

• Financial Planning:

  • The budget aids in forecasting cash flow and securing financing.

  • It gives a clear view of the direct costs associated with the sweet corn farming enterprise.

Key Considerations

• Exclusion of Fixed Costs:

  • It's crucial to remember that a gross margin budget doesn't include fixed costs (e.g., land rent, machinery depreciation, administrative expenses). These costs need to be factored in for a complete profitability picture.  

• Market Volatility:

  • Sweet corn prices can fluctuate significantly, so budgets should account for potential price variations.  

• Yield Variability:

  • Weather, pests, and diseases can impact yields, so farmers should consider potential yield fluctuations in their budgets.

In essence, a growth margin budget provides a valuable snapshot of the direct financial performance of a sweet corn farming operation, enabling farmers to make informed business decisions.

A variable cost is a cost that changes according to the amount of the crop grown. E.g the cost of sweet corn seed for growing one acre would be cheaper than sweet corn seed cost for 10 acres.

If Imperial

Revenue

$

Total Yield (Pounds)

15 lbs/acre * 2000 lbs/ton * 5 acres

150,000 pounds

Sell Price

$1.2/pound

Total Revenue

150,000lbs * $1.2/lbs

$180,000

Variable Costs

Seeds

$300/acre * 5 acres

$1,500

Fertilizer

$600/acre * 5 acres

$3,000

Pesticides

$400/acre * 5 acres

$2,000

Irrigation

$500/acre * 5 acres

$2,500

Labor

$1,200

Transport and Packaging

$500

Total Variable Costs

Sum of all variable costs

$10,700

Gross Margin

Total Revenue - Total Variable Costs

$169,300

If Metric

Item

Value

Unit

Land

5

ha

Yield

75,000

kg

Sell Price

1.2

$/kg

Total Revenue

90,000

$

Seeds

300

$/ha

Fertilizer

600

$/ha

Pesticides

400

$/ha

Irrigation

500

$/ha

Labor

1,200

$

Transport/Packaging

500

$

Total Variable Costs

10,700

$

Gross Margin

79,300

$