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corn's a-maize-ing growth
corn's a-maize-ing growth
Corn is a great example of a plants ability to grow! Corn is grown all over the United States, but no matter what state you're in there are three important parts to a getting a good crop: Planting, Fertilizing, and Irrigating.
PLanting
PLanting
Planting can look a little different for each farmer. It all depends on what kind of corn you're growing and what kind of equipment you have. It's important to plant the seeds just right so we can get a good crop!
Fertilizing
Fertilizing
Fertilizing, or applying nutrients, is often done before planting, but sometimes farmers "sidedress" fertilizer on their corn. Sidedress means to apply fertilizer right next to a growing plant, this helps deliver plant food to the corn when it needs it most.
Irrigating
Irrigating
Irrigation, or watering fields, is not used in all corn production. Fields without irrigation are called "dry-land" crops. Irrigation helps us make sure that the corn has just the right amount of water while it is growing.
How Corn Grows
How Corn Grows
Did you know corn is actually a type of grass? All corn plants grow the same way, they produce leaves, tassels, silks, and ears, we just use the ears differently!
Not all corn is the same
Not all corn is the same
You learned about corn for food, fuel, and livestock, but did you realize that the type of corn is different for each of those uses? A corn farmer has to plant a specific type of corn seed to make the product they want. If we want people to eat corn on the cob, we have to plant sweet corn, but if we want animals to eat the corn we have to plant field corn. It's really important to know what type of corn is growing because the production and harvesting can be quite different!
corn genetics/Breeding
corn genetics/Breeding
Plant breeders and geneticists have worked really hard to develop the corn plants we grow today. Every year new varieties are being developed to grow in certain locations and conditions. These new varieties help us reduce the amount of fertilizer, water, and pesticides we have to use to grow corn.
Harvesting
Harvesting
Corn harvesting is pretty similar for sweet corn and field corn. Corn enters the header, runs through the combine, and is moved to a grain bucket. With field corn, the kernels are separated from the cob in the combine, but sweet corn stays on the cob and in the husk until it's sold to you or put in cans!
Battling the Pests
Battling the Pests
Growing corn isn't always super easy! Corn growers have to be mindful of pests like insects, weeds, birds, deer, and many more things that like to eat corn!
Weeds compete with growing corn and take away things like water and nutrients. Growers eliminate weeds in a number of ways but always with food safety in mind!
Grasshoppers can quickly damage a corn field. Growers only spray for insects if there are too many and they risk losing their corn!
Animals like deer & birds can eat up a lot of corn. Scarecrows aren't all that practical for big corn fields but there are a few things we can use to scare them off, like these big "hawk-eyes".
Not all bugs are bad! Ladybugs and their larvae are often found in corn fields but they don't feed on corn, they feed on the bad bugs like aphids!
Amazing Grains Game
Amazing Grains Game
Ag Across America Game
Ag Across America Game
This digital book is about Presley, a girl who lives with her family on their corn farm. Be sure to click to view it in full screen.
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