Corn Commentary

Corn Is a Miracle Crop

Can you actually hear corn grow? Don’t know if this has been tested scientifically, but it sure seems possible this year. Corn in some of the late planted fields seems to have gone from inches to feet in two weeks time.

Here is the best actual data that reflect the horticultural muscle of my favorite crop…maize.

Kentucky corn researchers put a tape measure on a corn plant beginning June 3 and ending July 4.   It grew between 1.4 and 5.0 in. per day, and grew an average of 10% of its height each day during the V6 stage.  Leaves grew 2.5 to 4.0 in. per day, which the researchers calculated to be at a speed of 2.5 to 3.8 millimeters per hour.

So what does this kind of prodigious growth capacity mean in real world impact? U.S.feed grain supplies for 2009/10 are projected higher this month in large part because of the estimated 12.3 billion bushels we will grow this summer, up 355 million from last month.

As we do most years, it seems very likely we will have enough corn for all purposes with extra as a safety cushion. Can I get a Hooray for corn farmers?