What to Expect When You’re Expecting (Next Year’s Crop)

In Corny News, Farming, feed, Food, Food Prices, Food vs Fuel, General, Media, Outlook, Production by Cathryn

Corn farmers might be wise to take a cue from a certain sector of their counterparts in traditional business sectors and learn the value of expectations management. In 2012, farmers felt the brunt of their own success as, after years of continually pushing the boundaries of how much they could grow using fewer resources, a massive drought hit the Corn …

It May Sound Corny…

In Corny News, General, Media by Cathryn

It may sound corny, but lately it seems that a lot of people talk about the omnipresence of corn. While this fact is inarguable, the negative tone of many articles on the corn-centric nature of our lives seems befuddling.  This week, the Kansas City Star took a more insightful approach to exploring how people interact with the crop in their …

Shadow in the Corn

In Corny News by Chuck

This is not a Delta commuter jet doing aerial application on this corn field. No, it’s just why I like to have a camera on me at all times. Just that random, “that looks like it might be a cool photo” shot. This is our plane landing in Bloomington, IL today. You can click on the photo for a larger …

Join the Friendly Farm Faces on Capitol Hill This Summer

In Corny News, Education, Farm Bill, Farming, General, government, Media, Politics, Regulations, State Groups by Cathryn

Have you ever heard about the Corn Farmers Coalition and wondered who actually sees this stuff? Sure, the ads catch attention from a mile away.  Sure, the beaming family farmers, on their real farms, convey powerful, impactful messages about today’s farm.  Sure, these ads appear to be something that would draw any normal reader into a short ag literacy lesson. …

Easter Corn

In Corny News by Cindy

Candy corn is a staple for Halloween, but jelly beans and chocolate bunnies get most of the basket space on Easter. Believe it or not, there is such a thing as Easter corn. Yep, it’s marketed by Zachary Confections of Frankfort, Indiana and those pretty pastel colors would be a great addition to any Easter basket. And they are made …

Stroll Through the Past to Find the Truth Today

In Corny News, Farming, General by Cathryn

Sometimes, the cacophony deriding corn grows loud enough to drown out reason. Vague allegations based in variations on the big-is-bad theme swirl about creating a tornado of talk that obscures reality. Now, through simple, concise facts, the National Corn Growers Association is helping sweep aside the clutter and show that corn is, and always has been, a quintessentially American crop, …

The Corncorde

In Corny News by Cindy

It’s a bird, it’s a plane …. it’s a flying ear of corn! You can see this piece of aerial artwork at Gate E-16 in the Atlanta Hartsfield-Jackson Airport. It is one of a number of pieces that became a part of the international Concourse E at the airport when it was built in 1996 to make way for the …

Missouri Corn is A-mazing This Fall

In Corny News, Farming, Promotion, State Groups by Cindy

The Missouri Corn Merchandising Council (MCMC) is amazing fall visitors to corn mazes in the state with facts about the state’s corn industry. Entering its second season, the Missouri Corn fall promotion builds on last year’s successful campaign in which weatherproof stop signs were featured in 25 corn mazes across the state. The 2011 maze materials continue the theme with …

Will the Oldest Corn Club in the Country Please Stand Up?

In Corny News, General by Cathryn

Now approaching its 60th anniversary, the Talbot County Maryland Corn Club came to Corn Commentary with a question: “Are we the oldest corn club in the country?” Founded in 1951, the club was founded to facilitate a county-wide yield contest and host an awards banquet for the winners. At one point, the club even served as a model for fine …

Corn Bags Clean Up the Clean Up

In Conservation, Corny News, General, New Products, New Uses by Cathryn

For years, environmental activists have reinforced the negative impact that plastic bags, similar to those used in grocery stores, have upon the planet.  These ubiquitous bags can sit in landfills for over 1,000 years.  Now, people who love the planet and their dogs are championing a better option- corn-based biodegradable dog waste bags. Here, ingenuity and U.S. farming collide to …