Sweet corn yields affected by seed source, climate change

Aug 29, 2023

Sweet corn, a staple in many diets, is now under the scientific lens. An intriguing study from the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign and the Agricultural Research Service is spotlighting the role of seed sources in shaping their yields.

The research was vast, pulling data from a whopping 16,000 fields over 27 years. While the year of production and region were expected influencers, the seed source’s crucial role came as a surprise. Marty Williams, the study's lead voice, highlights the industry's power in this revelation, highlighting their ability to select their seed source.

Venturing into the details, this study evaluated a multitude of 67 factors, ranging from weather patterns and soil characteristics to management techniques and crop genetics. Harnessing machine learning, Williams, with Daljeet Dhaliwal, distilled these to identify the most impactful determinants.

However, a clear ranking among seed companies remains elusive. Williams hints at diverse cultivation conditions for hybrids from various companies as a reason for this ambiguity.

The study also rings alarm bells regarding nighttime temperatures. Warm nights, specifically over 61 degrees Fahrenheit, can potentially curtail yields, posing challenges in the face of global warming.

Despite these hurdles, Williams is optimistic. The spotlight on the seed source’s significant role offers the industry a pathway to influence yield outcomes positively.

Source : wisconsinagconnection

Video: Evolution of Beef Cattle Farming

The Clear Conversations podcast took to the road for a special episode recorded in Nashville during CattleCon, bringing listeners straight into the heart of the cattle industry. Host Tracy Sellers welcomed rancher Steve Wooten of Beatty Canyon Ranch in Colorado for a wide-ranging discussion that blended family history and sustainability, particularly as it relates to the future of beef production.

Sustainability emerged as a central theme of the conversation, a word that Wooten acknowledges can mean very different things depending on who you ask. For him, sustainability starts with the soil. Healthy soil produces healthy grass, which supports efficient cattle capable of producing year after year with minimal external inputs. It’s an approach that equally considers vegetation, animal efficiency, and long-term profitability.

That philosophy aligned naturally with Wooten’s involvement in the U.S. Roundtable for Sustainable Beef, where he served as a representative for the Colorado Cattlemen’s Association. The roundtable brings together the entire beef supply chain—from producers to retailers—along with universities, NGOs, and allied industries. Its goal is not regulation, Wooten emphasized, but collaboration, shared learning, and continuous improvement.