Devasting Flooding Strikes Farmers, Highlights Generosity of Ag

Mar 25, 2019

News reports showing the devastating flooding in Nebraska show the incredible tragedy facing so many farmers this spring and compounding the impacts of an already weak agricultural economy. As farm families face these hardships, the National Corn Growers Association extends its deepest empathy and support.

This already devastating situation appears likely to hit even more of America’s farm families. Farmers have been impacted by record flooding in the upper Mississippi and Missouri River basins including Minnesota and Iowa, as well as Nebraska, already this year. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration forecasts an elevated risk for flooding through May. Nearly two-thirds of the Lower 48 states face an elevated risk of flooding, with the potential for major or moderate flooding in 25 states.

While these times of crisis place so many at risk, they also serve to highlight the incredible generosity and resiliency in rural America. With many states coordinating efforts to send aid to impacted farmers. The organization Farm Rescue has activated Operation Hay Lift while citizens, churches and business groups have volunteered to fill sandbags for others. Michigan farmers hoping to help their neighbors can find information on Ag Community Relief at https://www.agcommunityrelief.com/current-efforts/

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Video: Not only is corn getting sweatier, it's getting smarter

Over the past several weeks, much of the U.S. Midwest has experienced prolonged episodes of extreme heat, a trend also observed in other major corn-producing regions of North America such as eastern South Dakota, southern Ontario, and parts of Kansas and Missouri. These high-temperature events can place significant physiological stress on maize (Zea mays L.), which is cultivated on approximately 90 million acres across the United States, with leading production in Iowa, Illinois, Nebraska, and Minnesota. Like all maize, Bayer’s PRECEON™ Smart Corn System is subject to transpiration-driven water loss under high heat. However, this system incorporates agronomic traits designed to improve standability through enhanced stalk strength, thereby reducing lodging risk during stress conditions. Furthermore, the system supports precision agriculture practices by enabling more targeted fertilizer and crop protection applications. This approach not only helps to optimize input efficiency but also contributes to maintaining or increasing yield potential under variable environmental stresses such as heat waves, which are becoming more frequent in corn belt and fringe production regions.