Increased temperatures will reduce corn crops

Corn pollination is vulnerable to increased temperatures, according to Iowa State University. ISU's June 30 newsletter reported that “Corn yield can drop by up to

25 percent when sustained temperatures rise from 90 to 95 degrees during corn grain filling.”

My question is, then, what happens if the temperatures go to 100 degrees? Can this lead to total crop failure? We may be closer to this than anyone has suspected.

Ohio State University says that pollen will not fertilize the corn silks if the pollen is too wet, too dry, too hot or if the timing is off. Pollen is viable for 18 to 48 hours. The fertilization takes place over five to 10 days. It's not hard to imagine the sustained temperature being 100 degrees for five to 10 days. Luckily for now, temperatures are lower from around 9 to 11 a.m. when pollination takes place.

Climate change needs to be priority. The rule of thumb is to quit burning anything.

If the scientist don't come up with corn that will pollinate in sustained 100-degree temperatures or if we don't curb increased temperatures, future Iowa corn crops could be greatly reduced or fail.

Harold Hensel

Cedar Rapids