Articles Tagged: Corn

Neighbors complain of ‘significant’ increase in odors coming from corn processor Roquette America

Across major corn-growing states, climate change is fueling conditions that make watching the corn grow a nail-biter for farmers. Factors like consistently high summer overnight temperatures, droughts and heavier-than-usual rains at the wrong time can all disrupt the plants’ pollination.

A fungal disease is spreading and growing in severity in Iowa, affecting the state’s corn production. A wetter than normal summer has helped Southern rust spread throughout the state.

The announcement last month that Coca-Cola will introduce a new product made with cane sugar — instead of high-fructose corn syrup — came as a surprise to many corn growers, especially in Iowa, the country’s top corn producing state.

State, city and company leaders spoke at a ceremony Wednesday celebrating a planned $50 million upgrade and expansion to Ingredion's operations in Cedar Rapids. The company will expand the production of industrial starches used in packaging and papermaking to meet growing demand. The starches use corn sourced entirely from Iowa.

Above-average precipitation leaves some standing water in fields, but 18 percent of Iowa corn acres has reached the dough stage. Meanwhile, soybeans show progress with 69 percent of the crop blooming across the state and 33 percent already setting pods.

PepsiCo and Cargill have announced plans to expand sustainable farming practices on 240,000 acres of Iowa cropland by 2030.

The phenomenon has for years been blamed by some for sweltering summer conditions in Iowa, yet recent research shows that might not be true.

Researchers from Iowa State University say that the over application of fertilizer can be harmful, but under-applying can be too.

The Gazette will host a series of free, virtual talks about the future of agriculture this week, including advances in drone technology and crop genetics, such as short-statured corn.

The ethanol industry has been a stabilizing force for corn prices in recent years, and boosting ethanol demand might help counteract diminished farm income.

U.S. growers, who had worried about the potential loss of the single biggest export market for U.S. corn, welcomed the decision, calling it “a major win.”

The end of harvest matches recent drought years even though November has been the eighth-wettest on record. Record yields are expected.

“As you drive across the Midwest, maybe in the next seven, eight, 10 years, you're going to see a lot of this out there,” said Cameron Sorgenfrey, an eastern Iowa farmer who has been growing newly developed short corn for several years, sometimes prompting puzzled looks from neighboring farmers. “I think this is going to change agriculture in the Midwest."

Ample soil moisture has boosted crops after years of drought, but corn and soybean prices have dwindled.