Skyscraper to Short Corn at Discovery Plots Day

A portfolio packed with plant pathology, hand pollinating corn, setting gels for mapping DNA, mastering a centrifuge, autoclaving, walking beans and, detasseling (all before entering my 20’s). I can confidently inform readers that the least favorite was detasseling. Walking through the Illinois State University field plot at Research Acres, one’s eyes would grow wide with confusion. Dwarf plants, variegated, grass-like, others more representative of sorghum, groups with ears on top, and so forth. Realistically, numerous plants expressed traits of maize from decades ago and were being grown by geneticists in an attempt to garner the beneficials. This was the purpose for ISU genetics and Funk's G.

One could walk from the ISU plots on Research Acres to newly described “Ciba-Geigy” corn* fields beginning in 1993. Mention the year to anyone living in the midwest and old enough to remember, you will hear a story of floods never to be forgotten. While my tenure began at age 12 under the Funk’s G name, it was in 1993 that the Funk’s brand name was discontinued, among other changes. It was also the year of my initiation. Our crew was tasked with detasseling “amazon corn,” we begrudgingly coined the plants.?

Imagine, a young girl - barely five feet tall - who wades through knee-to-thigh deep water in between rows of corn. Muck boots submerged, the trek gave new meaning to the sport of rucking. While carefully leaning these gigantic, skyscraper stalks to the side, she uses the utmost grace. The goal? Maintain balance as the T-Rex length arms pull tassels out of the tops of each plant without damaging the integrity of the stalk. Easy, right?

Fast forward to the 21st century when a rumor of short statured corn began being whispered through the mill. Now an adult, the dreams of my youth were coming to fruition. The maize was solved! I first set eyes on short statured corn at the 2021 Farm Progress Show. At that time it was only available under the Dekalb name and still in progress.

Last week, CEO and founder of Seedonomy, Brad Zimmerman hosted an event at his Discovery Plots. Attendees toured the various plots, with companies at booths throughout the grounds. A Channel Seedsman, naturally, Zimmerman had a suite of products growing. Close your eyes and pretend you hear the confused excitement when I learned short statured corn was incorporated into the plots. This time with the Channel name. Now, picture the disappointment when I stood next to the short corn for a photo and the result was a short person standing next to tall corn.

Regardless of my failure to accurately represent the height, you can see in the photo that the corn is shorter. Channel DSM, Dustin Moore saved the day and show the difference. The advantages to growers are clear. Experiencing extensive wind damage in central Illinois, our farm lost several trees alongside damage to outbuildings. That same storm, the first of two in as many days, resulted in multiple neighbors having fields of corn that promise to be a challenge to the combines and pocketbooks.

With an apparent uptick in wind storms across the midwest, shorter stalks with the ability to maintain yield are welcomed benefits. In turn, there is potential for planting higher population rates and more precise input applications. This year Channel broke ground with the product and plans to see it growing in limited areas during 2023.?

As a person who has spent endless hours counting lodged plants and taking standability notes, it’s an exciting product and there is anticipation to see how it evolves. For further information about Seedonomy, contact Brad Zimmerman at [email protected].

*Ciba-Geigy purchased Funks Seeds International in 1974