Corn Increasingly Drought-Sensitive, New Research Shows

While new genetic technology and other innovations have helped corn yield potential to continue to generally march toward the 300-bushel/acre threshold and beyond, new research confirms an issue that has yet to be adequately addressed by the industry. Soil moisture levels — especially those slashed dramatically by the heat and dryness common with drought conditions — are key variables for corn yield potential and can be major limiting factors when in short supply. And modern corn varieties are becoming even more sensitive to drought; research to date shows crop sensitivity to variability in soil water-holding capacity has grown by 55% in the last two decades. Researchers are beginning work to understand why it’s happening and hope to identify ways the industry can better-equip farmers to thrive amidst growing climate stress. See more on the research and why it’s underway.