Dwarf Corn Could Sustain Yield Potential, Conserve Resources

Norman Borlaug changed the world when he developed dwarf wheat varieties that helped farmers around the world achieve new levels of crop yield. Now, companies are working toward creating similar change by developing dwarf corn hybrids. The shorter-stature plants will be half or one-third of the height of today’s high-yielding hybrids, but offer similar yield potential. The trend has quietly been underway for some time in corn breeding circles as a way to limit environmental stress, make the crop less susceptible to stand ability problems and enable more precise, efficient herbicide, fungicide and fertilizer applications. Companies like Stine Seed and Bayer are already investigating dwarf corn hybrids. Learn more about this trend.