Corn History

Originally written February 1, 2006 | Last updated February 23, 2014

Taxonomy

Origin, Adaptation, and Types of Corn National Corn Handbook - 10

Hybrid Corn-History, Development and Selection Considerations National Corn Handbook - 29

Genus and species: Zea mays L., also called maize

Relatives of corn

1. Teosinte-closest relative; annual and perennial forms; profuse tillering
2. Tripsacum - all species are perennial; commonly called gama grass
3. Job's Tears - annual from Asia; an ornamental in US

Corn is native to the Americas

History

Early centers of corn culture

1. Aztecs in Mexican plateau
2. Mayas in Yucatan-Guatemala region
3. Incas in Peru
4. Indians were first successful corn breeders. Developed varieties of all types except POD and WAXY. Indians at Jamestown showed colonists how to grow corn.

Corn was introduced into Europe from the Americas and spread worldwide

Historical Trend for Corn Yield in Wisconsin

World Corn Acreage and Production

Related websites

1. World of Corn
2. Crop Year Estimates

 

World Corn Production and Consumption during 1999.
	Production		Consumption
Rank	Country	million bushels	Country	million bushels
1.	U.S.	9437	U.S.	7550
2.	China	5039	China	4722
3.	European Union	1457	European Union	1525
4.	Brazil	1260	Brazil	1317
5.	Mexico	748	Mexico	921
	Total	23542	Total	23499
Source: USDA-FAS World Markets and Trade January 23, 2000

 

World Corn Exports and Imports during 1999.
	Exports		Imports
Rank	Country	million bushels	Country	million bushels
1.	U.S.	1929	Japan	640
2.	Argentina	335	South Korea	335
3.	China	197	Mexico	197
4.	Hungary	67	Taiwan	177
5.	South Africa	43	Egypt	146
	Total	2711	Total	2711
Source: USDA-FAS World Markets and Trade January 23, 2000.

The U.S. grows about 20% of world's acreage each year, but produces 45-50% of world's corn production each year

U.S. Corn Acreage, Yield and Production

Corn Belt States = 75-80% of U.S. acreage and production due to:

1. Adequate moisture
2. Favorable temp's
3. Fertile soils
4. Sufficiently long growing season

Corn for silage: WI, MN, and SD are leading states

U.S. Corn Area, Yield, Production, Price per Unit, and Value of Production.
Year
	Planted acres	Harvested acres	Yield	Production	Price per Unit	Value of production
	thousand	thousand	bushel	1000 bushels	dols / bu	1000 dollars
1990	74166	66952	118.5	7934028	2.28	18191643
1991	75957	68822	108.6	7474765	2.37	17860947
1992	79311	72077	131.5	9476698	2.07	19723258
1993	73239	62933	100.7	6337730	2.50	16035515
1994	78921	72514	138.6	10050520	2.26	22874154
1995	71479	65210	113.5	7400051	3.24	24202234
1996	79229	72644	127.1	9232557	2.71	25149013
1997	79537	72671	126.7	9206832	2.43	22351507
1998	80165	72589	134.4	9758685	1.94	18922084
1999	77431	70537	133.8	9437337	1.90	17949707
2000	77881

 

Rank of States in U.S. for Corn Grown for Grain Production during 1999.
Rank	State	Area planted	Area Harvested	Yield	Production
		1000 acres	1000 acres	bu/A	1000 bushels
1.	IA	12100	11800	149	1758200
2.	IL	10800	10650	140	1491000
3.	NE	8600	8300	139	1153700
4.	MN	7100	6600	150	990000
5.	IN	5900	5670	132	748440
6.	KS	3150	2980	141	420180
7.	WI	3600	2850	143	407550
8.	OH	3458	3200	126	403200
9.	SD	3600	3250	113	367250
10.	MI	2200	1950	130	253500
	U.S.	77431	70537	133.8	9437337
IA and IL account for 10 to 14 million acres per year ~ 1/3 of U.S. acreage and 40% of U.S. production. Source: USDA-NASS

Wisconsin Corn Acreage, Yield and Production

Wisconsin Annual Acreage, Yield and Production of Corn Grown for Grain.
Year	Area Planted	Area Harvested	Yield	Production
	1000 acres	1000 acres	bu/A	1000 bushels
1990	3700	3000	118	354000
1991	3800	3200	119	380800
1992	3900	2950	104	306800
1993	3400	2350	92	216200
1994	3750	3100	141	437100
1995	3650	3050	114	347700
1996	3900	3000	111	333000
1997	3850	3050	132	402600
1998	3700	2950	137	404150
1999	3600	2850	143	407550
Source: USDA-NASS

 

Wisconsin Top 5 Counties for Corn Grain Production during 1999.
Rank	County	Area Planted	Area Harvested	Yield	Production
		acres	acres	bu/A	bushels
1.	Dane	199600	170100	152	25917000
2.	Rock	149100	139400	143	19975000
3.	Grant	149500	130700	149	19505000
4.	Dodge	144400	114500	149	17101000
5.	Columbia	119500	107600	153	16445000
Source: USDA-NASS

Key Decisions for Increased Yield & Profitability

Establish realistic and efficient production goals

Hybrid selection:

1. Yield
2. Maturity
3. Pest resistance
4. Lodging resistance
5. Specialty genes (management v. markets)
6. Quality

Rotation

Soil test and add fertilizer, if needed

Minimize the number of field operations

Plant treated quality seed

Plant arrangement: 

1. Early planting date (time)
2. Use narrow rows
3. Optimize seeding rate
4. Correct seeding depth

Control pests: 

1. weeds
2. insects
3. diseases

Harvest carefully

Relative Impact (% change) of Management Decisions on Corn Grain Yield in WI

• Hybrid: Top to bottom ranking = 0 to 30% yield change - Presence or absence of genetic traits = 0 to 100% yield change
• Rotation: Continuous v. Rotation = 5 to 30% yield change
• Soil Fertility: 160 v. 0 lb N/A = 20 to 50% yield change
• Date of Planting: May 1 to June 1 = 0 to 30% yield change - Also need to add moisture penalty
• Plant density: 32,000 to 15,000 plants/A = 0 to 22% yield change
• Row spacing: 30-inches to 15-inches = 0 to 5% yield change
• Pest control: Good v. Bad = 0 to 100% yield change
• Cultivation: Yes v. No = 0 to 10% yield change
• Harvest timing: Oct. 15 to Dec. 1 = 0 to 20% yield change

Proven Management Practices and Practical Tips When Prices are Down

List of important corn agronomy publications:

1. Modern Corn and Soybean Production

2. Bennett, W. F. Nutrient deficiencies and toxicities in crop plants. St. Paul, MN: American Phytopathological Society Press; 1993.

3. Carter, Paul R.; Doll, J. D.; Kelling, K. A.; Klemme, R. M., and Schulte, E. E. National Corn Handbook - Wisconsin edition. Nielsen, R., NCH project leader. Purdue University; 1987.

4. Duvick, D. N. Plant breeding, an evolutionary concept. Crop Science. 1996; 36(3):539-548.

5. Olson, R. A. and Frey, K. J., editors. Nutritional quality of cereal grains. Madison, WI: American Society of Agronomy; 1987; 28510 pages. ISBN: 0-89118-092-3.

6. Ritchie, S. W.; Hanway, J. J., and Benson, G. O. How a corn plant develops. Iowa State University CES. 1993; 21.

7. Roth, G.; Undersander, D.; Allen, M.; Ford, S.; Harrison, J.; Hunt, C.; Lauer, J.; Muck, R., and S. Soderlund. Corn silage production, management, and feeding. American Society of Agronomy. 1995; 21; ISSN: 0-89118-124-5.

8. Shurtleff, M. C. Compendium of corn diseases. Second ed. St. Paul, MN: American Phytopathological Society Press; 1992; p. 105. ISBN: 0-89054-029-2.

9. Sprauge, G. F. and Dudley, J. W., editors. Corn and Corn Improvement. Third ed. Madison, WI: American Society of Agronomy; 1988; 18986 pages. ISBN: 0-89118-099-0.