Cracking the Corn Code: A recent breakthrough could mean bigger yields for growers

As harvest pushes on, there is one thing every farmer has on their mind: how big of a yield they will get this year.

Researchers at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln say they have completed the last piece of the puzzle they hope can give a significant boost to corn crops.

They have completed the sequencing of the entire corn genome. It is a project that started more than 15 years ago. The ultimate goal is to develop corn hybrids that can survive in fields years from now when growing conditions are vastly different. However, it is not just corn that got decoded as they were able to map sorghum as well.

Experts say with these two crops fully mapped, they are now able to get more answers to ultimately help the American grower.

Related Stories
Meet Judi Whittaker, a fourth-generation farmer and dedicated advocate for agriculture, and the New York Farm Bureau’s 2024 Distinguished Service to Agriculture Award Winner.

Agriculture Shows
From soil to harvest. Top Crop is an all-new series about four of the best farmers in the world—Dan Luepkes, of Oregan, Illinois; Cory Atley, of Cedarville, Ohio; Shelby Fite, of Jackson Center, Ohio; Russell Hedrick, of Hickory, North Carolina—reveals what it takes for them to make a profitable crop. It all starts with good soil, patience, and a strong planter setup.
Champions of Rural America is a half-hour dive into the legislative priorities for Rural America. Join us as we interview members of the Congressional Western Caucus to learn about efforts in Washington to preserve agriculture and tackles the most important topics in the ag industry on Champions of Rural America!
Farm Traveler is for people who want to connect with their food and those who grow it. Thanks to direct-to-consumer businesses, agritourism, and social media, it’s now easier than ever to learn how our food is made and support local farmers. Here on the Farm Traveler, we want to connect you with businesses offering direct-to-consumer products you can try at home, agritourism sites you can visit with your family, and exciting new technologies that are changing how your food is being grown.
Featuring members of Congress, federal and state officials, ag and food leaders, farmers, and roundtable panelists for debates and discussions.
Host Ben Bailey hops in the tractor cab, giving farmers 10 minutes to answer as many questions and grab as much cash as they can for their local FFA chapter.