Each year, farmers produce more than a billion metric tons of corn. As technology advances, researchers are looking at how that could change with nuclear contamination.
Researchers at Penn State University have studied how a nuclear war scenario would play out at nearly 40,000 locations around the world. Using their agro-ecosystem, they found that if five tons of soot were to drop, it would lower corn production by seven percent. On a larger scale, with 165 tons of soot, that number jumps to an 80 percent drop in corn yields.
Researchers say they hope this scenario never happens, but they warn it is always best to prepare for catastrophic events.
Related Stories
Acreage shifts could impact pricing and marketing plans.
Strong exports continue to support corn despite larger supplies.
Export growth remains key for grain profitability.
NCGA Chief Economist Krista Swanson discusses the evolving role of ethanol in the current energy crisis, opportunities for expanding corn discusses the evolving role of ethanol in the current marketdemand, and the industry’s outlook moving forward.
Biofuel policy decisions may influence planting economics. Today, March 18, is also National Biodiesel Day.
Geopolitical tensions in the Strait of Hormuz disrupt fertilizer shipments, raising costs and creating uncertainty for U.S. farmers ahead of planting season.
