Reaching New Heights

Is Short-Statured Corn the Future of Farming?

The height of a farmer’s cornfield has always been a point of pride. For generations, as each 4th of July rolls around, families gather to snap photos among the towering stalks, capturing each year’s growth and progress. With this in mind, the idea of purposely growing shorter corn may sound crazy to some, but is it?

The History of Corn Genetics

Since the 1930s, seed companies have been tasked with developing crop varieties to produce higher and higher yields. Genetic modification continued in 1990 with innovations that allowed corn to terminate insects, and tolerate more aggressive herbicides to aid in weed control and crop tolerance. These innovations in crop production have been aimed at meeting the demands of a growing global population and economy.

While corn developers may have never intended to create stalks that reach for the stars, historically, taller corn plants have been known to produce higher yields. Because of this, geneticists have used selective breeding to choose seeds from the tallest, most productive corn plants to maximize yield potential, resulting in corn that averages eight to twelve feet in height today. For decades, the towering corn has served its purpose well: record yields of high-quality corn.

Now, consider this: a study by the National Science Foundation’s Center for Atmospheric Research estimates straight-line winds have been increasing over the past four decades, causing billions of dollars in damage in the Midwest. Their study, Nature Climate Change, suggests climate change is the cause.

In 2020, the Midwest experienced historic derecho winds, causing almost $11 billion in damage in just one season. While the devastating winds destroyed acres upon acres of corn, one type of the corn still stood in scattered research plots amongst flattened regular corn: short-stature corn.

A Solution for the Future

“Short-stature corn has been a concept in development for a while,” states Jeff Blauwet, CFE Agronomy Technology Specialist. “However, interest surged after the August 2020 derecho swept through central Iowa.” The aftermath left buildings and grain bins destroyed, and the widespread sight of wind-lodged corn across countless acres drove the point home. “What really stood out,” Jeff shares, “was that research plots with shorter corn varieties were the only ones left standing against the storm. This observation spurred a new wave of interest in exploring the resilience of shorter corn hybrids under extreme weather conditions.”

For more than 20 years, Bayer has been developing short corn that stands around five feet tall. Other companies such as Stine Seed and Corteva have also been working to offer short corn hybrids. While the primary focus has been on developing corn that can better withstand high winds, researchers point out that shorter stalks also make it easier for farmers and retailers to navigate fields without high-clearance equipment—whether applying fungicides or seeding cover crops for the next season.

“Short corn might allow us to push population levels higher while minimizing the risk of lodging, potentially increasing yield,” Jeff says. “As more grower-owned self-propelled sprayers become common, the appeal of short corn grows. It could make late-season applications of fertilizer or fungicide available without needing high-clearance machinery or aerial applications.”

While these are great advantages of short corn, the new concept still has its challenges, including balancing ear height for the ease of harvest. To ensure compatibility with current combine headers and prevent extra wear on machinery, corn ears need to be positioned at specific heights above the soil surface. In addition, short corn doesn’t work well in some variable or sandy soil types. For these reasons, Bayer and other companies are still refining the hybrids.

“It will probably be at least another couple years before we really see short-corn as an alternative option for farmers,” Jeff explains. “While there is a lot of excitement around what short corn could offer to the ag industry, it’s going to be a bit before it’s ready for mass production. Each field has unique and complex factors that influence yields, and today’s corn is bred with those diversities in mind. At this point, short corn is not at that level, nor are seeds readily available at the quantity needed to make that change.”

Will photo-op traditions on the 4th of July soon be a thing of the past? Only time will tell. Bayer is hoping to have more of these newer hybrids available within a couple of years. More GMO traits are coming in the pipeline later this decade, which will speed the breeding process and hybrid availability. CFE farmers can trust that when short corn does become readily available, CFE has already done field trials to be ready to help you decide if it will be the right choice for your production.

Key Considerations for Short-Stature Corn