When most growers plant corn, they expect perfect uniform rows, and plump and pearly yellow kernels lining the cob. But a group of U.S. Department of Agriculture's Agricultural Research Service scientists intentionally plant the misfits — some gnarled and speckled, others sprouting tassels where ears should be — to perpetuate the wide array of genetic variation in the Midwest’s most economically important crop.
Crucial mutant corn stocks threatened
A U.S. Department of Agriculture Agricultural Research Service employee displays “John Deere corn,” named for the green coloration in the kernel’s aleurone layer.
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Key Points
Due to the significant impacts of drought on forage production in 2026, forage supplies may be tight this winter.
