We will find out later today if rain has helped improve the condition of the state’s corn crop. Iowa Corn Growers Association representatives say the advances in corn breeding and genetics give them a much better outlook than back in 1988 when drought conditions also caused major concern.
Bruce Rohwer farms near Paulina in northwest Iowa.”Through the use of the different technologies, we’re able to improve plant health through the plants being less susceptible to insect pests and this type of thing, as well as the plant breeding being that much better as far as the yieldability of these plants,” Rohwer says.
Kevin Ross is the president of ICGA and farms near Minden. “I’d mention root systems, I think that’s the biggest key, they’ve worked very, very hard on that,” Ross says. The better root systems and other advances mentioned allow farmers to get more corn from fields even when there is drought damage.
View the original article here: Corn growers say genetic advancements help lessen the drought impact – Radio Iowa
