It is 9:00 p.m. Wednesday. How many random tidbits of agriculture can I include in a 500-word article in the next hour? Do you know how many ears of corn a corn plant usually produces?

The Will County Fair is fast approaching. About 20 years ago at the county fair, I had an educational display. We quizzed the fairgoers about the main crops grown in our area: corn, soybeans, wheat and hay. Sure enough, a farm wife got the question wrong about how many ears were on a stalk; she guessed 5-7 ears per stalk.

It was only a couple years ago when Dave Kestel hosted a group of food and beverage industry heavyweights at his farm. I explained the pollination process of a corn plant. By now anyone who reads my column regularly should know that the tassel sheds the pollen that lands on the silks of the ear, with each silk going to one individual kernel and that pollen causes the kernel to form. I remember how one of the guests asked me to explain it again. He had no idea how a corn plant pollinated itself and said; “I thought the only purpose of the silk was to annoy me when I ate corn on the cob.”

Have you enjoyed the steamy weather this last month? We wanted rain, and about 12” has fallen since June 20. High humidity can be a fringe benefit of rain. Many farmers have applied fungicides to their fields to help stave off fungus and other plant diseases that will reduce yield. Plants that die early may yield less, and there is always the risk of them lodging if plant diseases have affected the strength of the plant. Lodged/lodging is the agronomic term for a plant that lays down on the job. I am keeping a close eye on my alfalfa fields for potato leafhopper. I am hopeful that recent rains may diminish the insect population enough that I do not have to spray my fields with an insecticide.

There are reports that grasshoppers have tried to destroy what little pasture ground managed to stay alive in the drought stricken Dakotas. In the south there are reports of heavy infestations of army worms ravaging fields. In our area waterhemp and giant ragweed have once again trespassed into our fields. Mother Nature has many tricks up her sleeve to beat us up.

I have been amused at some of the comments amateur gardeners have made on social media. First they battled drought, temperamental soils, weeds, insect and critters destroying their crops. Then came the floods, more weeds, fungi, blights, molds and other ailments. I think everyone should plant a good-sized garden so they can see how quickly nature can beat you up and leave you frustrated. How many people take all they have for granted, especially the bountiful food we have available every day of the year? A garden would give everyone a chance to see what farming is like, albeit on a small scale.

By the way, on average, every corn plant only has 1 ear of corn. My hour is up, to be continued...

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