Corn Farmers Face Uncertain Harvest Amid Climate Challenges

PAW PAW, Mich. (AP) — Growing up on a farm, Robb Rynd and his brother aspired to expand their agricultural endeavors beyond their regular jobs. Pooling their resources, they now manage just over 200 acres of corn, soybeans, wheat, and sorghum. Last year was fruitful, with Rynd cherishing moments spent walking the fields with his children to admire their thriving corn.

This year, however, presents a different narrative.

Throughout the summer, Rynd has been vigilant, looking for signs of distress in his crops—brown and wilting leaves or ears of corn with missing kernels. “It’s almost kind of depressing to go out there and look at it and say, ‘oh yep, it does look bad,’” he expressed, as he braces for the upcoming harvest.

Climate Change: A Growing Concern for Farmers

Across major corn-producing states, climate change is amplifying the uncertainties farmers face during the critical period between planting and harvest. Factors such as consistently high summer temperatures, droughts, and untimely heavy rains significantly disrupt corn pollination, transforming the assurance of full ears of corn into a risky gamble.

While overall corn growers received favorable late-season weather, resulting in a projected record bumper crop, experts warn that heightened instances of extreme weather are making the growth cycle increasingly precarious.

“The hot nights too, like the corn’s never getting a break. It’s just hot all the time,” Rynd lamented. “I know it’s wearing on me.”

The Impact of Excessive Heat on Corn Pollination

As corn plants develop, their leaves unroll to reveal the tassel, the crucial part that releases pollen. Mark Licht, an associate professor of agronomy at Iowa State University, explains that if plants grow too quickly—often a result of prolonged heat—the tassel may be ensnared by the leaf, resulting in reduced pollen release.

This phenomenon, known as tight tassel wrap, has been observed sporadically across the Midwest during this growing season. Licht noted that he had only confronted such issues once in his two decades of experience.

Excessive heat can also stress corn through lowered pollen production and viability, with parts of the plant potentially drying out, leading to reduced fertility. “The issues with pollination arise more due to the excessive warmth during the nights,” said Larry Walton, a fellow farmer in southwest Michigan.

Weather Patterns and Agricultural Challenges

Despite previously reported drought conditions covering 60% of the Midwest corn production areas, normal or above-average rainfall this summer saw that figure reduced to just 3% by early August, according to USDA meteorologist Brad Rippey.

With consistent heat persisting, the forecast is for a “monster” U.S. corn crop in 2025. However, not all farmers share in this optimism. “This has probably been one of the most difficult growing seasons that I’ve experienced in my career,” confessed Philip Good, a farmer in Macon, Mississippi. Late planting caused by persistent rains resulted in lost fertilizer and crop destruction. Yet, he managed to recover somewhat thanks to favorable late-season weather.

“The rain does fall in heavier bursts,” Rippey noted, emphasizing that this pattern can lead to runoff issues where moisture fails to benefit the soil, carrying away essential fertilizers in the process.

Coping with Uncertainty in Agricultural Planning

As late summer becomes a crucial time for farming decisions, the uncertainties of pollination complicate matters. “We’d like to upgrade a tractor… or maybe try to pick up some more ground,” Rynd muses, stressing that a poor harvest year makes these investments feel daunting.

If a significant portion—between 15% to 25%—of every corn ear lacks kernels, it translates into a considerable loss for farmers over extensive fields, explains Nicolle Ritchie, an extension agent from Michigan State University.

With growing extreme weather events, the demand for “rescue” pollination services to salvage crops has doubled since PowerPollen, a farm tech company, started operations in 2018. Co-founder Jason Cope highlighted that climate volatility has made such solutions increasingly necessary.

Despite the ongoing challenges, Walton maintains that adaptability is key. “You learn to roll with the stress because most of that you can’t control anyway,” he concluded.