Organic Corn Breeding Tour

Few public dollars go to breeding corn for non-gmo or organic corn hybrids. Even fewer dollars are spent on developing open pollinated corn varieties.

With funding from the USDA’s Organic Research & Extension Initiative organic corn breeders did site visit and strategic planning September 9-12, 2013 in Illinois and Wisconsin.

Some PFI farmers have been developing OPs on their farm while most want to buy corn hybrids developed to perform well in their systems.

These breeders have working on corn to have improved yield performance and disease and insect resistance since chemical crop protection options are not available for organic growers.

After almost 4 years of working together materials from this group are making there way to the market for companies or farmers.