By Scout Nelson
Farmers in north central Kansas often struggle to find high-quality, nutrient-dense flour seed corn varieties that meet local market needs. Many modern seed options lack nutritional value and cultural significance found in ancestral corn varieties. When these heritage seeds are available, it is important to understand how modern and traditional farming methods affect their performance.
A recent project compared traditional Mexica farming techniques with modern no-till production practices using three heritage corn varieties. The goal was to evaluate plant stability, yield performance, and production efficiency under real field conditions. The traditional method focused on hilling soil around the base of corn plants, an approach commonly used in ancestral agriculture.
The results showed that hilling improved plant stability during strong winds and turbulent weather. This method also increased yields in two of the three heritage corn varieties tested. In comparison, no-till practices did not provide the same level of plant support for these specific seed types. These findings suggest that traditional farming knowledge can complement modern agriculture when working with ancestral seeds.
Beyond crop performance, the project also strengthened connections within the local community. Sharing the results helped raise awareness about heritage corn production and increased interest from local markets. This visibility supported stronger economic sustainability for small-scale producers focused on nutritious and culturally important crops.
A post-project evaluation of Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education projects funded between 2016 and 2019 found that community-based partnerships played a major role in successful outcomes. As one participant stated, “SARE guides you in the direction of building partnerships; you need more than just yourself. The SARE grant process helps you figure out those partnerships and how everything is connected.”
Overall, the project demonstrated that blending ancestral knowledge with modern research can help farmers make better decisions about seed selection and production practices. These insights support long-term sustainability, resilience, and local food system development.
More information on this project’s impact is available at https://www.sare.org/sare-impacts-FNC19-1161
Additional resources can be found at www.sare.org
Photo Credit: gettyimages-songdech17
Categories: Kansas, Business, Crops, Corn, Sustainable Agriculture