By Blake Jackson
The University of Missouri’s Hundley-Whaley Extension and Education Center in Albany is a hub of agricultural activity, specializing in corn varieties like field corn, sweet corn, and popcorn.
For over a decade, popcorn has been a popular focus, contributing to the local community and promoting Missouri agriculture.
Jennifer Miller, the center's director, explains how popcorn grown at Hundley-Whaley benefits the community. FFA chapters sell popcorn at school events, and groups like Bike Across Missouri receive donations. The center also showcases colorful popcorn varieties during community events.
Popcorn, a non-GMO whole grain, is a popular and affordable snack enjoyed by Americans. With an annual consumption of 17 billion quarts, it's a staple in homes, theaters, and sporting events.
While popcorn shares similarities with traditional field corn, it has smaller ears and kernels. The center plants two acres of popcorn annually, using a four-row corn planter.
It requires less nitrogen fertilizer and demands pre- and post-planting weed management. Compared to field corn, popcorn is more susceptible to lodging, wind, and insect damage.
The center focuses on mushroom and butterfly varieties but has also experimented with Indian corn, blue corn, strawberry-colored corn, and heirloom varieties.
In addition to popcorn, Hundley-Whaley researchers explore different sweet corn varieties. They typically host a sweet corn tasting event, but raccoons interfered this year. This event provides valuable insights to sweet corn vendors at farmers markets.
Both popcorn and sweet corn are cultivated in small no-till plots and carefully managed for weeds and diseases. Local horticulturists Todd Higgins and Gwen Funk provide guidance and collect data.
Seedway, a mail-order company, generously donates various seed varieties for planting at Hundley-Whaley.
Miller offers helpful tips for growing popcorn in Missouri:
- Plant after the soil warms to 60°F or higher.
- Plant in blocks of at least four rows.
- Maintain proper pollination by isolating popcorn from other corn varieties.
- Plant seeds 8 inches apart and 1-2 inches deep, depending on soil type.
- Ensure adequate water and fertilizer.
- Allow corn to dry on the stalks.
- Harvest before the first frost, shuck the husks, and dry the ears.
- Shell the kernels and store them in an airtight container.
By following these guidelines, Missouri farmers can successfully grow popcorn and contribute to the state's agricultural heritage.
Photo Credit: gettyimages-vladans
Categories: Missouri, Crops, Corn