Study Finds Sweet Corn Yields Drop with Extreme Heat

A study published by University of Illinois researchers found that sweet corn yields drop significantly in rainfed fields as a result of extreme heat during flowering. With 20 to 30 more days of extreme heat predicted per summer by mid-century in the Midwest, researchers predict that growing sweet corn is likely to become much more difficult. “The reality is that producing sweet corn, one of the most popular vegetable crops in the U.S., will be more difficult in the future. We need to develop new approaches and technologies to help crops adapt to climate change,” says lead study author Daljeet Dhaliwal.