The US is on track for a record-breaking corn harvest this year, according to government forecasts. However, some troubling images shared on social media are causing concern among farmers and buyers. These photos show corn plants with missing kernels, a problem caused by a condition called “tight tassel wrap,” which leads to uneven pollination.
“Tight tassel wrap” happens when the tassels, the parts of the corn that release pollen, stay wrapped tightly in leaves. This means the pollen can’t properly reach the silks on the ears, resulting in missing kernels, often near the base of the cob. While this may not be obvious when driving past fields, farmers who inspect their crops closely are seeing the problem firsthand.
Dan Quinn, an agronomy expert at Purdue University, explained that the fields look healthy and green from a distance. But once you check the ears up close, you realize the crop isn’t quite as perfect as it appears. He has received reports about this issue from at least eight states, spanning places like Kansas and Illinois.
Farmers are already dealing with challenges such as low grain prices, high fertilizer costs, and trade tensions that make exporting more difficult. That’s why this new issue adds to their worries. Still, some farmers like Illinois’ Harry McCune say the damage they’ve seen is limited and doesn’t outweigh the overall good condition of their crops.
The US Department of Agriculture (USDA) recently predicted the average corn yield to reach 188.8 bushels per acre, with total production hitting 16.742 billion bushels—both records. Farmers planted 7% more acres of corn this spring, the largest area since 2012. Good rain and mild temperatures have helped crops grow well so far.
The upcoming Pro Farmer Crop Tour will put the fields under a microscope. Starting Monday, a group of traders, analysts, and journalists will travel across the Midwest, checking corn and soybean crops for size, diseases, insects, and weeds. Their findings will help give a clearer picture of how serious the “tight tassel wrap” problem is and whether the USDA’s high yield estimates hold up.
Corn prices reflected some of these concerns on Monday. December corn futures rose by 0.3% to $4.065 per bushel on the Chicago Board of Trade. Soybean contracts for November delivery were also slightly up, while wheat prices stayed steady.
Overall, the US is expecting a bumper crop, but farmers and experts will be watching closely to see if issues like tight tassel wrap affect the final harvest. For now, it’s a reminder that even the healthiest-looking fields can have surprises when you look a little closer.