Open-pollination process
Our corn breeding program recognizes that different corn populations are necessary to be yield and composition reliable in a low-input farming system. With collaboration with Practical Farmers of Iowa, Iowa State University and the USDA Agriculture Research Service, we are breeding and developing these populations
1. A tassel bag is used to collect the corn pollen which is placed over the corn tassel and secured by stapling stapling it around the tassel.
2. Pollen from the tassel bag is then used to pollinate the ear silk which has been covered with a small bag to prevent it from becoming pollinated earlier.
3. Finally a tassel bag is placed over the ear of corn and secured with a staple to protect the corn silk from being pollinated from other corn pollen. The ears are hand harvested in the fall and evaluated for stalk strength, kernel color and yield.