THE DIFFUSION OF HYBRID CORN IN WISCONSIN Ross Guida Geog 326 11/24/2008
Introduction • How is the development of hybrid corn a technological factor that changed the environmental possibilities? – What is hybrid corn? • • • • •
Crossbred, genetically modified corn Inbred until pure (uniform crop) Superior plants Produces higher yields than natural corn Feed corn lower quality than corn for human consumption
Intro (cont.) • “Corn Belt Agriculture” – Region of the upper Midwest producing “feed corn” and other feed crops in larger acreage than other harvested crops – Agricultural region of the United States that produces more corn than other areas • Know for corn and corn‐fed cattle production
Maps show the production of corn in the United States (From Google Images)
Intro (cont.) • Corn had trouble surviving colder climates of northern Wisconsin (Fig. 1) • Hybrid corn allows corn to develop faster so frost isn’t such a large factor • Northern Wisconsin is less populated and therefore allows for a larger percentage of land that can be used for agriculture when compared to the populated southeast
Changes in Corn Production over Time • The maps that follow were created in ArcMap GIS 9.3 using Census of Agriculture Data (Fig. 2‐5) • Maps show the corn belt creeping northward in Wisconsin (Fig. 2‐5) • Maps show corn harvested for grain/total harvested cropland • The hybrid corn is able to withstand colder temperatures and mechanization which allow for more efficient growing • Green areas are larger percentages while red areas represent smaller percentages
Silage • Silage is basically the part of the corn plant used as feed for cattle and other animals • The percent of silage has increased from 1930 (Fig. 6) to 2002 (Fig. 7) • More animals to feed means more land devoted to growing crops to feed them • Maps again show the “corn belt” creeping northward in Wisconsin (Fig. 6‐7)
Dairy Production • Dairy was not a high percentage of total agricultural value of products in 1930 (Fig. 8) – Everything was done by hand • Slower turnaround on products when compared to today when machinery to process dairy products
• Dairy now represents the large percentage of “value” crops in Wisconsin with respect to total value of agricultural products (Fig. 9) – Silage has increased in percentage of total harvested cropland from 1930‐2002 but it isn’t a high value product like dairy products so it has little influence on the total value of crops produced
Beef/Pork Production • Creeping northward with silage and hybrid corn production – More feed allows for more cattle in areas closer to silage • Low transportation costs of silage (feed) for cattle and hogs
Total Silage • Silage has been expressed in terms of a percent of total cropland harvested • Maps show the change in quantity between 1930 and 2002 (Fig. 12‐13) • Total silage numbers remain similar but spread more evenly throughout the state • Line creeping northward corresponds with other data
Comparing growing season and corn production: 1930 and 1974 • More corn produced as a percentage of total harvested crops in 1974 than in 1930 • Corn production increased from 1930 to 1974 in areas of the same growing season – ~7.5% for 150 day growing season in 1930 (using the regression line from Chart 1) – ~24% for 150 day growing season in 1974 (Chart 2)
Conclusions • “Hybrid” corn has led to: – Growing season to be less of a factor – More silage and feed to be produced – The “Corn Belt” migrating northward – More beef and pork being produced in regions close to silage producing areas – Diffusion into regiond that once produced little corn
Bibliography Fifteenth Census of the United States: 1930‐ Agriculture Volume II part 1., U.S. Department of Commerce, (Washington: U. S. Government Printing Office, 1932), 786‐789. Roepke, H.G., “Changes in Corn Production on the Northern Margin of the Corn Belt,” Annals, Association of American Geographers, Vol. 54 (1958), p. 250.
U.S. Census of Agriculture: 1959 Final Report‐ Vol. 1‐Counties Wisconsin, U.S. Department of Commerce, (Washington: U. S. Government Printing Office, 1961), pp. 168‐171.