2011 - Volume #35, Issue #1, Page #06
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Indian Corn: A Rewarding Sideline Crop
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That was 2002, and the following spring the couple planted 3/4-acre of Indian corn, including miniature varieties. Since then it's become a "hobby gone bad," Barb jokes.
Because of the labor-intensive nature of the crop, Indian corn isn't a huge moneymaker, but the Baties usually net between $1,000 and $1,200, enough money for their annual winter vacation.
"Because it's early and a short season corn, it's attractive to corn borers and root worms, and Indian corn doesn't have built-in Bt resistance," Batie says. "So every week after it tassels you have to spray."
Don adapted a former cattle pen mister to use as a sprayer.
The Baties irrigate when necessary to ensure a crop, and harvest begins mid-August. They harvest by hand early in the morning when the husks are damp, so they aren't brittle and break off.
"Indian corn isn't worth a hoot if it doesn't have a husk on it," Batie says. Husks are pulled back right after picking and secured with a rubber band to dry on wire racks that Don built and set up in half of the garage. If the husks are extremely dry, they are soaked in water before the husks are bent back.
After some corn molded when it was put into a plastic container too soon, the Baties switched to packing the corn in cardboard boxes they pick up at grocery stores. Batie says she can pack 75 regular size ears into one box.
The Baties sell most of the corn to two wholesalers. The season to sell is short, only lasting until mid-October.
Check into available markets before you get started, Batie advises. Her family was fortunate to find a market the first year when a wholesaler needed corn after the crops in Eastern Nebraska were lost to drought. Later on, the Baties found another wholesaler ù an agritourism pumpkin farm.
It's also good to diversify, Batie says. Her family raises an early season and late season Indian corn; miniature varieties in bright pink and bright blue; strawberry popcorn; and broom corn. They do some retail selling at farmers markets as well as selling mini ears to florists. Corn without husks is sold as "critter corn" for squirrels and wildlife. Batie also makes arrangements and even bouquets for weddings and queens to carry in fall parades. Her daughters have made necklaces and bracelets out of the kernels.
Much of the labor for Indian corn occurs during the slow time for crop farming, but Batie usually finishes the season alone when her husband starts soybean and corn harvest.
"Be ready to dedicate the time," Batie says. "It's very intense for about two months. I spend 5 to 6 hours a day from the end of August to the end of September."
She adds that it's important to rotate the varieties and to keep sweet corn away from the area.
Though it's a lot of work and the profits aren't great, Batie looks forward to future Indian corn adventures.
"We view this as a way to keep the metro area people connected to farmers," Batie says. "Next year we plan to do the farmers market again. That one-on-one is so important to let people know where their food comes from."
She recalls one excited customer who said, "I just love knowing where my Indian corn was born!"
Contact: FARM SHOW Followup, Don and Barb Batie, Crooked Creek Farm, 43590 Rd. 761, Lexington, Neb. 43590 (ph 308 324-2541; crookedcreekfarm@atcjet.net).
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