Open Pollinated Corn

Open Pollinated Corn AG WORLD Ag World 21-2-5 The main advantage of open-pollinated seed corn is that you can plant a small amount and then select seed for the qualities you desire from the finished corn. In effect, you can create a variety suitable to your operation and your soils. In the 1930's and 40's, we still had about 1,000 varieties of open-pollinated corn. These corns were dropped in the rush to use the new hybrids. Today, if you count all seed bank samples, university samples, etc., you might find 400 varieties left, of which only 20 or so are being grown commercially. If you're interested in experimenting with open-pollinated corn, I suggest consulting your University corn man first, and then the folks on the following list. Start with seed from a variety you think will work and develop your own strain from that. Here are sources of open-pollinated corn: 1) Morris Seed Farm, Rt. 2, Clark, Mo. 65243 (ph 573 875-8553); 2) Albert Lea Seed House, P.O. Box 127, Albert Lea, Minn. 56007 (ph 507 373-3161); 3) Morgan County Wholesale, Rt. 2, Box 35A, Barnett, Mo. 65011 (ph 573 378-2655); 4) E&R Seed, 1356 E. 200 S., Monroe, Ind. 46772; 5) J. Drause, 825 Abby Hills Rd., Mt. Vernon, Iowa 52314; 6) Leonard Borries, Teutopolis, Ill. 62467 (217 857-3377); 7) Seed Savers Exchange, 3076 N. Winn Rd., Decorah, Iowa 52101 (ph 319 382-5872); 8) Carl Barnes, Rt. 1, Box 32, Turpin, Okla. 73950 (ph 405 778-3515). (Reprinted from Small Farm Today, 3903 W. Ridge Trail Rd., Clark, Mo. 65243-9525)

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