Sweet Corn Variety and Pest Management Trial—Neely-Kinyon Farm, 2004

Abstract

<p>Organic sweet corn can be successfully grown in Iowa, based on our agricultural resources and our extensive experience with field corn production. With the continuing growth of organic food consumers in the United States, premium prices can be obtained for organic sweet corn from Iowa. With the potential for major markets across the United States identified, research on production, harvesting, and processing protocols is needed to meet this demand. One of the key pests in organic sweet corn production is the corn earworm. Earworm control was improved through the addition of a certified organic spreader-sticker in preliminary tests in 2001. This project investigated variety selection for early markets and the efficacy of the naturally occurring soil bacterium, Bt (<em>Bacillus thuringiensis</em>), for improved pest management of the corn earworm at the Neely-Kinyon Farm.</p>