As Pioneer celebrates its 100th anniversary, Mike Wardyn and field agronomist John Mick take a trip through the history of corn—and the innovations that transformed American agriculture.
As Pioneer celebrates its 100th anniversary, Mike Wardyn and field agronomist John Mick take a trip through the history of corn—and the innovations that transformed American agriculture.
The conversation follows corn from its early roots and Native American cultivation practices through the development of landraces, hybrid vigor and Pioneer’s early hybrid corn. They explore how mechanization, fertilizer, herbicides, insect control and biotechnology each changed what farmers needed from a corn hybrid.
Along the way, Mike and John discuss landmark hybrids including 307, 354, 3780 and 3394, the challenges of the Dust Bowl, and the rapid adoption of hybrid seed.
They also look ahead at how changing challenges—from harvest capacity and wind resilience to new diseases and increasing plant populations—will continue to shape the next generation of corn hybrids.
Listen for a better understanding of how the past can help agriculture identify the innovations needed for the future.