Corn

Crop prices have returned to more normal levels this year — down from record highs. As farmers expect less income this year, that's likely to send ripples through the larger agricultural economy.

Corn sweat is a summertime phenomenon that happens when the crop releases water into the air. It can add to humidity, but local scientists say it likely wasn’t the main force behind the late August heat wave.

A small insect carrying pathogens that can lead to corn stunt was confirmed in Missouri and Oklahoma for the first time. Experts are learning more about the insect and how the disease left its mark on corn fields.

Humidity can bring the heat index up significantly, and “corn sweat” only adds to the moisture in the air.

The exhibit takes a closer look at the global impact of the humble crop.

The Environmental Protection Agency announced last week that the U.S. will allow year-round sales in eight Midwestern states in 2025. Environmental advocates say the decision is a step in the wrong direction.

The corn and soybean crops in Missouri and Illinois are in better condition because of the recent rain, meaning it didn’t come too late in the growing season to make a difference.

Growing interest rates, high crop prices and rising transportation costs are making it more expensive to store grain — a critical step for many farmers. Economists and grain merchandisers say the market conditions leave them and farmers in an awkward place.

For decades, corn detasseling was a customary summer job for teenagers in Nebraska and the rest of the Corn Belt. In recent years, however, agriculture companies are relying more on migrant labor to do this work through a visa program meant to supplement the local workforce.

Russia is a big exporter of fertilizer and its raw ingredients, and without them on the market, Midwestern farmers are reeling.