Field Notes Captures Corn Conversations with Farmers from Iowa, Texas

This week, the National Corn Growers Association continued its seventh season of Field Notes, a series that takes readers behind the farm gate to follow the year in the life of American farm families. While these growers come from diverse geographic areas and run unique operations, they share a common love for U.S. agriculture and the basic values that underpin life in farming communities.

Earlier this week, Field Notes caught up with April Hemmes, who farms in north central Iowa. Even in late May, she is dealing with weather more indicative of early spring

“It is about 50 something degrees although it is the 20-something of May,” she explained. “We are getting tired of cold, wet weather. When you see geese swimming in a pond and realize it is a bean field, that isn’t good.”

Not one to complain, Hemmes takes the unseasonable conditions in good stride while keeping up hope for improved weather.

“Honestly, the corn has turned a bit yellow. We could use some warmer, drier weather right now.”

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In Texas, farmer Chad Wetzel, who also serves on NCGA’s Freedom to Operate Action Team, has been dealing with far different conditions thus far.

“We feel quite fortunate that we have had cooler than normal weather the past few weeks,” he said. “Normally, Texas summers have low rainfall and hot, sunny days. The temperatures are running below average here, and it is helping the crop pollinate.”

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Stay tuned over the coming weeks as Field Notes follows the growers who have opened their farms, families and communities up this year and meet the true faces of modern American agriculture.