Corn Farmer Spotlight
Sondra Peirce is a corn farmer in Boulder County , north of Longmont .
Sondra Pierce She and her husband
are first generation farmers and bought their own farm and equipment 21 years ago . They continue to farm with the help of their three children . Sondra and her family are the only ones that work on the farm , but they do have relatives that assist with harvest every once in a while .
Sondra and her husband grow field corn , both organically and traditionally . In order to keep weeds , pests , and diseases under control , they till ( or disturb ) the top two to three inches of the soil about four times per season . The USDA has specific requirements for organically grown crops , so Sondra doesn ’ t
use any pesticides . She uses manure to fertilize her fields . Even though Sondra fully supports GMO crops , she uses non-GMO and organic corn seed .
“ Through biotechnology , scientists have bred better and stronger corn varieties that can be used with both traditional and organic growing methods . These genetics help to create corn that produces more yield while using less resources ,” Sondra adds .
Sondra and her husband love what they do . They believe it is more of a lifestyle than a business . When asked about her favorite part of growing corn , Sondra says , “ There is about one week during the growing season when the corn tassels bloom and are in milk stage . There is a sweet smell all around the field . The tall corn , which usually grows symmetrical and at the same height , creates its own little tunnel when you walk in between the rows .”
Corneers
There are many fun and fascinating careers involving corn - from the development of the seeds all the way to the many uses of corn . Check out this list of some of the careers !
• Agronomist
• Animal Nutritionist
• Cosmetic Researcher
• Ethanol Plant Manager
• Farmer
• Food Scientist
• Geneticist / Seed Breeder
• Grain Buyer / Merchandiser
• Grain Mill Technician
• Import / Export Specialist
• Mechanical Engineer
• Pharmaceutical Technician
• Quality Assurance Analyst
• Robotic Engineer
• Safety Assurance Analyst
• Truck Driver
Explore Further : Select one corn career , from the list above or from your own research , and write a short essay about that career . Investigate what that career is about , what classes and education you may need , and where you might work . Find career resources at http :// bit . ly / Reader-Corn
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