Photo by Miriam Nancy Salazar Vidal, University of Missouri research scientist.

A-Maize-Ing Change: CERCA Aims to Transform Corn Agriculture

ARS researchers throughout the United States are helping growers innovate corn agriculture to boost yields, lower costs, and reduce environmental impacts. U.S. grain farms are the most productive agricultural systems on earth, generating over $130 billion in annual revenue. However, even these high-performing systems face challenges—including a heavy reliance on nitrogen fertilizer. Nitrogen is essential for photosynthesis and crop yield, making it both biologically vital and the most-costly input in corn production. However, much of the applied nitrogen is not recycled within the system. Instead, it escapes into the environment, reducing farm profitability and contributing to water and air pollution.

Through the CERCA (Circular Economy that Reimagines Corn Agriculture) initiative, ARS researchers have integrated advanced modeling of plant biology, farm systems, livestock feed, environmental dynamics, and economic outcomes to develop an important new breeding plan.  Learn more...

The Agricultural Research Service is the U.S. Department of Agriculture's chief scientific in-house research agency. Daily, ARS focuses on solutions to agricultural problems affecting America. Each dollar invested in agricultural research results in $20 of economic impact.