The Battle for Corn Capital
THE LAND, JULY 29, 2011
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P.O. Box 3169 418 South Second Street Mankato, MN 56002 (800) 657-4665 Volume XXX ■ Number XV 80 pages, 3 sections, plus supplements Cover photos by Tom Royer
COLUMNS Opinion Farm and Food File Readers’ Retreat Calendar Marketing Farm Programs Mielke Market Weekly The Bookworm Sez The Back Porch Cookbook Corner Auctions/Classifieds Advertiser Listing The Land Funpage Back Roads 2011 Farmfest Annual
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ing five-member delegation was given the With sweet corn festivals about to challenge of how far, and how straight, unload on Midwestern residents, I’m takthey could throw an ear of corn. Next each ing you on a history tour of how Olivia, participant turned backwards to see how Minn., where I hang out, became known far, and again how straight, they could as the Corn Capital of Minnesota. throw an ear of corn backwards over their Before I forget, a reminder that on July shoulder. According to Herman, “As I 30, Olivia will be hosting its annual recall, our five-man crew beat the Michisweet corn feed. Mother Nature needs to gan crew by at least a couple of inches.” get in high gear, but the Schmoll family, The Olivia-Constantine challenge south of Olivia that has been Olivia’s LAND MINDS became a remarkable news-making sweet corn provider for several years, is brouhaha. Olivia eventually decided a visit “reasonablly confident” sweet corn will be By Dick Hagen to Constantine was necessary to properly ready by July 30. establish who did have “bragging rights.” After visitNow a bit of history on how this prairie town ing Constantine, the Olivia delegation did accept became Minnesota’s Corn Capital. that just maybe this Michigan community did have First of all, it should be noted that Olivia is in more seed corn acres within a 50-mile radius. But Renville County. Renville County traditionally Renville County definitely grew more corn and the ranks as the No. 1 corn and soybean producing fact that Olivia already had nine seed firms in town county in Minnesota, perennially producing 40 milcertainly was evidence of a stronger “seed industry” lion-plus bushels of corn presence throughout the and upwards of 8 million world. bushels of soybeans. In The net result? In 2003, the village of Constantine, 2010, with near-perfect Mich., took issue with the Olivia The Olivia folks told the conditions from start to Constantine folks they finish, the county came Chamber of Commerce, which was could boast as being the ever so close to its first unabashedly proclaiming Olivia as “Seed Corn Capital.” 50 million bushel corn the “Corn Capital.” However, Olivia would crop. rightfully boast as being Even though “official” “The Corn Capital.” Even Minnesota politicians got U.S. Department of Agriculture statistics aren’t yet on board. The Minnesota State Legislature signed a available, those 236,000 acres of Renville County resolution designating Olivia as the “Corn Capital of corn put the average yield right at 200 bushels per Minnesota.” acre according to the Renville County Farm Service Today, Olivia, the county seat of Renville County Agency office. So “bragging rights” seemed proper as has a 2010 Census population of 2,680. More imporcorn is indeed king in Olivia. tantly, 14 seed companies now have a presence in However, claims by Olivia locals that their town Olivia. was rather special didn’t go unnoticed within the Among the nearly 200 local employees of these 14 Corn Belt. In 2003, the village of Constantine, companies are five PhD plant geneticists, referred to Mich., took issue with the Olivia Chamber of Commerce which was unabashedly proclaiming Olivia as by Olivians as “corn doctors.” One of these “corn doctors” now has 31 U.S. patents and continues to earn the “Corn Capital.” In fact the Constantine, Mich., new patents because of his ongoing break-through Chamber of Commerce challenged Olivia, even research genetics. He started as a plant breeder agreeing to visit Olivia for a face-to-face discussion with DeKalb at their Olivia research facility. DeKalb of this issue. is now owned by Monsanto, and this Olivia genetiIn 2004, the visit did happen. The mayor of Constantine brought himself and four other city officials cist has more patents than anyone in the entire Monsanto organization. to Olivia, the last weekend in July, which just hapDon’t forget: you’re all invited to Olivia the weekpened to be Olivia’s “world famous” Corn Capital end of July 29-31. The good Lord willing, we’ll have Days. fresh Renville County sweet corn for all of you. As part of that event, Olivia Chamber Manager ••• Gary Herman and Olivia Mayor Bill Miller had cooked up a special “Corn Olympics” challenge for Dick Hagen is staff writer of The Land. He may be the Constantine visitors. Each person in their visitreached at dickhagen@mvtvwireless.com.
INSIDE THIS ISSUE: 8A — Precision planting classroom a big deal on wheels
11A — Online auctions changing the game for Fahey Sales 6A-7A, 26F-30F — Farm Family of the Year honorees
MORE STORIES ONLINE! — Log on to www.TheLandOnline.com and click on “E-Edition” to see more stories that ran in the July 22 Southern Edition!