Corn Corps Class 3 experiences the Mid-South Delta Agriculture

Corn Corps Class 3 Mid-South Delta Agriculture

Corn Corps Class 3 had 11 farmers experience the heat, humidity, flooding conditions and wide variety of agriculture production and industry in the Mid-South Delta.

The tour started converging in Memphis, then headed to northeast Arkansas to learn about poultry, cotton farming, rice and rice processing. Then the group headed to Mississippi where the focus was seeing research that is lead by Mississippi State University on catfish, peanuts, corn, soybeans, cotton and weed control. Also hosted by the Delta Council about their focus on transportation, flood control and agriculture for the Delta region, and was welcomed by the John Mark Looney, a young farmer who has diversified by growing popcorn and selling wholesale to stores in the region. The group visited a Farmers Grain Terminal to see an inland barge loading facility and learn about the struggles with the ever changing water levels. Finally Louisana hosted the group Bracy’s, top-notch nursery and a diversifed farm with tobacco, sugar cane, crawfish and cattle. The trip ended in the Baton Rouge area where the group took in sugar cane planting, processing and distilling. 

The farmers on the trip powered through the humidity to take in all the information and experiences.

“I never would have the opportunity to experience farms and the production we got to see if it wouldn’t have been for Corn Corps,” Kylee Geffert, Humboldt farmer

“Being our third session, the group become closer and continued to build our own network,” Kelby Adams, Macksville farmer.

“It was an experience to see the way our food was grown in a different lens, and ways of how other young farmers are diversifying and value adding to help profitable,” Shelby Kelman, Dodge City farmer.

If you are interested in applying for Corn Corps Class 4, visit kscorn.com/corncorps.  Applications are due September 30.