The Colorado Corn Administrative Committee has been committed to supporting research. From 2011 through 2016, the group has given more than $650,000 to a range of research endeavors. That tradition continues with the announcement that more than $130,000 will be distributed in 2017.

The project supported range from drought tolerance to crop disease mitigation. For decades, CCAC has provided research support, as well as input and other resources, to a long list of projects. The range of work supported includes evaluating irrigation practices, alternative water transfer methods, seed variety work, root structure, meat quality, farm safety, environmental impacts, biofuels and rotational fallowing, among many others.

During this work, CCAC has teamed up with businesses, universities, municipalities, research facilities, the state of Colorado and others. These are relationships the group has committed to maintaining in an effort to bring more tools and knowledge to Colorado producers.

Funding for these projects comes from a 1-cent-per-bushel assessment on corn grown in Colorado, with farmers who serve as CCAC board members determining how those funds are used.

Mike Lefever, a Longmont-area resident who farms near Haxton, commented about the program: "Taking continuous steps forward in producing more with less resources — and discovering the most sustainable methods of doing so — is absolutely vital, not only for us farmers, but for everyone."

He added that the knowledge gained from these research projects helps in taking the needed steps forward. Here's a rundown of how the 2017 investment will be distributed:

• $48,249 to Colorado State University's John McKay, to fund various local efforts needed for involving Colorado in a national collaborative project. The project is aimed at identifying the specific genes that cause elite hybrids to be sensitive to drought.
• $43,663 to CSU's Kirk Broders, to further examine the bacterial pathogen Xanthomonas vasicola pv vasculorum (Xvv). The pathogen was officially reported in the U.S. in 2016 (although it had likely been present before that), with some of the most severe disease pressure observed in Colorado. The information gained from the research will be used to develop mitigation strategies, and outreach and education materials.
• $30,000 to CSU's Todd Gaines, to lead research on the glyphosate-resistant weed Palmer amaranth (Amaranthus palmeri., Specific goals are aimed at addressing environmental and economic sustainability for growers, providing practical value for weed management, and addressing management issues related to biotechnology.
• $8,188 to CSU Extension's Joel Schneekloth, to quantify the effects of residue removal and/or tillage on winter soil moisture recharge in irrigated agriculture. The funds will also quantify the impacts to irrigation requirements for the following growing season and other aspects of these corn production methods.

Source: Colorado Corn