HORTICULTURE PROGRAM EXPLORES A RAINBOW OF NEW CORN VARIETIES
By Brad Bergefurd
"The whole ornamental crops market has been growing over the last 20 years. We don't know what sparked it," said Brad Bergefurd, horticulture specialist at The Ohio State University's South Centers in Piketon. "Everything you decorate with can come from (local) farms which mean income opportunities for local farmers."
The OSU South Centers researches ornamental corn for adoption by regional farmers. Bergefurd said the research is driven by needs of regional farmers - farmers are capturing this income opportunity and are growing ornamental corn in record numbers.
Typically sold in bundles of three with husks pulled back, ornamental corn retails for $3 to $6 per bunch. Wholesale prices, unshucked, fall in the $2-to-$3 range. Bergefurd said ornamental corn growers in Ohio normally spring up near viable markets, such as the Bainbridge Produce Auction.
"It's scattered throughout the counties," Bergefurd said. "There are good pockets around markets. Circleville, Ohio certainly has a lot because of the pumpkin festival."
Bergefurd said exploring retailers is vital to farmers just entering the market. He said growers should spend winter and spring exploring potential markets.
"The biggest thing is the marketing," Bergefurd said. "It's not as easy as field corn where you sell it at a local grain elevator. Marketing in these specific crops is an all-year thing."
One of the OSU South Centers Small Business Development Center clients Jon Branstrator, of Clarksville, raises 23 acres of pumpkins and started growing ornamental corn six years ago with a 1¼4 acre. He now grows over 30 acres of ornamental corn and pumpkins per year. Branstrator sells a few thousand bundles at the Bainbridge auction and said he benefits from a good market in the area.
"I know that I have an outlet there," Branstrator said. "If everyone was doing it, then it wouldn't work because the price would be too low."
Bergefurd said growers should proceed cautiously when choosing new varieties or seed types. He recommends looking at past years research results conducted by the OSU South Centers as well as taking advantage of the opportunity to view these new varieties first hand at the numerous horticulture field days and monthly grower training sessions held at the research farm at Piketon. “Growers who study the research results and view the varieties for themselves will be able to make the best economic production decision for their farmâ€, said Bergefurd. Bergefurd also suggest that growers keep their ornamental corn planted at least 1,000 away from field, sweet and seed corn to avoid cross-pollination which will cause a lower quality harvest. "A grower can really ruin their marketing opportunities just by selecting the wrong variety," he said. "We never want to bet the farm on a new variety."
