Corn's transition from Environmental exploitation to Conservation

The history of corn is dominated by a rollercoaster of global political interests, production booms through technological advancements, and a legacy of environmental destruction.  In the early years of this nation corn was directed by a cycle of subsistence farming, with excess corn exported as flour, vegetable, or meat products from animals that corn was fed to.  This became the chief product of the US, and with foreign demand growing the US government decided to create incentives to expand the farming industry.  These programs were extremely successful, resulting in a migration to the great plains.

The result was dramatic.  The number of people, and the invention of devices that made sod busting easier, transformed the landscape.  Within one generation the Tallgrass prairie was virtually extinct and the Mixed grass prairie was reduced to remnants.  All victim of a mass landscape conversion who's speed of conversion and full extent was completely unprecedented in Human history.  It was an environmental disaster, but foreign demand was met and the industry prevailed.        

Corn technology continued to improve, and soon processed corn products created an increased demand for corn.  Land was no longer abundantly available, so an expansion of corn farm extent to meet that new demand was not possible.  Fortunately for the corn industry, production technology also increased with the introduction of the green revolution.  Industrial fertilizers and pesticides, along with more efficient mechanical devices, increased the yield of corn to meet the ever increasing demand.  Though this was called the green revolution, it had devastating effects on the environment.  Fertilizer and pesticide run off from farms poisoned streams and lakes and even created a massive dead zone in the ocean, crippling fisheries in the area.  

It was in the late 20th century that there was a sudden shift in attitude.  The exploitation of the environment was now getting attention and the entire countries philosophy was transitioning from one of exploitation to one of conservation and preservation.  Suddenly the price of meeting global demand at the expense of the environment was deemed too high.  Domestic demands started mingling with foreign demands when it came to corn production.  Eventually ushering in laws that banned more toxic pesticides, put regulation on chemical applications, and put a value on environmental consciousness.  

It was a new age in corn production, and technology stepped up to meet the new American consciousness.  Soil sensors were used to measure soil moisture and nutrient availability to determine the exact need of corn.  This allowed the farmer to carefully gauge the amount of water and fertilizers to his plant's specific need, which saved money, conserved water, and reduced fertilizer runoff.  New genetic modification technology created plants resistant to pesticides and herbicides, reducing the amount of chemicals needed which saved money and reduced chemical runoff.  Even soil erosion was reduced by leaving a certain height of stubble on the land after corn harvest.  The government also stepped in with initiatives like the Conservation Reserve Program, which paid farmers to let their farms go fallow and restore the portions of the prairies that were plowed over a century before. 

Today the global demand for corn is higher than ever.  The American agriculture industry is able to meet that demand while minimizing waste and being conservation minded.  Pollution from farm runoff is lower, soil erosion is lower, corn yields are higher despite less land being farmed, and there's more Mixed and Tallgrass prairie now than at the height of corn expansion.  The rollercoaster of the history of corn has demonstrated the worst and best sides of the industry.  With continued innovation the corn industry can continue meeting global demands while satisfying the conservation minded social conscience of the American people.