• The maize plant is an American native. Recent evidence shows it was first domesticated by farmers in southwestern Mexico at least 8,700 calendar years ago.
• Maize was domesticated from a wild grass called Balsas teosinte.
• Christopher Columbus found native Americans growing corn in Cuba in 1492.
• By the time Columbus arrived, it was being grown from Canada to the tip of South America.
• When the colonists came to America, they dried corn and ground it as meal for flour. They used the ground corn in porridge, cake and bread. Fresh or sweet corn, the kind we like to eat as corn on the cob, was not developed until the 1700s. Before then corn was only used in its dried form.
• Farmers grow corn on every continent except Antarctica.
• One bushel of corn will sweeten more than 400 cans of Coca-Cola.
• There are about 800 kernels in 16 rows on each ear of corn.
• The corncob (ear) is actually part of the corn plant’s flower.
• The main ingredient in most dry pet food is corn.
• Corn is America's number one field crop. Corn leads all other crops in value and volume of production.
• A pound of corn consists of approximately 1,300 kernels.
• Corn is used to produce fuel alcohol. Fuel alcohol makes gasoline burn cleaner, reducing air pollution, and it
• According to the USDA, one acre of corn… removes about 8 tons of carbon dioxide from the air in a growing season…at 180 bushels per acre produces enough oxygen to supply a year’s needs for 131 people.

I can give you lots of corn facts, but for me it is the gold that paid for my college education and supported my family growing up. A good field of corn was the pride and joy of my Dad, and when seeing the Grand Canyon for the first time said "Yeah, it's okay, but I don't see what good it is, you can't grow corn in it".

For other's observation please click here.

Really well shot Becky and so good for MOP! Love the textures and designs you have focused in on! danrav · 2011-03-07: 05:25

Great post for the theme LOVE that last line!!!! ilikethat · 2011-03-07: 05:25

Beautiful post for the MOP! Eiram · 2011-03-07: 05:53

great idea and great macro. MoMac · 2011-03-07: 09:34

Mmmmm... Corn... Nice post and for the MOP. smbunation · 2011-03-07: 10:22

And is it as high as an elephant's eye? Terrific shot.. dealdog · 2011-03-07: 10:31

very interesting story.many of them I haven't known. gonia · 2011-03-07: 11:02

Wonderful information....I would add PopCorn! Wonderful for the MOP... karmankwarner · 2011-03-07: 11:03

What a terrific comment from your dad! Beautiful photo and given your history a really good choice for MOP! DancingDolphin · 2011-03-07: 11:49

Great post for the MOP!!! jennye · 2011-03-07: 12:32

Fantastic post Becky. I really like all your facts about corn. I love your dad's comment. SADHYA · 2011-03-07: 13:08

FOR SURE! I love pop corn ;) onlyricky · 2011-03-07: 15:38

lovely shot, I like that its not the typical corn shot :) McMommy · 2011-03-07: 18:56

Beautiful light and color....great information....super MOP post! lookagain · 2011-03-07: 20:21

Love the corn facts. The photo is quite wonderful too - an unusual image (for me at least). Jarvo · 2011-03-07: 20:23

looks very gentle and impressive anggrekfoto · 2011-03-08: 00:54

very evocative, gentle colour, interesting stories, esp the last one equivalence · 2011-03-08: 05:01

I love mais :) Great post and take on the theme. I know why you are fond of it now ;) Love its shining hair :) ????? · 2011-03-08: 06:14

Very informative and so interesting! Corn is used for so many things as well as eating. I'm glad you included the fuel alcohol it has given the farmers around these parts quite a boost! Excellent photo....looks like the silks are well pollinated ArtBee · 2011-03-08: 13:46

Very interesting! They also made corn mash whiskey..Love the quote from your father..spoken like a true farmer..my dad grew corn too mostly for cow feed.. NellyBly · 2011-03-08: 16:13

Love the photo! Love sweet fresh corn! Love your dad's saying! Love this post! beeacooker · 2011-03-08: 17:43

So fantastic Becky! I love how you captured the light and every little strand. Amazing. liveandletlive · 2011-03-08: 22:28

so beautiful! Shaparak · 2011-03-09: 22:06

Corn is King! Great informative post. Your dad was funny and seems to be very practical as many of his generation were. RayNvb · 2011-03-18: 04:19

Like the angle and colours Congrats helys · 2011-03-19: 10:45

Incredible macro - interesting message! Why am I not surprised that YOU featured corn, HatH?? djnana · 2011-03-26: 22:16

I have been here and a regular visitor of your blog, I really got a wonderful blog. The inspiration of your blog forced me to leave comment. This is a useful and valuable blog for visitors to get informative and valuable knowledge from your blog. download digital dissertation · 2012-04-06: 11:00

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