FOOD NEWS: Part3: Conversation with King Corn Filmmaker Curt

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Farming today is not what we may imagine it to be. It's become largely an industrial process, and corn epitomizes this shift in production methods. In Part 3, 'King Corn' filmmaker Curt Ellis shares his experience growing an acre of corn in Iowa, and what it was like for him and his partner. Surprisingly, the growing of 10,000 pounds of corn in one season was the easiest part of the whole farming experience. The other parts were more mundane, and more disappointing.

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[CMLovejoy]

The problem is that land is to expensive, and people like me that want to be farmers can't afford the large upfront cost. Banks refuse to finance beginning farmers as well, because of the high risk involved.

[cookingupastory]

You make a very good point. I recently did a story, 'a New Family Farmer', who had hit a wall when trying to secure a loan for his first farm. He was finally able to do it, fortunately for us all.

[marywinmusic]

Howdy Rebecca, thank you for sharing your video. Wow! Awesome footage. Hooray for industrialization! Five stars and thank you for the enrichment : ) Cheers, ~Mary

[cookingupastory]

Yes, they've done quite a job of it.

[dionysusstar]

Thanks for posting...is the documentary available now...if not when?

[cookingupastory]

I'm not sure, dionysusstar...check their website, kingcorn[dot]net

[Suzanne42]

Excellent, as always!

[jeanie123124]

I think he is cute! nerdy cute, but cute.

[Bluesteel484]

Corn is the exact opposite of what we should be growing. They tell us the diversity of this crop ranges from food to gasoline. The problem is that it is not even edible to begin with. You HAVE to process it before people can eat it. The crop we SHOULD be growing is HEMP. This is one of the only plants in the world to NATURALLY produce seeds containing an ideal ratio of omega 3 to omega 6 fatty acids for the human body. Hemp will benefit all, we just need to demand it!!

[HunterMann]

I've been traveling/working in Mexico off&on for 30 years and have noticed increased obesity. There seems to be very little exposed about high fructose corn syrup there. They have just as much junk food there and the processed food with corn syrup are cheaper than whole, quality foods. I think the goal need to be: to make the healthier foods CHEAPER than the crappy ones. People want cheaper, they want sweet too.

[hollybearyhaleystar]

@CMLovejoy @CMLovejoy I know this documentary focuses on farms and larger scale food production, but if you just want to feed yourself and your family, it is more than possible to do so even in a rural setting. Check out /dervaes they grow 6,000 pounds of food a year on 1/10 of an acre in their front and backyard. It's called urban homesteading and is a new tread that people who can't afford land or to move are using to take back control of our food production.

[tadpolenese]

@free2hug

National security, man. US corn (and syrup thereof) is meant as strategic human/know-how reserve against long-term oil embargo. Granted, all that carb was meant to feed cars, but it's ending up feeding humans (including export.) But trust me, when war happens, oil reserve will be used for war, corn-derived products will be used for civilian energy. You don't kid around with the national security of 300 million people. So, in your dreams will US use cane/beet sugar.

[kombatmaster12]

No matter what, America is gonna get fat. We can't stop it :(

[dicksatan]

Yep. The farm bill needs overhauling. I remember Reagan using terms like 'family farms' to pass bills that helped mostly mega agribusiness.

I'm sure the Dems didn't help in putting much in there to help family farms either.

[annieffa]

Ok! Listen... You didn't get your hands dirty becuase you weren't truly farming! You were unloading into a pickup! We farm about 1000 acres and we market an extremely safe extremely productive crop. Ethonal is not controling the market. The demand for the product is and ethnol does not comprise that much of it. I believe that its is the food processers that need to be revised. Farmers are just doing what they always have.

[spurcross]

If you find King Corn to be an important message, you should follow up by googling a copy of Michael Pollan's essay "Power Steer". It is a quick read and every bit as insightful as King Corn, but from the perspective of it's role in factory farming (feedlot cattle).