Pop...Pop...Pop...Popcorn!

Every time we walk into a movie theater, we can always smell the fresh popcorn that has been popped. For some reason fresh popcorn always adds something to the movie watching experience. Not only do we eat popcorn at the movie theaters, but it also makes a great snack in the afternoon or evening. Studies have even shown that eating popcorn is healthy because it fits in the whole grains category! So it is definitely a unique type of corn!

However, popcorn is unique for me because my family raises it.

This last weekend I had the opportunity to go back home and help with popcorn harvest. We have been raising popcorn for several years now and this crop has become very unique for us because we are one of the few family farm operations in my hometown area (Ayr, NE) that grows it. All of our popcorn is contracted through ConAgra, which uses the popcorn in its different brands such as Act II, Jiffy Pop, Orville Redenbacher’s, and many other brands. We haul some of our popcorn via semi to Hamburg, Iowa during fall harvest and then the rest during the winter.


When we harvest our popcorn, we use the same type of equipment that we use to harvest our other types of corn that we grow, which includes number 2 yellow corn and white corn. Although the equipment is the same, we do have to make minor adjustments to the combine since popcorn has a smaller kernel than yellow corn and white corn. Other than that, the equipment is ran the same.

However, there are some differences when it comes to harvesting popcorn.

The first major difference is that there cannot be any type of foreign material in the grain. This includes other grains, dirt, and any other type of foreign material. The reason for this is because after the popcorn is cleaned at the processing plant, it goes right into the food supply. Having farmers help keep the popcorn clean helps insure that the consumer is getting a high quality product. I mean, who would want to find a soybean in the bottom of their popcorn bag. To insure that the popcorn doesn’t get contaminated by other grains, farmers have to always clean out the equipment when switching from other crops to popcorn. This can be tedious work because there are a lot of places on a combine that grain goes through but it helps farmers insure consumers that their product is clean and of the highest quality.

The second difference between popcorn and other types of corn is the difference in moisture levels. Some corn can be harvested at higher moistures and then be dried down but popcorn has to be harvested at 15 percent moisture or lower. The ideal range is between 13 – 14 percent moisture. The reason for this is because this is the moisture at which popcorn is able to pop. If it is too dry or too wet then the popcorn kernel won’t pop.

Another minor difference between popcorn and field corn is that popcorn is measured by pounds instead of bushels. So the picture showing the monitor actually shows lb/ac instead of bu/ac.

As I mentioned earlier, popcorn is a unique crop and is unique for my family. Although there can be certain hassles, such as having to clean out the combine when switching between crops, it is nice knowing that my family and many other popcorn growing family farms are providing consumers around the U.S. and around the world a high quality product. The next time you go to the movies or pop your own bag of popcorn, you now have an idea of where that popcorn came from and some facts about the product you’re eating!