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Robb Rynd and his brother grew up farming and wanted to do more of it outside their day jobs, so they went in together on what’s now a little over 200 acres of corn, soybeans, wheat, and sorghum. Last year was a good year, and Rynd said he enjoyed walking the fields with his kids to see how the corn was doing. This year is a different story. All summer he’s been scouting for brown and wilting leaves or ears of corn with kernels missing, and now it’s becoming clear that every kernel will count this harvest. Its almost kind of depressing to go out there and look at it and say, oh yep, it does look bad, he said. Across major corn-growing states, climate change is fueling conditions that make watching the corn grow a nail-biter for farmers. Factors like consistently high summer overnight temperatures, droughts and heavier-than-usual rains at the wrong time can all disrupt the plants pollination making each full ear of corn less of a guarantee and more of a gamble. Overall, corn growers got lucky this year with late-season weather that contributed to what is now predicted to be a record bumper crop. But experts say bouts of extreme weather are intensifying the waiting game during a critical time of year between planting and harvest. Human-caused climate change has worsened multiple U.S. extreme heat events this year and has steadily increased the likelihood of hotter overnight temperatures since 1970, according to Climate Central, an independent group of scientists who communicate climate science and data to the public. The hot nights too, like the corn’s never getting a break. Its just hot all the time,” Rynd said. I know its wearing on me. How excessive heat and rainfall can impact corn pollination As a corn plant grows, the leaves unroll to reveal the tassel, the part that sheds pollen, explained Mark Licht, an associate professor of agronomy and an extension cropping systems specialist at Iowa State University. If the plant grows too fast, which can happen when it’s consistently very hot, the tassel may be wrapped too tightly by the leaf, meaning less pollen gets released. That can lead to patchy ears of corn. Tight tassel wrap was reported in pockets across parts of the Midwest and the Plains, according to some agricultural trade publication reports during the growing season. Licht said he’d only seen tassel wrapping issues once before in his 20 years as an agronomist. High temperatures can stress corn in other ways, lowering pollen production, reducing pollen’s viability or drying out other parts of the plants, reducing fertility. “I think any of the pollination issues that we might be having are more because the nights have been so exceedingly warm,” said Larry Walton, who farms near Rynd in southwestern Michigan, where many farmers irrigate because it’s a drier area. We tend to see pollination issues being more problematic when we have high temperatures and drought conditions or lack of rainfall, Licht said. Yet Iowa had plenty of rain and still saw some pollination issues. Excessive moisture can cause corn smut, a type of fungus that grows on the ears. He said farmers are having to pay more attention to this because there’s just more variable weather.” Overall monster yield expected despite tricky weather conditions This winter, the U.S. drought monitor reported drought in nearly 60% of corn production areas in the Midwest. But near or above normal rainfall nearly everywhere east of the Rockies this summer brought that down to just 3% as of the beginning of August, said Brad Rippey, a meteorologist with the U.S. Department of Agriculture. That, combined with consistent heat, means that “we are expecting a monster U.S. corn crop in 2025,” Rippey said. But it wasn’t easy for everyone. This has probably been one of the most difficult growing seasons that Ive experienced in my career, said Philip Good, a farmer in Macon, Mississippi and chair of the United Soybean Board. He planted his corn and soybeans 60 days behind schedule because it rained nearly every day for two months. They lost some fertilizer and some plants died in standing water, Good said, but they made up for it with some lucky weather later in the season. The rain does fall in heavier bursts, Rippey said. He said that can be an issue for farmers because even when it doesn’t cause flash floods, the moisture doesn’t necessarily percolate into the soil. It runs off and carries fertilizer with it, which is a problem for rivers’ health and farmers’ pocketbooks. The trend toward higher humidity levels and warmer ocean temperatures, contributing to hotter nights, could be a bigger issue going forward, putting stress on crops like corn and soybeans, Rippey added. Climate variability adds stress to a critical time for farmers Late summer is a make-or-break time for farmers: They’re trying to gauge how much they’ll make from the year’s crop and planning their next steps, and patchy pollination doesn’t help. Wed like to upgrade a tractor . . . or wed maybe try to pick up some more ground, Rynd said. Its hard to want to go do those things when you have a bad year like this. When the uncertain pollination is at its worst, if 15% to 25% of every ear of corn doesn’t have kernels, that could mean a significant yield loss over a large field said Nicolle Ritchie, a Michigan State University extension agent who helps Walton and Rynd survey their crops. Jason Cope cofounded a farm tech company called PowerPollen whose equipment can mechanically collect pollen and then pollinate future crops. He said that due to extreme weather events, the number of rescue pollination jobs they’ve done for customers to save fields that didn’t naturally pollinate very wellhas nearly doubled since they started in 2018. Walton said he can manage as long as the pollination issues don’t get too bad. You learn to roll with the stress part of it because most of that you cant control anyway, he added. The Associated Press climate and environmental coverage receives financial support from multiple private foundations. AP is solely responsible for all content. Find APs standards for working with philanthropies, a list of supporters and funded coverage areas at AP.org. Melina Walling and Joshua A. Bickel, Associated Press
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Delta Air Lines is trying something new. Its letting customers, as well as its employees, choose a new destination for its summer 2026 schedule. The airline recently announced that it would host the first-ever Route Race contest, which kicks off Monday and runs through August 29. It will let loyalty program members, SkyMiles Members, and Delta employees vote on a new European destination. The winning destination will be added to Deltas schedule next summer.“SkyMiles Members and Delta people are at the center of everything Delta does,” said Paul Baldoni, Delta’s senior vice president of network planning in a press release. “The Route Race is a celebration of their influence, giving our community a voice in where they want to fly next and inviting them to help shape Deltas global network.”Baldoni added, “The destinations where Delta flies are more than just dots on a maptheyre gateways to culture, connection, and possibility, and this is a chance for our Members and employees to bring one of them closer.” According to the announcement, Delta flies to over 300 destinations, which, this summer, included its largest transatlantic schedule yet and its first nonstop flight to Sicily. In an effort to continue expanding, it’s now asking its loyal customers and employees to weigh in on the next stop.Traditionally, airlines choose their destinations by analyzing trends, using market research, and staying competitive with what flights other airlines are offering. According to AeroTime, many airlines will frequently add European flights in the summer, so the new addition will likely already be in line with demand. Plus, since customers and employees are the ones deciding where to fly, the chances that the new destination will be a popular one seem fairly high. Loyalty members and Skymiles members can cast votes in the Fly Delta App. That hardest part will likely be picking between the three amazing European destinations: Sardinia, Malta, or Ibiza.
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Its that time of the year again: The leaves havent begun to change and the sun is still blazing, but the quintessential flavor of fall, Starbuckss Pumpkin Spice Latte (PSL), is back. And while customers nationwide will be able to get their yearly fix, a few select locations will get a taste of an exclusive fall menuand a brand new seasonal latte that might just give the PSL a run for its money. Starbucks’s fall 2025 menu will drop in stores on August 26. Alongside the beloved PSL, the coffeehouse chain is bringing back its Pumpkin Cream Cold Brew, Iced Pumpkin Cream Chai, and Pecan Crunch Oatmilk Latte. This year, Starbucks is also adding an Italian Sausage flavor to its line of Egg Bites, alongside a new Pecan Oatmilk Cortado, which Allrecipes reports is made with three shots of Starbucks Blonde Espresso plus pecan, brown butter, and holiday baking spice flavors. Starbucks customers in 3 cities get even more In New York City, Chicago, and Seattle, some customers will have access to an even wider selection of fall drinks. Today, Starbucks announced an exclusive fall menu for its premium Reserve roasteries and stores, which the company describes as locations dedicated to experimenting with coffee as an art form. Here are the new items on offer this year: Coffee Pumpkin Spice Duo Flight: This item includes two beverages: an Iced Pumpkin Spice Masala Chai Latte and a Pumpkin Spice Whiskey Barrel-Aged Cold Brew (which, as the name suggests, pairs cold brew aged in a whiskey barrel with a pumpkin-spice sauce). Starbucks describes the pairing as crafted to be enjoyed side by side for the ultimate pumpkin spice tasting. Tiramisu Latte: This special beverage might just dethrone the PSL for the title of the most indulgent liquid fall treat. It combines Starbucks Reserve espresso with rich dark chocolate and steamed milk, topped with a layer of tiramisu cold foam and a dusting of dark chocolate mocha powder. Per the press release, it will be a permanent addition to Reserve menus. [Photo: Starbucks] Cocktail Pumpkin Spice Whiskey Barrel-Aged Manhattan: Who says the PSL is just a daytime drink? At Reserve locations, the beverage is getting a boozy glow-up featuring Whiskey Barrel-Aged Cold Brew, Knob Creek Bourbon, Carpano Antica Formula Vermouth, Averna Amaro, Scrappys Aromatic Bitters, and a pumpkin pie spice cold foam. Cheers! Food Pumpkin Smores Tart: For those seeking to wash down their sweet beverage with an even sweeter dessert, this item is described as a crisp graham cracker shell filled with creamy pumpkin cheesecake topped with caramel gold chocolate ganache and toasted marshmallows. Squash and Ricotta Galette: This savory tart pairs a parmesan crust with a filling of ricotta and roasted seasonal squash, finished with fresh herbs and parmigiano Reggiano. Coffee Hazelnut Brioche: Rounding out the Reserves new bakery items is a coffee-flavored brioche filled with hazelnut cream and topped with a coffee hazelnut glaze.
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