Corn And Climate

The United States leads the world in corn production, consumption, and exports. The Midwest dominates this industry, making corn a cornerstone of the region’s politics, economy, and ecosystem. However, climate change is reshaping the region’s climate and, in turn, how this vital crop is cultivated. Understanding these changes is critical to anticipating future developments in one of the nation’s most influential agricultural sectors.

This project examines regional trends in climate and corn production over the past half-century. By integrating county-level data on corn production and climate metrics, it highlights changes across the Midwest from 1980 to 2023. The National Agricultural Statistics Service collects and publishes data on crop production by county across the United States. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration collects and publishes climate data by county across the United States.

Interactive Map Features

The interactive maps below visualize:

• Nominal values of corn production, corn yields, annual average temperatures, and monthly average precipitation by county.
• Relative changes in these metrics, benchmarked against their 1980 values.

How to Use the Map:

• Use the dropdown in the top-right corner to select a variable of interest.
• Press the "Play" button to observe how the chosen metric evolves over time.
• Click on a county to view specific details in the information box. To zoom out, either scroll or use the "Reset View" button.

Dual Map Comparison: To contextualize the nominal values shown in the first map, the second map displays changes relative to 1980 values. Selecting a county on either map automatically highlights its details on the other, allowing users to compare relative changes with nominal values.