It’s So Hot in Indiana That the Corn is Sweating

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Corn sweat is a real thing. I basically grew up in a corn field and I had no idea…

What Exactly Is Corn Sweat?

Corn sweat, or “evapotranspiration” if you’re feeling fancy, is the process by which corn plants release moisture into the air. Just like humans, plants need water to survive. They pull water up from the soil through their roots, and it travels up through the stalks. When the weather gets hot, the corn plants start to release this moisture through tiny openings in their leaves, called stomata. This process is a lot like sweating, hence the nickname.

How Does Corn Sweat Affect the Weather?

If you’re driving past cornfields on a hot day and notice that the air feels extra sticky, you can bet those corn plants are hard at work adding to the mugginess. In areas with large cornfields, corn sweat can even contribute to localized weather patterns. During heatwaves, the combination of high temperatures and elevated humidity from corn sweat can make the heat feel more intense, leading to those unbearable “dog days” of summer.

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For those living in or near large agricultural areas, corn sweat is just another part of summer life. Farmers and locals are well aware of how the fields can turn a hot day into a scorcher. The extra humidity can make it feel like the air is pressing down on you, and those cooling summer breezes don’t feel quite as refreshing when they’re carrying a bit of corn sweat with them.

But corn sweat isn’t all bad! It’s actually a sign that the plants are healthy and well-watered, doing their job to grow tall and produce those sweet, golden ears of corn we all love. So, while you might curse the humidity as you wipe sweat from your brow, remember that it’s all part of the natural process that brings us delicious summer corn.

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Next time you’re at a summer barbecue or out for a drive through the countryside, you can impress your friends with your newfound knowledge of corn sweat. Who knew that those towering green stalks were not just feeding us, but also playing a part in the weather? And while we can’t stop the corn from sweating, at least we can appreciate the science behind it—and maybe grab another cold drink to beat the heat!