Still being done. Talked to the people doing it last year. About half the detasselers are immigrants. The rest are kids, some as young as 13. Its the only job available at that age. The guy said it is hard to find kids wanting to do the work. This is in east central Illinois.
There is no summer farm work for kids anymore. Corn and beans are practically the only crops grown. Chemical weed control has done away with walking beans. Few, if any, farmers have livestock and even if hay is put up, the large bales which require machinery to handle are used and there is no physical labor involved.
OK. Please explain to this city girl what “detasseling corn” is...
Why is it done?
When (in the growth cycle) is it done?
I’ve grown corn in the past (when I was 14) and plan to grow some this year. For the home garden, I don’t remember detasseling. Is this something that is done only by commercial growers?
Help!