Report: Corn fertilizer is a major source of greenhouse gas emissions

Climate Cast

Almost 15 million acres in the Midwest grow corn on the same land year after year. That’s about 20 percent of all Midwest cropland.


Growing corn in this way produces more greenhouse gas emissions than crop rotation because it releases more nitrous oxide — a greenhouse gas 300 times more powerful than carbon dioxide.


That’s according to a new report from the Environmental Working Group.


But cost-effective, climate-smart practices can reduce these emissions in a big way.


Anne Schechinger is lead author of the analysis, and she shared more about the findings as well as solutions to offset the climate impacts of continuous corn with Climate Cast host Paul Huttner.


Click play on the audio player above to listen to this episode, or subscribe to the Climate Cast podcast.

More description

Almost 15 million acres in the Midwest grow corn on the same land year after year. That’s about 20 percent of all Midwest cropland.


Growing corn in this way produces more greenhouse gas emissions than crop rotation because it releases more nitrous oxide — a greenhouse gas 300 times more powerful than carbon dioxide.


That’s according to a new report from the Environmental Working Group.


But cost-effective, climate-smart practices can reduce these emissions in a big way.


Anne Schechinger is lead author of the analysis, and she shared more about the findings as well as solutions to offset the climate impacts of continuous corn with Climate Cast host Paul Huttner.


Click play on the audio player above to listen to this episode, or subscribe to the Climate Cast podcast.

2025-10-16 4 min
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