Field Corn Seed Varieties

Field vs Sweet Corn

• Field corn was originally grown primarily as feed for livestock. Sweet corn, which accounts for only about 10 percent of the corn crop in the United States, is grown for human consumption. Field corn is now also used in the production of ethanol, which is an alcohol gasoline additive. In recent years, about 20 percent of the field corn grown in the United States was used to produce ethanol, according to data from the National Corn Grower's Association.

Field Corn Seed

• There are four main varieties of field corn seed: Dent, Flint, Flour and Waxy. Some are hybrids, which is seed created through cross-pollination. Hybrids were first introduced in the early 20th century as a way to produce stronger, healthier corn. Today, 95 percent of all corn grown in the United States is grown from hybrid seed, notes the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Agricultural Research Service in "Improving Corn."

Dent Corn

• One of the hybrid varieties is Dent corn. Often used in livestock feed, it is also used in human foods, like corn syrup. Dent is even used in the manufacture of cosmetics. The kernels have a thick outer skin, so to be edible it has to be ground or soaked, which is why dent is used to make corn meal.

Flint Corn

• Also called Indian corn, ears of flint corn are often multicolored and very pretty. It is often used for decoration, seen in wreaths and floral arrangements throughout the fall. Flint kernels are hard, but in ground form is used in preparing food like polenta. There are also one-color types of flint. For example, the perennial American favorite, popcorn.

Flour Corn

• Flour corn has starchy kernels that are very soft and easy to separate and grind. It is used almost exclusively in baking. The kernels range in color from white to shades of blue, which accounts for the blue corn chips and tortillas so popular in Mexican grocery stores and restaurants.

Waxy Corn

• All corn contains starch, but the type found in waxy corn is amylopectin, the most digestible form. That is why waxy corn is the source for commercial corn starch, and a favorite ingredient in livestock feed. It generally commands a higher price than other varieties of corn, but it is believed to be superior in fattening hogs and cattle for the market, according to Ohio State University Extension. Feed that contains waxy corn also improves milk production in dairy cattle.