What does pollinating corn involve?

Pollinating corn typically refers to the manual process of transferring pollen from the tassels (male flowers) to the silks (female flowers) of corn plants. This is often done in research or seed production fields to ensure controlled breeding and desired trait selection. Workers usually collect pollen by shaking or bagging tassels, then apply it directly onto the silks of specific ears. Manual pollination helps produce hybrid seeds and maintain genetic purity in corn breeding programs. The work is usually seasonal and performed outdoors in the summer months.