Corn clothing is on the horizon

Clothing made from corn grown in Iowa could soon be showing up in storesacross the country, and become a boost to corn farmers. Researchers havedeveloped a process to make a fiber known as “Poly Lactic Acid” or P-L-A outof corn. Oelwein farmer Vic Miller is on the Iowa Corn Promotion Board,which financed the research to develop the fiber.Miller says the best-case scenario would have the corn clothing on themarket by next year.He says getting through the red tape of federal regulations is also a factorin getting the clothing on the market. Miller has tested the corn-madeclothes.He says while the fabric can’t be dried with heat, it does dry quickly andwrinkle free by hanging it up. Miller says other products made with P-L-Aare gaining attention because they can be engineered to break down rapidly.He says Japan has a big interest in P-L-A products that can help them withtheir landfill crunch.Miller says opening up the use of P-L-A could be have a major impact on Iowafarmers.Miller says the increased demand for corn through P-L-A use could add atleast one dollar to the price of a bushel of corn.