Jeff,
Regarding insects, since virtually no one has grown corn in Silicon Valley for probably the past 10 years, maybe all the bugs have gone elsewhere.
I also learned something today (wish I had seen this yesterday before I planted the third 'Tainer with corn), was at the above link I posted, several of the reader reviews instruct to soak the hard corn seeds for 24 hours in warm water the day before planting to increase the germination rate. Excellent idea!!
Ray