Time to Scout Corn

It's time to scout for corn diseases. The earliest planted corn is beginning to tassel, and the next week or two will be the optimum time for a fungicide application. Now is the time to be out in fields evaluating disease pressure before making management decisions.

Diseases are just starting to show up in South Central Iowa, and with the weather we have had, we expect them to become more prevalent again this year. Fields that sustained early-season damage are also good places to scout for disease because damaged plants allow pathogens to infect more easily. Taking time to inspect these fields can help identify problems before they spread.

Fungicide applications at the VT/R1 growth stage are still the optimum timing for protecting yield potential. Using newer, longer-residual fungicides will provide at least three weeks of disease protection. If Southern Rust shows up like it did last year, a second fungicide application can also be beneficial.

At SFG, we had trials last year where a second fungicide application produced yield increases ranging from 10 to 25 bushels per acre in various locations. Even with the cost of two applications, the additional yield more than paid for the investment in many cases. We hope a second application will not be necessary this year, but scouting and knowing which diseases are present is the only way to make the best management decision.

Contact your SFG agronomist today to learn about disease pressure in your fields and determine the best plan for protecting your crop.