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Concerns about ear rot in corn
Cool moist conditions at pollination put many Indiana corn fields at risk for ear rots this year. Seed Consultants product manager Matt Hutcheson says those cool, moist conditions have facilitated infections in fields around the state. “Especially giberlla – which is a pinkish, reddish mold that starts at the tip of the ear,” he says. “That’s associated with DAWN or vomitoxin and is something we’re going to want to pay attention to this year.”
If it is present, Hutcheson tells Brownfield growers will need to be aware of it and keep that grain separated from the rest of the grain harvested.
Another concern this year, he says, is stalk quality. “As we get closer to harvest we may have stalk rot showing,” he says. “We could have weaker stalks from cannibalization of the stalks to support the ear. It would be a good time for farmers to go out in the fields and check their stalks. They should pinch the bottom part of the stalks and try to push them over to see if there is any weakness.”
He says if farmers find fields with weak stalks – those should take priority at harvest.
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