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Higher levels of foliar diseases in Illinois corn

Foliar diseases in corn are higher than normal this year in Illinois and parts of the Corn Belt.

Carl Bradley, University of Illinois Plant Pathologist, says Gray Leaf Spot is one of them, “Not at the very tip of Illinois,” He tells Brownfield Ag News, “But about Interstate 80, south, I’ve seeing even more Gray Leaf Spot and even more as you get further south.”

Bradley says Northern Leaf Blight is very common this year, “In fact, I’ve seen some fields where it’s going to be very yield damaging.”  Bradley says prevention comes down to picking the right hybrid for the right situation. Bradley says, “There ARE pretty good levels of resistance – in commercial hybrids – to both of those diseases.” He says the same can be said for preventing SDS and similar diseases on the rise this year in soybeans.