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Corn stunt disease expanded U.S. presence in 2024

An extension specialist with the University of Missouri says corn stunt disease expanded its presence in the U.S. in 2024.

Mandy Bish says the disease is carried by the corn leaf hopper.

“We’ve been able to confirm it as far north as Wisconsin and New York, and it’s transmitted by the corn leaf hopper, so it requires an insect to be here.”  She says, “Now, this corn leaf hopper had not been confirmed in most of the states that it was confirmed and in 2024.”

She says the insect and disease are most commonly found in southern states and South America.

“It has caused problems in Argentina and Brazil previously, and in 2024, over the winter actually, it affected a large amount of Argentina’s late planted corn.”  She says, “Some provinces reporting 77% yield losses in late planted corn, so it is a severe threat.”

Bish tells Brownfield numerous agencies are planning increased surveillance in 2025 to learn the scope of the threat.

“We don’t know if we’re dealing with something that’s going to be a continued threat.”  She says, “You know, if the corn leaf hopper can survive winters a little further north, then it has in the past, that means that this could be a reoccurrence.  If it was a one year wonder, which would probably be okay for our corn crop, then it’s something that we may not have to worry about again.”

Bish says signs of corn stunt disease are yellowing or purpling of corn and arrested kernel development with the presence of the corn leaf hopper.  She encourages growers to reach out to their local extension office to learn more.

Brownfield spoke with Bish at the 2024 Illinois CCA Conference in Champaign, Illinois.

AUDIO: Mandy Bish – University of Missouri Extension