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Crop disease pressure intensifies

Crop diseases are emerging throughout the Midwest.

Jeff Moon with Corteva Agriscience says pressure was low early in the season because of dry conditions.

“We have been seeing some of these disease conditions turn a bit and be more favorable toward diseases developing with some of the areas across the Corn Belt getting some moisture. And the temperatures have been about right, so we’re starting to see a little spike in some areas in disease presence.”

He tells Brownfield corn tar spot is getting a lot of headlines.

“But you know, northern corn leaf blight is out there, gray leaf spot, we’ve seen some rust from time to time as well. So those are probably the top group that people are most concerned about in their fields.”

In soybeans, Moon says white mold and frogeye leaf spot are diseases farmers should be closely watching for.