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Crop disease risk rising in corn and soybeans as steamy weather persists

An Extension field crops pathologist says the hot, humid weather is likely to bring an onslaught of disease issues.

Damon Smith with the University of Wisconsin–Madison tells Brownfield, “The way the economy is right now, we really can’t afford to go across these fields multiple times with fungicides.”

“I’d like folks to kind of prioritize that growth stage and make sure they have the products ready to go, and they’re making informed decisions,” he says.

He says farmers need to be scouting for tar spot, grey leaf spot, white mold, stripe rust, and head scab.

“Getting out, knowing what you’re dealing with, prioritize fields that you know have a history of disease issues and or hybrids and varieties that are susceptible, those are going to be the places you’re going to want to look,” he says.

Smith says farmers can also assess disease development through the Crop Protection Network Crop Risk Tool and the Wisconsin Agricultural Forecasting System.