News

Disease potential in late-planted crops

A representative with Gowan USA says farmers who struggled with late planting this spring need to be aware of the potential for disease issues that are “not the norm.”

Jon Sherwin, who covers Illinois, says it could expose the corn crop to extended susceptibility to tar spot and southern rust.

“The two largest yield robbers I have seen over my career have been tar spot and southern rust.”  He says, “And tar spot continues to move each year.”

He tells Brownfield that southern rust is especially worrisome with late-planted crops, as it typically impacts Midwestern fields later in the season.

“We see the southern rust move in if we have weather events that move up from the Gulf.”  He says, “It’s nothing to see 20 bushel yield loss with southern rust. And if it hits at the right time, you may lose up to 50% of your yield if that disease is not managed in corn.”

Sherwin says a properly timed fungicide treatment is the best way to protect the crop from late-season foliar disease pressure.

AUDIO: Jon Sherwin – Gowan USA