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Disease pressure impacts yields across the Great Plains

A pair of farmers in the Great Plains say disease pressure played a major role in how well their crops performed.   

Michael Dibbern of Cairo in south-central Nebraska says corn yields were average even with two fungicide applications. “We were throwing the kitchen sink at this thing. Plant health really looked alright for the most part, but I think the late-arriving southern rust, tar spot and other diseases really took the top off.”

Central Kansas farmer Rick Schlender says soybeans stayed extremely healthy throughout the season despite above-average rainfall. He tells Brownfield soybean yields were exceptional. “We’re probably well above our normal average for the year, especially for the summer. Some areas did have too much rain like 3,4 or 5 inch rain events that a hurt a little bit.”

Both farmers say harvest should wrap up in the next week or so depending on the weather.