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Disease pressure rises as harvest approaches in Ohio

An eastern-Ohio based agronomist says some farmers could see a rise in disease pressure this fall.

Brad Miller with Dekalb ASGROW says later planted corn is more susceptible.

“We all expected with the wet weather and warm temperatures that we’d see an outbreak of disease pretty early,” he says. “Actually, a lot of the gray leaf spot and northern leaf blight in corn didn’t come in until August. Now, we’re in September and just a few weeks ago, we started seeing tar spot.”

He tells Brownfield fungicide applications has been important this growing season.

“The guys that sprayed foliar fungicide were kind of questioning if they should have pulled the trigger, because they didn’t see a lot of disease,” he says. “Now they’re pretty happy about it, because the acres that were sprayed look excellent. Fungicides only provide about 3 to maybe 4 weeks of residual control.”

Miller says farmers should continue to scout their fields for any signs of disease that could impact harvest timing.

AUDIO: Brad Miller, Dekalb ASGROW