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Disease pressure showing as Nebraska corn harvest begins

An eastern Nebraska farmer says his fields have shown signs of disease pressure as harvest gets underway.

Matt Bailey tells Brownfield…

“Southern Rust and tar spot are both showing their face. All the fungicides that were applied obviously given the time of the year are running out,” he says. “I don’t know many people were planning on on having green corn this late in the year.”

He says the outlook for yields is uncertain.

“Given that the plants got to hang in there for another 3 to 4 weeks before it’s really dry, if you’re taking it strictly for grain anyway, you’ve just got to wonder what the plant integrity is gonna be like at that point,” he says.

According to USDA, corn in Nebraska is 10% harvested, slightly ahead of the five-year average of 9%, with 96% dented and 66% mature.

Soybeans are 66% good to excellent, with 10 harvested.

USDA says 51% of winter wheat is planted, with 14 of the crop having emerged.