News

Fungicide timing is key

Purdue University Extension’s corn specialist says disease is spreading rapidly across the state.

Dan Quinn says recent weather patterns are impacting fungicide efficacy.

“We’re starting to see now where some of these fungicides worked well, now they’re running out of activity and that disease is picking back up,” he says. “Then you combine that with the high temperatures that we’ve been having, grain fill could also be impacted.”

The USDA says Indiana corn is 96 percent silking, 69 percent in the dough stage, 20 percent dented, and rated 63 percent good to excellent. Soybeans are 95 percent blooming, 80 percent setting pods, and also rated 63 percent good to excellent.

He tells Brownfield it may not be too late for a fungicide application.

“Fungicides only give you activity for about two to three weeks,” he says. “You really have to balance where that disease is coming in, but also how you can apply it to get an extended period of control.”

Topsoil moisture is 58 percent adequate to surplus and subsoil moisture is 59 percent adequate to surplus.

AUDIO: Dan Quinn, Purdue Extension