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Rootless corn plaguing some farmers

An agronomy manager with Wyffels Hybrids says rootless corn syndrome has been an issue for many farmers this spring.

Robby Meeker, who covers the eastern half of Illinois and all of Indiana, says high temperatures in June took a toll in some areas.

“This hot, this dry and experienced the wind that we’ve had, we dry out our topsoil and limit root growth to transition that corn plant off the seed to the main root system.”  He says, “We have corn that’s not developing the nodal roots.”

He says several producers across a variety of hybrids reported the issue while evaluating stands that were planted just after Mother’s Day.  

“You’ll notice some floppy corn or some corn that just seems to fall over, and it just doesn’t have any anchor.”  He says, “It doesn’t have a root system to brace itself and hold it up as it gets to that V4, V5 growth stage.”

Meeker says it’s typically found in high traffic areas of fields that see a high amount of tillage.

“A common issue this spring mainly due to the dryness,” he says.

He says most farmers that experienced rootless corn replanted the areas that were affected.

AUDIO: Robby Meeker – Wyffels Hybrids