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Southern rust was the number one yield robbing disease for many growers in 2025

A pair of Bayer agronomists say southern rust was the number one yield robbing disease for many farmers across the Midwest in 2025.

Brad Gibson with Channel tells Brownfield, “Growers had to put some extra management into it with nitrogen over the top as well as with their fungicides,” he says. “Some saw some pretty nice increases, definitely a lot better stock quality and overall yield showed a positive response. That really seemed to pay pretty big this year.”

Brian Creger with DEKALB Asgrow says as disease continues to impact yields, growers should plan to make early fungicide applications in 2026.

“Margins are thin, but if you just spend a little money on a fungicide to help protect that investment, it could really put that top end punch into that corn hybrid,” he says. “Let’s just plan that into the cash flow to help maximize that yield.”

Both experts say hybrid selection could also help protect profitability for next season.

Brownfield interviewed Gibson and Creger during Trade Talk at the 2025 NAFB Convention.

AUDIO: Brad Gibson, Channel

AUDIO: Brian Creger, DEKALB Asgrow