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The fungicide dilemma

The decision to apply fungicide is complicated for many growers because of tight margins.

Iowa State University Extension agronomist Angie Rieck-Hinz suggests a wait and see approach.

“I would guess based on crop prices alone, a lot of people seem like they’re holding off on fungicide applications to see what might develop. Or maybe try to not spray a fungicide at all.”

She tells Brownfield despite favorable conditions for disease development, pressure in northern Iowa has been minor.

“Literally, I have found all the corn diseases except tar spot, they have been at such low incidence in fields that I doubt there’s probably been a return on investment in that fungicide application to date. Now that obviously might change.”

Rieck-Hinz says Iowa State offers an online return on investment calculator for fungicide applications.