News

Timely rains boost crop outlook in west-central Iowa

An agronomist says crop conditions have been favorable in west-central Iowa.

Hoegemeyer’s Eric Solberg tells Brownfield, “The crop looks phenomenal. We’ve been a little drier in June and July, but we’ve had some timely rains.”

He says disease pressure has been minimal.

“The last two years southern rust was a major yield-limiting disease we had. With the warmer and humid air we’ve had it’s definitely a concern again, but we haven’t found any. There has been a few instances of tar spot showing up.”

But Solberg says tar spot needs a cool and wet environment to thrive.

“We haven’t had that, so just be on the lookout.”

Solberg says tar spot and southern rust can be easily managed through well-timed fungicide applications.