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Western Corn Belt farmers prepare for rising corn disease pressure

As the U.S. corn crop faces increased disease pressure, two farmers in the Western Corn Belt say crop health remains a top priority.

South-central Nebraska farmer Mike Bergen says he’s budgeted for two fungicide passes on all of his acres. “Not sure I’m going to need it. If we stay really hot, I’m not sure how tar spot is going to progress, but that opens up the door for southern rust and other things. I think we’re fortunate that we haven’t had to spray so far.”

He tells Brownfield plans on starting applications in about a week. “Planes are booked and looking at a two-pass system this year. One hundred percent of my corn got sprayed one time last year, and about 50 percent of my acres got sprayed twice.”  

Southeast Kansas farmer Ben Bellar says he’ll apply fungicide with a drone. “Any day now and we’ve done the math that seems to pay off, and it seems to help us in many ways, but it is a major concern that we’re watching for.”   

According to the Crop Protection Network, tar spot has been confirmed in Iowa, Indiana, Illinois, Wisconsin, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska and Kansas while southern rust hasn’t been identified.