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White mold pressure persistent in Michigan

White mold concerns are widespread among Michigan farmers.

Shiawassee County’s Mark Senk tells Brownfield last year’s outbreak left a lasting impact.

“We’ve had ample rain all season, at times we’re thinking we’ve had too much rain,” he says. I know last year in our area there was a severe outbreak of white mold and it trimmed 10 to 20 bushels per acre off some of the top end.”

Scott Wilson says it’s been a few years since his Sanilac County crops have had an outbreak, but the rains came when soybeans were the most susceptible.

“White mold, I think is going to start rearing its ugly head here,” he says. “It can be disappointing because the crops look really, really good right now, and that can be a substantial hit to the yield.”

Near the Saginaw Bay, John Burk says while mold pressure is building especially in dry beans.

“Our dried beans are struggling a little bit here and there because of too much rain,” he shares. “It’s going to be either feast or famine I think for some of the dry bean growers, just depends on where you live and how much rain you received.”

Burk says aside from disease pressure, this could be a fantastic production year for sugarbeets, corn, and wheat for farmers in his area.

AUDIO: Michgian farmers Mark Senk, Scott Wilson, John Burk

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