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Worries over disease pressure and impact on yield potential continue

Some farmers at this year’s Nebraska State Fair say ongoing disease pressure could have an unexpected impact on yields. 

Michael Bergen of Henderson says his corn crop had strong potential most of the summer. “It seems like it is going backwards and giving up a few bushels here at the end.”

He tells Brownfield a series of environmental stressors, like excessive moisture and long periods of humidity, has created the perfect storm. “Tar spot, southern rust and gray leaf spot – We’ve flown a second time already for aerial fungicide applications.” 

Central Nebraska farmer Ethan Zoerb says his corn crop has likely lost some top-end yield due to southern rust. “We’re getting to that three weeks out from treatment and you can already see it starting to pop up again.”

Zoerb says western bean cut worm has been an issue and tar spot has started to move into Sherman and Custer counties near his farms.