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Corn foliar diseases could be ‘significant’

Foliar corn diseases have been a challenge the past two years for Midwestern corn growers. Mike Meyer, an Iowa-based plant pathologist for DuPont Crop Protection, says 2016 is setting up to be another significant foliar disease year in corn.

“The history of both Northern Corn Leaf Blight and Gray Leaf Spot in the previous two seasons is a pretty good indicator that we will have some level of foliar disease on corn this season as well,” Meyer says, “and couple that with our favorable weather conditions—including cool and wet conditions—those are certainly favorable for the development of foliar diseases.”

Meyer says it’s never too early to start scouting.

“For example, last year in southeast Iowa we started seeing Northern Corn Leaf Blight develop in mid- to late-June, which was certainly unexpected and resulted in much higher levels at the end of the year.”

Meyer suggests growers start planning now for how they will deal with foliar diseases this growing season.

AUDIO: Mike Meyer