Plan ahead to avoid ear mold development next season. Rotating crops and planting a hybrid with ear rot resistance can lessen the chance of developing ear molds. Hybrids with in-plant insect protection can reduce insect damage to help prevent diseases from entering the ear.
Tar spot is caused by a fungus called Phyllachora maydis that can spread throughout corn fields in the Midwest. This disease was first found in 2015, but has quickly spread throughout Iowa, Illinois, Indiana, Minnesota, Wisconsin, Ohio, Michigan, and Missouri.
Certain areas around the Midwest have received significant hail damage to crops in recent days and weeks. After damage has occurred it is important to wait at least 5 days before assessing. This gives the crop the appropriate time to regrow and allows you to more accurately evaluate stand loss.
The delayed planting season makes it easier for pests like black cutworm to invade. Black cutworm, the most damaging cutworm species in corn, is a migratory pest that shows up in the spring with storms.
What surprised me was seeing lighting bugs out so early in the year. There were not very many, but they were out and flying.
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