Plant 2023 Observations
Some planting has gone well where the corn has already spiked up out of the ground. In other areas, I’ve seen pivots running just to wet the ground before planting because the ground was too dry and hard.
Early Season Soybean Pests and Diseases
Pests like seed corn maggot, wireworms and white grub as well as diseases like Pythium and Phytophthora can reduce soybean stands early in the season. Cover crops or heavy crop residue keep soils cooler and can delay emergence, which can increase the vulnerability of seeds and seedlings to pests. LumiGEN® seed treatments provide advanced protection against pests, disease and uncertain soil conditions during the critical early growth period.
Purple Corn Syndrome
Purple corn syndrome commonly shows up in corn fields every year, typically following periods of low temperatures.
Seed and Seedling Diseases of Corn
Corn fields can contain numerous pathogens in the soil that are capable of infecting corn seeds and seedlings. Corn planted into a well-prepared seedbed with warm conditions that allow it to emerge quickly, can generally outgrow the effects of pathogen attack. However, corn planted into cold, wet soils that emerges more slowly can be susceptible to injury from soilborne pathogens. Soilborne pathogens may attack seeds and seedlings both before and after plant emergence, as well as the roots and mesocotyl of emerging or established plants.
Strategies for Raising Dryland Sunflowers
There are several strategies that can help you achieve the best yields in dryland commercial farm fields of sunflowers. By implementing these strategies, you can improve the yield potential of sunflowers in dryland commercial farm fields.