2019 Corn Fungal Disease Outlook

The Spring of 2019 has been more challenging than most of the current agricultural workforce have ever experienced.  The delays caused by record setting precipitation will continue to have residual impact on the crop through harvest.

One of the most significant challenges for the 2019 corn crop from the delays will be exposure to fungal pathogens earlier in the corn plants life cycle than we normally experience in Central IL.

Recently we have endured a very cool pattern with lows dipping into the mid 50’s at night and multiple days of high 60’s to low 70’s for day time temperatures.  This temperature environment coupled with ample moisture is conducive to perpetuating Northern Corn Leaf Blight.  As we transition to more summerlike conditions it will be critical to be scouting for Gray Leaf Spot (GLS) as well.  As the temperatures rise and humidity increases this environment will be ideal for the development of GLS.  Most of the Central IL region was under siege from GLS in 2018, which unfortunately provided a tremendous inoculum base to drive this pathogen when the disease triangle forms.

Please continue to monitor those first planted fields for disease development and consider the fact that with both pathogens the corn plant has been infected for several days prior to lesion formation.

We have traditionally applied most of our fungicides at R1 in Central IL.  I implore you to consider making the decision to apply fungicides at the onset of the disease in this year versus waiting until the conventional timing to protect the photosynthetic factory.

If you have additional questions please contact your local Syngenta Sales Representative.