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Top Yield-robbing Disease Culprits in Corn

March 18, 2021
This agronomic image shows northern corn leaf blight damage

Northern corn leaf blight

From severe weather events to disease pressure, 2020 proved how planning for the unexpected can pay off in the long run. Take the opportunity now to proactively assess risk for corn diseases so you can prevent yield loss. Plus, use management techniques like applying a fungicide at the right time to grow more corn and ultimately maximize return on investment.

This season, be especially mindful of the following diseases:

Northern corn leaf blight: According to researchers at the University of Kentucky, yield loss can range from 30% to 50% if infection appears 2 weeks before or after tasseling. When scouting for Northern corn leaf blight, look at the lower leaves of the canopy for long tan or gray oval-shaped lesions. Visible signs of infection begin as small, thin oval spots and grow to large cigar-shaped lesions.

Southern rust: Severe cases of Southern rust can result in yield losses of up to 45% and can even negatively impact water-use efficiency, further compromising your crop. Southern rust is often confused with the less damaging common rust. However, you can identify the disease by its orange round spots on the upper leaf surface.

Gray leaf spot: It’s recommended you scout for gray leaf spot every 2 weeks from tasseling to maturity, so look for tan or gray elongated lesions parallel to leaf veins. Also, keep in mind that according to researchers at North Carolina State University, no-till and continuous cornfields are at a higher risk for infection.

To keep these diseases from threatening your bottom line, consider applying Trivapro® fungicide before infection spreads. Providing harder-working, longer-lasting residual control, Trivapro helps prevent diseases from starting and shuts down existing infections for higher potential yield at harvest.

See how many potential bushels Trivapro could help your corn produce compared to competitors and untreated acres by using the Trivapro yield calculator.

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