An extension agronomist is concerned conditions in northern Iowa are favorable for seedling diseases.
Angie Rieck-Hinz with Iowa State University says April was wet and May has started cool.
“I would be looking for seedling diseases in both corn and soybeans. So if something comes up and doesn’t look healthy or is delayed, maybe dig that plant up. Look to see what that root structure looks like and if something’s going on to prevent that plant from doing what (it’s supposed to do).”
She tells Brownfield growers should be scouting for early season disease pressure.
“Can we do anything about it right now? No, but we could re-evaluate our seed treatments for next year. Or maybe even use a seed treatment if we chose not to do that this year.”
The USDA’s latest weekly crop update for Iowa shows corn planting at 88 percent complete, compared to the five-year average of 82 percent. Emergence is at 46 percent, compared to 43 percent normally.
Soybeans are 80 percent planted, well ahead of the average of 68 percent. Beans are 28 percent emerged, which is slightly faster than normal.
