Southern rust has moved as far north as central Iowa.
Iowa State University Extension plant pathologist Daren Mueller says they’ve identified the corn disease in several counties.
“Less than 10 (counties), but I’d say every day now I’m getting one or two emails a day with people finding it. And as of right now it’s at fairly low levels. I think it’s really been the south-central to central part of the state where we’ve been seeing it the most.”
He tells Brownfield the way farmers respond to southern rust will likely be driven by economics.
“My guess right now is that yield responses will probably not match the input they put in if the disease level stays the same. That being said, the next couple weeks (southern rust) could really take off.”
For growers who have already applied a fungicide, Mueller says they should be evaluating results. And for those who haven’t, he says conditions are good for disease development and inoculum is showing up.
