Corn harvest is wide open now that we’re getting some dry weather. A few 300 bushel yields have been reported. Some areas are starting to see diplodia ear rot.
Diplodia-infected corn will result in potentially significant discounts when graded at the first point of sale. The lighter kernels caused by the disease will lower the test weight of a sample. Diplodia is highly dependent on quantity of infected, unburied corn residue. Wet weather in combination with mild temperatures from late whorl through early ear development favor disease development. Crop rotation and tillage will help reduce the chance of disease next year.