Agronomy Zone 13

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• Louis Sutton (12)

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The 2010 growing season has been extreme in many areas. In my area of Southern Illinois and Eastern Missouri, we have corn starting to dent and some replanted corn 2 feet tall right next door. We have a large number of corn acres being treated with fungicide. We are starting to see Gray Leaf Spot and Common Rust in the corn. Overall we have had adequate to too much rain, but believe it or not there are some areas needing some rain. The soybeans are looking good in most of the well-drained fields.

Herbicide application has been a struggle in some areas due to excessive rain. The wheat harvest went quickly with yields suppressed due to the excessive moisture. The crops are maturing at a normal pace with more heat units compared to this time last year. The crops look good on well drained soils, and if drainage is a problem, the crop definitely shows it.

In southern Illinois and east central Missouri corn planting has progressed at a record pace. I would estimate that 70 percent of the corn planted, and approximately 5 percent of the soybeans are planted. The corn that is emerged looks excellent. We have experienced very few problems so far, except for waiting for Anhydrous Ammonia for a couple weeks. There have been a few wireworm situations pop up but, compared to the past two springs, things are looking very good.

Harvest is well underway in southwest Illinois. With an estimated 50 percent of corn and 30 to 40 percent of soybean crops harvested, farmers are pleased with near record yields. Reports indicate corn is yielding about 200 bu/acre and soybeans are yielding around 50 to 75 bu/acre. Planting was delayed in eastern Illinois due to wet weather in April and May so farmers in that area are just getting into the fields. Early reports show corn is yielding about 180 bu/acre and soybeans are yielding about 50 bu/acre.

Some farmers are experiencing a 50 percent dock on corn quality because of minimal diplodia. Many fields contained abnormally large amounts of ear worms which attracted birds that ripped opened corn husks allowing excess moisture to seep into the ear. Soybean quality is very good; white mold has not been reported, and damages caused by sudden death syndrome and phytophthora are not significant enough to impact grain prices.

Harvested crops are revealing high moisture contents. Illinois has seen five inches of rain in the past ten days and an early frost so field drying is almost finished. While grain drying will increase production costs, most farmers can expect above-average profits this fall.

Cercospora Leaf Blight is a soilborne fungus that survives on surface residues.  It can also be seedborne.  It is favored by humid or wet conditions.  Soybean varieties can vary in their susceptibility.

During seed set, infected plants exhibit upper leaves that become dark red or orange and leathery in appearance.  Premature leaf defoliation and senescence may be mistaken for natural plant maturity.  Additionally, purple blotches on the seed may range from tiny marks to covering most of the seed.  Seed infection may also cause prior seed vigor and reduced germination.

Healthy, green plant material is necessary for photosynthesis and converting sugars for pod fill; therefore, it is important to protect leaf tissue.  Cercospora leaf blight is a labeled target on various commercial fungicides, including Headline fungicide.  Deciding whether to spray should be based on disease severity and timing.

Fungicide applications for late-season diseases are generally made between R3 and R5 (pod development stages). Spraying fungicides after plants reach full maturity, R6 is generally no longer necessary or recommended.  Management for next season includes tillage, crop rotation, and seed selection.