Corn diseases have been the main question this past week. A few weeks ago, splitting open stalks revealed stalk rot setting into nodes while internodes looked healthy. The root crown of plants was also rotted. As I walked fields last week, an increasing number of plants are showing white/pink fungal growth on the outside of nodes and/or plants that are broken/bent a few nodes above the soil line. I believe all of this is mostly due to Fusarium crown rot. The diagnostician at the plant and pest diagnostic lab in Lincoln also felt that was the biggest culprit. It always stinks sharing news like this before harvest, but if you’re seeing plants breaking over in your fields, consider harvesting those fields earlier.

Goss’ wilt continues to be a problem in some corn fields as well. We’ve seen the systemic version since V7 this year, primarily in York, Seward, and Hamilton counties. We’re seeing more of the foliar type now, but if you see whole plants dying, most likely it contains the systemic version of the bacterium too. The way to tell systemic Goss’ wilt is to cut a cross section of the stalk. Orange/brown discoloration of the vascular bundles indicates potential systemic Goss’ wilt.

As southern rust changes spore types from the orange uredineospores to the black teliospores, there’s been numerous questions if they have tar spot. Tar spot will be on both sides of the leaf, raised, and won’t rub off on your fingers or with water. The black teliospores of southern rust tend to be concentrated around the midrib of corn leaves, from what I’m seeing now, and they will only occur on one side of the leaf. A helpful resource with pictures differentiating southern rust, tar spot, and saprophytic diseases can be found here: https://go.unl.edu/46uw.

York County Corn Growers will have a plot tour on Tuesday, September 3^rd from 5:30-7:30 p.m. Doug, Jason, and Karah Perdue hosted the large plot this year and we’re grateful for their efforts! Come hear about the hybrids from the companies represented and enjoy a shrimp boil (shrimp, sausage, corn, and potatoes). Guess the highest yield without going over and win a $50 gas card (must be present to win at the winter corn grower banquet). All are welcome and corn grower members are asked to bring friends. For questions please contact Jason at: 402-366-2821 or Jenny Rees at 402-362-5508.

Soil Health Field Day in conjunction with the Upper Big Blue NRD and The Nature Conservancy will be held at Jordan Uldrich’s farm near Milligan on September 4^th from 2-4 p.m. Gather first at Charlie’s Pub (524 Main St, Milligan) with refreshments and introductions before heading to the field. Jordan will share his experiences with interseeding cover crops into corn fields. It’s also an opportunity to network with producers and share ideas. For questions please contact: Valerie Paul at 402-362-6601 / vpaul@upperbigblue.org or Nicholas Arneson at 402-676-1618/ nicholas.arneson@tnc.org.

Nebraska Sorghum Producers Field Day will also be held on September 4^th beginning at 5 p.m. at the Mike Baker farm near Trenton, NE. From Highway 25 north of Trenton go to County Rd 717, then west 4.5 miles.

Husker Harvest Days near Grand Island are September 10-12 this year. New this year is free admission if you register online ahead of time at: https://huskerharvestdays.com. Otherwise they are $25 at the gate for adults, $10 for youth ages 13-17, and free for youth 12 and under. The show hours have also been adjusted this year to 9 a.m.-4 p.m. all three days.