Late Season Show Plot Ratings Southern Rust

There is no better proof of a man's being truly good than his desiring to be constantly under the observation of good men. -Francois de La Rochefoucauld

After plenty of rain to close the more than several weeks of intensely hot temperatures and no rain this plot has come back from being close to death. The now heightened humidities has sparked Southern Rust. The hybrids range from 109 day at ½ milk line to 117 day still being early R5. I did not observe any black layer yet. After a cool couple weeks with rain the weather has returned to sunny and very warm. Temps running in the low 90s today. However, it is interesting to note that with ample soil moisture it is noticeably cooler inside the field than out.

Below is my Southern Rust ratings (1 is near spotless, 5 is OSU colored leaves)

6049V2P 2

6112V2P 3.5

6274V2P 3

6282AM 1.5

6374V2P 2

6414V2P 2.5

6589V2P 2.5

6557V2P 2

6774V2P 2.5

6743AML 1.5

Also, added some pics to show the ear sizes in some of the new products that are show cased.

Southern Rust in Corn Diagnosis & Impacts

"Plant Diseases are Shifty Enemies." -E. C. Stakman

And nothing is so shifty as Southern Rust. It's impact can be double digit losses in corn and rapidly overtake a field. For 2020, be on the look out for it, especially if we start getting early season tropical storms funneling rain and humidity into our area. I am quoting Beck's Hybrids agronomist Scott Dickey in an email he sent out. I thought he put it together very concisely.

• Scott: Southern rust is usually one of the bigger issues (other than heavy rain) that tropical systems deliver to our part of the world.  The earlier this issue arrives, the bigger its impact can be.  Southern rust has been found to our south in Louisiana and Texas.  This means that the inoculum is ready to be picked up by the storm and delivered to our geography.  Does that mean we will automatically see Southern Rust early and at high levels in our area?  Not necessarily.  However, the risk is greater when we have an early arriving storm like this one.  Attached is some information on this disease.  Remember that SR is a fast developing disease.  It takes roughly 7 days for it to cycle.  It will take time for it to develop to levels that make it easy to find in fields, but you will definitely want to be on the lookout.  Based on the forecast trajectory of the storm, it looks like central and eastern MO may be at a slightly higher risk than WMO.

Go to article on soybean populations.

Another point to mention this time of year is soybean populations. What amounts to target and when. Read this article: Soybean populations as we plant later in the year

Go to podcast on Southern Rust.

Also, here is a podcast which contains a video by Beck's Hybrids agronomist Steve Gauck on helping identify Southern Rust vs Common Rust. It is called: What is the difference between Southern Rust & Common Rust? Episode 9

Also, listen at Podbean or Apple Podcast

Go to article on applying nitrogen in corn.

We also mentioned applying nitrogen to corn in season in the podcast, you can read this article: Preparing for post plant Nitrogen app in Corn

A special thanks to those contributing to this article:

• Scott Dickey, Beck's Hybrids agronomist for western Missouri

• Steve Gauck, Beck's Hybrids agronomist for Indiana

• Beck's Superior Hybrids and all their people who work tirelessly behind the scenes to make knowledge and data reality!