Area farmers brace for lackluster year

Crop diseases another problem beyond wet weather

By SCOTT NILES Courier staff writer

OTTUMWA — Farmers are facing more concerns than just wet weather.

Iowa State University Extension Southeast Iowa Field Specialist Mark Carlton said two crop diseases have been discovered in some area fields — anthracnose and Holcus Spot.

“These are mainly ... on corn crops,” he said.

Anthracnose is a fungus that survives on crop residue. Add in high humidity levels and rainfall, the fungus will spread, eventually knocking the lower three or four leaves off the corn plants.

“It could lead to stock rot later on in the summer or fall ... it can be a serious problem,” Carlton said. “We would have a small to moderate yield loss if severe.”

The other disease — Holcus Spot — is caused by a bacteria that also thrives in corn residue and splashes up on the leaves.

And there’s also worry about pests.

“We have had a couple reports of European Corn Borer, an insect that eats away at the plants. But, most farmers plant hybrids that are resistant to it,” Carlton said.

Wapello County farmer Harold Moses said it’s too early to tell if his crops will be impacted by pests or diseases, although he concedes pythium soybean disease may be found on some bean plants. He said the disease has eaten away at some of the seedlings and may be scattered throughout the field, meaning an uneven harvest.

“Some diseases and pests are already prevalent because of the moisture in the ground,” he said. “I haven’t been out in my fields yet to check them. I have just finished planting my beans a week ago.

“We still have a ways to go with the season, things could change, but I’m hoping that we don’t get diseases and pests ...”

And while Moses has been able to examine his soybeans, he’s had little time to look at his corn crop.

“I think we’ll be OK ... I hope to get out there soon and take a look,” he said. “A lot of [the corn] is still yellow and it should be dark green by now. We are a little behind this year. But at least it is finally starting to grow. We just need another dry week and then maybe some light rains.

Moses said it’s going to be a late harvest because of the spring and summer rainfall thus far. That fact prompts another concern.

“I’m just hoping we don’t get an early frost ... I hope we have a late fall,” he said.

Fellow Wapello County farmer Doug Black said he’s been too busy to check on his crops.

“I haven’t really had the time yet,” he said. “Farmers around here are busy playing catch up and getting other things done, we really haven’t had time to go out and check on the crops yet.

“But I have been busy moving hay ... the gnats have been bad, but I haven’t had many other problems with pests so far.”

The weather, however, continues to be the big issue for Black and many ag producers.

“With the weather we have been having, farmers will probably see a 20-25 percent yield loss this year,” he said Wednesday. “We need some light rains and warm weather ... it needs to stay dry just for a couple more days to get things done, then we need some rain.

“If you look over there you can see how parts of the field is yellow and parts of it is green, all of it should be like those green areas,” Black said, pointing at the field across from his barn.