News Crop News Tips to battle early season corn diseases Limit the number of bad days after corn planting, by crop scouting and adding a seed treatment to thwart early corn diseases. By Successful Farming Staff Successful Farming Staff The content on Agriculture.com is by created by trained journalists who have become subject-matter experts in their fields. You may see some content using the byline "Successful Farming Staff." The content is primarily from information or a press release provided by other entities – such as the USDA, a university, or agricultural company. The press release has been vetted and reviewed by a staff editor. The content is edited and changed to reflect the voice and style of Successful Farming. Successful Farming's Editorial Guidelines Published on April 30, 2022 Close Photo: Gil Gullickson Getting the corn crop off to a solid start includes managing early corn seedling diseases like Pythium, Rhizoctonia, Fusarium and Penicillium. Justin Schneider, LG Seeds agronomist in Michigan, offers tips for limiting the number of bad days to maximize yield potential. 1: Scout fields early The critical time to scout corn fields for seedling diseases is 10 days to two weeks after planting, says Schneider, adding, "If you need help with that, contact your local agronomist. We're happy to run out there and do stand counts and identify early disease threats." "If you don't spot a problem until you are side-dressing with nitrogen or spraying a herbicide, you're too late," he says. Pythium thrives in cool, wet soil and can been fueled by reduced or no-till situations and increased use of cover crops. It causes more damage than Fusarium and Rhizoctonia combined. Schneider says in Michigan, poorly drained soil creates an optimal environment for early-seedling diseases like Pythium. Schneider also encounters Rhizoctonia, particularly with warmer soils and in irrigated fields, as well as Fusarium, which can be triggered by stressors like herbicide damage or improper seedbed preparation. Penicillium is more prevalent in areas like southern Illinois or Tennessee where temperatures are warmer in the spring. These diseases hinder root development, which can impact nutrient and water uptake, reduce plant growth and, in severe cases, kill seedlings, says Schneider. 2: Practice patience at planting Farmers have increasingly been "pushing the envelope" when it comes to planting, with Schneider cautioning, "We need to be as close as we can to that 50-degree soil temperature mark at planting, especially if a field has a history of early seedling diseases." He also emphasizes the importance of patience when it comes to seedbed prep and ensuring good seed-to-soil contact. "The longer that seed sits in the ground, the more susceptible it's going to be to a disease threat," Schneider warns. 3: Use a seed treatment A good fungicide seed treatment can provide an added layer of protection. Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! Tell us why! Other Submit