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AdvertisementCorn disease updateBy D. Bruce Bosley CSU Extension agent/cropping systems I wanted to provide an update on corn ear molds this week. Tamla Blunt, Colorado State University clinic diagnostician is getting corn ear samples having surface molds showing between the kernels. Blunt reports that these are mostly non-pathogenic. However, a few ears have had Fusarium ear rot. Blunt says that whether or not any of the molds will lead to mycotoxins is debatable. The information we are gathering says it depends on the moisture content of the corn going into storage. Amy Ziems, diagnostician from the University of Nebraska, says: "In Nebraska we are experiencing a tremendous amount of grain mold. Currently the harvest is approximately three weeks behind, due to September and October's wet weather we have been experiencing. The majority of the corn in the field is testing between 18 to 40 percent moisture. In the (Nebraska) lab we have been seeing a few of the common ear molds such as Diplodia and Fusarium ear rots, however we are seeing a lot of corn with green/black sporulation on the ears and cobs. The green/black sporulation is a combination of several different saprophytic fungi including Alternaria, Pithyomces and Ulocladium." The current recommendation from both Colorado and Nebraska is to dry the corn below 15 percent within 24 hours after harvest prior to storage. The plant pathologists believe that these fungi have the potential to cause some major damage during storage if the corn moisture levels remain high in storage. Colorado State University's Plant Diagnostic lab is getting a lot of questions regarding Fusarium and the potential for mycotoxins. Blunt has a list of companies that do mycotoxin testing. If you are interested in having your corn tested, please feel free to contact Blunt at CSU's diagnostic clinic. Tamla Blunt is available at 970-491-6590 or tamla.blunt@colostate.edu. Blunt can provide the list of testing labs. Additionally, Tamra Jackson, Extension plant pathologist and corn specialist at UNL, has posted a video talking about corn ear molds, as well as a newsletter explaining corn ear molds. The video can be viewed at http://marketjournal.unl.edu/103009, scroll down to corn ear mold/Tamra Jackson to view the specific video. The newsletter can be found at http://cropwatch.unl.edu/web/cropwatch/archive?articleID=1904835. Colorado/Nebraska Limited Irrigation Crop Clinic Farmers facing tighter irrigation water allocations will have an opportunity to learn about limited-irrigation practices for each individual crop, at the Colorado-Nebraska Limited irrigation Crop Clinic Dec. 2 and 3 at Sterling, Colo. The clinic's goals are to provide education for farmers and their advisors about: --understanding crop-growth stages when water stress is and is not acceptable; --optimizing limited irrigation water for crops and crop rotation systems; --recognizing weed, insect and disease pest shifts under crop drought stress; --appreciating the benefits of leaving old crop residues for soil moisture and organic matter retention; --developing a cost-efficient crop and crop system fertilizer plan. Colorado State University and the University of Nebraska-Lincoln jointly host the clinic. I, Bruce Bosley, am the primary contact and take registrations for this program. Advertisement
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