Thursday September 23 Ag News

 LENRD Board Meeting postponed

Due to unforeseen circumstances, the Lower Elkhorn Natural Resources District will NOT hold their monthly board meeting tonight in Norfolk. It has been moved to Wednesday, September 29th at 7:30 p.m. The Public Meeting Notice was not published, therefore, the Board of Directors cannot meet tonight. We're sorry for any inconvenience this has caused.



Another Successful Husker Harvest Days is in the Books

Husker Harvest Days 2021 may have wrapped up last week, but for farmers and ranchers in attendance, the new ideas and technologies at the show can keep their wheels turning well beyond harvest season.

“As always, Husker Harvest Days lived up to its legacy of being a premier farm show for operators across the Midwest,” said Don Tourte, Senior Vice President of Sales and Events with Farm Progress. “This event connects farmers and ranchers with other industry professionals from across the country and has become an important annual milestone for many farm families.”

Attendees laid eyes on some of the newest innovations in on-farm technology, from tractors, harvesters and other implements to seed and crop protection essentials. Field demonstrations of these products covered combining, tillage, haying, precision farming, UAVs and self-propelled spraying and mowing. The show saw plenty of FFA groups in attendance, and there was even an appearance by Nebraska Governor Pete Ricketts.

On-site seminars were held to introduce farmers to new and innovative ways to improve their overall profitability and productivity. Autonomous equipment also had its time to shine, with autonomous machines on display and in operation each day of the event.

Irrigation always plays a key role at Husker Harvest Days, as the leading irrigation and irrigation accessories companies put their latest and greatest products in the forefront. And for ranchers, cattle handling demos and programming let farmers make equipment comparisons and learn some new practices and ideas to keep their business booming. SAV America, the $1.51 million world-record Angus bull owned by Herbster Angus Farms of Falls City, Neb., also was on site to show off during the event.

“There was something for everyone at this year’s show,” said Tourte. “There’s not much that can beat the environment of an in-person farm show, and this year’s Husker Harvest Days was no exception. We can’t wait to continue the legacy in 2022.”



Jim Pillen Tops Husker Harvest Days Gubernatorial Straw Poll, Farm Bureau Encourages Nebraskans to Get to Know the Candidates

Gubernatorial candidate Jim Pillen was the top vote getter in Nebraska Farm Bureau’s unscientific straw poll taken at Husker Harvest Days, Sept. 14-16. Pillen, who received 54 percent of the vote, was followed by Charles W. Herbster who received 31 percent of the votes cast. The remaining votes were split among announced gubernatorial candidates Brett Lindstrom, Carol Blood, and Michael Connely, and a pair of potential gubernatorial candidates, including former Governor Dave Heineman and Nebraska State Senator Steve Lathrop. According to Nebraska Farm Bureau President Mark McHargue, the organization conducted the poll to get Nebraska farmers and ranchers thinking about the 2022 election cycle.

“Agriculture is the largest driver of our state’s economy, generating one out of every four Nebraska jobs. It’s imperative the person who holds that seat understands and appreciates the importance of agriculture to both rural and urban Nebraska,” said McHargue. “Even though the May primary election may seem like a long way off, Nebraskans will have an important decision to make in selecting our next governor. It’s never too early for Nebraskans to start thinking about what they want in the next leader of our state and to learn more and engage with those who’ll be seeking their vote.”



Research looks to control nitrate leaching, protect Nebraska groundwater
Jesse Starita | Nebraska Water Center

Around the world and across Nebraska, nitrogen fertilizer is regularly used to grow crops.

Some of this nitrogen is converted to nitrate that can be easily lost from the root zone, eventually contaminating ground and surface water. In addition to being harmful to human health, excess nitrate in drinking water is costly for small communities to treat. Sandy, irrigated soils in Nebraska are highly vulnerable to nitrate leaching, and few options exist for controlling nitrogen losses from these fields.

These concerns motivated Nebraska researchers to try something new on this old problem.

In 2018, the Nebraska Water Center received a grant from the Nebraska Environmental Trust to research how injecting carbon into the subsoil — by way of mulch and sawdust — could absorb and remove extra nitrate from the soil. The project is led by Dan Snow, research professor and director of the University of Nebraska’s Water Sciences Laboratory.

“This project is innovative because it provides a new, economical approach for improving groundwater quality,” Snow said.

The project’s goal is to offer a cost-effective method for producers and Nebraska’s Natural Resources Districts to reduce nitrate leaching beneath cropland in areas that are most vulnerable to groundwater contamination. This spring, Snow and collaborators injected fine-ground wood mulch below the root zone using a modified subsoil plow on two demonstration sites in northeast Nebraska’s Bazile Groundwater Management Area. They will monitor differences in nitrate leaching between treated and untreated fields for several growing seasons to measure the method’s effectiveness. The team will return this fall to collect water, soil and plant biomass samples for analysis.

Ultimately, the project seeks to demonstrate the efficacy and cost effectiveness of using an abundant carbon source to intercept and remove dissolved nitrate after it has left the root zone.

In addition to Snow, the team includes Arindam Malakar, research assistant professor, Nebraska Water Center; Amy Schmidt, assistant professor, Department of Biological Systems Engineering, University of Nebraska–Lincoln; Daniel Miller, research microbiologist, USDA Agricultural Research Service; and Xiaochen Dong, graduate student, School of Natural Resources, Nebraska.

Additional project support is provided by the Daugherty Water for Food Global Institute and Bazile Groundwater Management Area.



After more than a decade of leadership, Van Tassell to step down as agricultural economics department head

Larry Van Tassell, who has led the agricultural economics department at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln through a decade of growth and innovation, has announced he will step down from the department head position next June.

When Van Tassell joined the department as head in 2010, the department had 19 faculty members. Over the next few years, as several faculty members retired, the count dipped to 16. Van Tassell worked to attract talented new faculty members to the department, eventually bringing to total number of faculty to 25. At the same time, he led the department through the launch of several new programs designed to better serve both students and Nebraska’s agricultural producers.  

“Dr. Van Tassell’s steady, insightful and empathetic leadership has transformed the department over the past decade,” said Mike Boehm, NU Vice President and Harlan Vice Chancellor for the Institute of Agriculture and Natural Resources. “He is a commensurate team player whose contributions to collaborations always elevated the whole, and I’ve appreciated his well-reasoned perspective and sage advice on matters of importance to the Institute and the department.”

In 2016, the department established the Commodity Trading Room, which was designed to provide students real-time access to commodity markets and advanced training in market, marketing, merchandising, and futures and options markets. Combined with classroom courses, the trading room experience helps students to be more successful as they enter the competitive job market. The Commodity Trading Room also provides a vehicle for both students and faculty to conduct research in these areas.

In early 2021, the department launched the Center for Agricultural Profitability, which works to improve the economic viability of the agricultural sector in Nebraska and beyond. The center focuses on research, extension outreach and education related to profitability and supporting informed decision-making and management choices to keep farmers and ranchers financially healthy. It also offers educational opportunities for undergraduate and graduate students while facilitating collaboration with other units in IANR and across the University of Nebraska system. Van Tassell currently serves as the center’s director.

Van Tassell is proud of these tools, as well as of practical successes such as renovating all of the department’s facilities and classrooms. But his favorite part about leading the department was cheering on its people.

“My greatest joy was to see the number of faculty and staff recognized with internal and national awards for their efforts and successes,” he said.

After he steps down as department head in June, Van Tassell will remain on faculty as a professor of agricultural economics. A national search for his successor as department head will launch later this year.



Leadership Succession at CLAAS in the Americas

CLAAS is pleased to announce that Eric Raby will succeed Leif Magnusson as Senior Vice President of the Americas Region effective October 1, 2021. Magnusson joined CLAAS in 2008 and has led the Americas Region during a time of significant growth and development. He will continue with the CLAAS Group in an advisory capacity.

“We would like to thank Leif for his many years of dedication, positive business results and personal commitment. The Americas Region has definitely contributed to the growth of CLAAS,” said Christian Radons, member of the Group Executive Board for CLAAS KgaA.

“Succession planning has been a priority of mine for quite some time. We have made significant progress in people and structure at our operations in the Americas. I think we have come up with a winning combination of talent to continue the growth for CLAAS in the region. This is the right time to pass on the leadership to Eric Raby,” explained Leif Magnusson.

Raby joined CLAAS of America in 2015 and has been the President and GM – Sales for CLAAS of America during that time. In addition to his responsibilities at CLAAS of America, Eric will assume leadership of CLAAS sales companies in Brazil and Argentina as well as importer markets throughout Latin America.

“There are certainly big shoes to fill in this new role, but Leif has equipped me and the entire team with the confidence and drive to continue the positive trajectory that has been established for CLAAS in North and South America under his watch,” said Eric Raby.



USDA Livestock Slaughter - Record Low Veal and Lamb and Mutton Production in August

Commercial red meat production for the United States totaled 4.59 billion pounds in August, down 2 percent from the 4.69 billion pounds produced in August 2020.

Beef production, at 2.36 billion pounds, was 1 percent above the previous year. Cattle slaughter totaled 2.89 million head, up 3 percent from August 2020. The average live weight was down 11 pounds from the previous year, at 1,354 pounds.

Veal production totaled 4.3 million pounds, 14 percent below August a year ago. Calf slaughter totaled 34,800 head, up 2 percent from August 2020. The average live weight was down 38 pounds from last year, at 214 pounds.

Pork production totaled 2.21 billion pounds, down 5 percent from the previous year. Hog slaughter totaled 10.6 million head, down 5 percent from August 2020. The average live weight was down 2 pounds from the previous year, at 280 pounds.

Lamb and mutton production, at 10.3 million pounds, was down 6 percent from August 2020. Sheep slaughter totaled 176,400 head, 1 percent below last year. The average live weight was 116 pounds, down 7 pounds from August a year ago.

By State                      (million lbs - % Aug '20)
Nebraska ..........:           664.2             97       
Iowa .................:           715.2             93       
Kansas ..............:           529.7            100       

January to August 2021 commercial red meat production was 36.9 billion pounds, up 1 percent from 2020. Accumulated beef production was up 4 percent from last year, veal was down 21 percent, pork was down 1 percent from last year, and lamb and mutton production was down 3 percent.



Kansas State University, Elanco Animal Health Incorporated sign strategic alliance to improve animal health

Kansas State University and Elanco Animal Health Incorporated are combining efforts to tackle innovation for companion animal and livestock health.

A five-year strategic alliance agreement between the university and Elanco will allow for collaborative research and intellectual property licensing for commercialization activities. Researchers will focus on activities supporting sustainable practices in livestock production and pet health; vector-borne and emerging disease prevention and treatment; and advanced understanding of the microbiome in animals. Elanco's research and development model includes attracting leading innovators as a partner of choice. They have chosen K-State as a primary key veterinary partner.

"K-State and Elanco have many areas of shared strengths and goals. The alignment is a natural fit," said Bonnie Rush, dean of the K-State College of Veterinary Medicine. "The exchange of scientific expertise between talented scientists from both entities will create a special environment for rapid advancements. The cumulative experience and balance of science and commercialization ensure technologic advancements will achieve practical application."

One of the key objectives of the partnership is to establish novel approaches to increase sustainable practices, reducing the carbon footprint of livestock production, with the ultimate goal of providing innovative solutions to veterinarians and producers to maintain healthy animals using safe and efficient solutions.

Elanco will collaborate with K-State faculty, embed scientists in K-State laboratories and utilize specialized research resources to engage in fundamental and applied collaborative research. Through the partnership, Elanco will support K-State graduate students, fellows and faculty and facilitate an exchange of expertise through researcher exchange programs.

"An alliance with Kansas State University is truly a win-win for both organizations," said Jose Simas, executive vice president of the U.S. Farm Animal business for Elanco. "It provides Elanco with an opportunity to engage with experts beyond our own walls, focusing on timely innovation and practical solutions. Meanwhile, K- State has the opportunity to utilize the commercial expertise of a leading animal health organization with nearly 70 years of industry experience."

The collaboration allows research that is at the forefront of innovation for the monitoring of new diseases to tailor research programs and provide product solutions, as well as development of innovative approaches to existing vector-borne diseases by leveraging common strengths.

"Forming this strategic alliance with Elanco enhances our ability to receive critical industry feedback earlier in the process on discoveries consistent with their external innovation targets," said Bret Ford, director of business development and licensing, animal health at K-State Innovation Partners. "In addition, the interaction will shine a spotlight on the talent and expertise of our faculty and will demonstrate how their applied research can tackle some of the biggest problems affecting the health and well-being of animals."

Elanco Animal Health Incorporated is a global leader in animal health dedicated to innovating and delivering products and services to prevent and treat disease in farm animals and pets, creating value for farmers, pet owners, veterinarians, stakeholders, and society as a whole. With nearly 70 years of animal health heritage, Elanco is committed to helping customers improve the health of animals in their care while also making a meaningful impact on local and global communities. At Elanco, the vision of Food and Companionship Enriching Life and the Elanco Healthy Purpose™ Sustainability/ESG Pledges work to advance the health of animals, people and the planet.

"As the state's land-grant university, K-State has a long history of commitment to innovations in animal health and agricultural sustainability research," said Beth Montelone, senior associate vice president for research. "This alliance with Elanco will enable K-State to continue this work and contribute important advancements to the industry."



First-Ever Container Shipment Of DDGS Arrives In Tunisia

Reece Cannady, U.S. Grains Council (USGC) manager of global trade, Mohamed Salah Bouthour, USGC marketing specialist for the Middle East and North Africa region, and the managing director at Medigrain, Ben Kahla, were on site to witness the first distiller's dried grains with solubles (DDGS) container shipment to arrive in Tunisia. The shipment marks an important milestone, as new logistic opportunities arise in the Mediterranean region.

A combination of competitive freight prices and market-specific educational efforts from the U.S. Grains Council’s (USGC’s) Middle East and Africa (MEA) Office has driven the first distiller’s dried grains with solubles (DDGS) container shipment ever received by Tunisia. The shipment, delivered earlier this month, marks the opening of new logistic opportunities in the Mediterranean region.

“The Council’s strategy is focusing on marketing the U.S. advantage in Tunisia for corn and corn co-products imports,” said Ramy Taieb, USGC regional director for the Middle East and Africa. “The feed industry in Tunisia is a mature market compared to other neighboring countries and the Council’s efforts have focused on trade servicing and promoting these products.”

With bulk carrier rates on several key routes currently higher than previous record levels, some cargo importers are seeking alternatives. This has boosted container rates in the United States, with feed grains importers near the Mediterranean Sea and Arab Gulf opting to use containers rather than bulk shipments to reduce feed costs.

Like other countries in the region, Tunisia’s livestock industry relies heavily on feed grain imports. The Council’s regional office in Tunis has actively supported the country’s protein demand growth for many years through promoting U.S. corn and its co-products, organizing events and hosting industry stakeholders in the states.

“Our goal has been to ensure both DDGS and corn gluten meal (CGM) are being appropriately incorporated into the feed ratio in the region,” said Taieb.

CGM has regularly been shipped in containers since 2019, with around 1,000 metric tons (MT) shipped per year – often to support aquaculture sector development. With funds from the U.S. State Department, the Council’s MEA office established a feed training center in Tunisia to educate participants on commercial feed and manufacturing practices that will modernize the feed and livestock industries in the region. The container shipment of DDGS, however, marks the continued growth of co-products to the area by different shipping methods.

“Our work to promote DDGS – in whatever form they may come – continues,” Taieb said. “We are amplifying the message that corn co-products can provide feed millers and end-users the improved performance in livestock they are looking for while reducing production costs. Getting them by container when prices are advantageous is yet another avenue we can use to increase our promotion efforts while answering the call from customers.”



Crystal Valley Co-op is Latest to be Hit with Ransomware

Minnesota-based farm supply and grain marketing cooperative Crystal Valley has become the latest agriculture business hit with a ransomware attack. The company released a statement on its website Tuesday afternoon, but the website is currently down as of Wednesday.

On Facebook, Crystal Valley Cooperative confirmed that it had been hit with a ransomware attack on Sunday, September 19.

"The attack has infected our computer systems and interrupted the daily operations of our company. Due to this computer breach, all systems of the Mankato-based cooperative have been shut down until they can be restored safely and securely," the company said.

"Due to this, we are unable to accept Visa, Mastercard, and Discover cards at our cardtrols until further notice. Local cards do work. As we continue to navigate through this with the help of experts, we appreciate your patience and understanding. We will continue to update with information as it becomes available."

In messages to ZDNet, a spokesperson for the company confirmed that their phone system is also down.

Based in Mankato, Minnesota, Crystal Valley Cooperative is a local full-service agricultural cooperative focused on helping crop farmers and livestock producers in southern Minnesota and northern Iowa.



NAWG Testifies on Carbon Markets before the House Agriculture Committee

National Association of Wheat Growers President and Cass City, MI wheat farmer, Dave Milligan, testified in front of the House of Agriculture Committee. This morning, the full committee held a hearing on Voluntary Carbon Markets in Agriculture and Forestry.

Dave Milligan highlighted several benefits growing wheat has on the environment, such as improving soil quality, protecting the soil from erosion, and reducing weed pressure when added to a crop rotation. Milligan discussed the unique characteristics of wheat production and potential participation in voluntary carbon markets. Wheat production includes diverse rotations and existing conservation and crop management systems that are specific to the climate, soil, and markets. Milligan also stressed that as carbon markets are explored, growers will need technical assistance to understand both the agronomic and environmental impact of additional climate-smart practices.

Milligan highlighted NAWG’s interest in voluntary carbon market opportunities that work for diverse wheat production systems across the country, but those growers still have many questions.

“The carbon credit will be generated on the farm. The farmer needs to have an equitable return as the carbon credit increases in value,” Milligan said. “NAWG is cautiously optimistic about voluntary carbon efforts and while we see the potential to have both an increasingly positive environmental impact and additional revenue stream for those ecosystem services, there is still a lack of transparency in program details and growers have questions about the voluntary carbon markets.”

NAWG will continue to advocate for wheat growers to reflect their needs in voluntary carbon markets and voice their concerns and questions about requirements, costs, measurement, and carbon pricing of the numerous carbon efforts before growers today.  



Joint NMPF and USDEC Statement on UN Food Systems Summit
From NMPF President and CEO Jim Mulhern:

“The National Milk Producers Federation commends U.S. officials for their leadership throughout the UN Food Systems Summit process, including the pre-summit ministerial meeting in Rome and today’s important UN discussions. We especially thank U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack and USAID Administrator Samantha Power for clearly laying out key commitments of the United States in the journey to enhanced food systems. Global progress requires global engagement, and as the world’s leading producer and exporter of food, U.S. leadership is crucial to furthering sustainable approaches that enhance food and nutrition security for all.

“U.S. dairy farmers are proud of our industry’s critical support of food and nutrition security and sustainability through world-leading farming practices that create high-quality milk and dairy products. Animal agriculture plays an important role in providing a sustainable source of nutrition that’s critical for healthy diets and communities as well as a healthy planet, and we are encouraged by the many statements by world leaders today recognizing this important fact.

“U.S. dairy is proud to be part of the new Coalition of Action for Sustainable Productivity Growth for Food Security and Resource Conservation led by the U.S. government. We’re ready to do the work needed to advance the pragmatic, forward-looking approach the U.S. has charted throughout the summit’s process, in collaboration with other key players worldwide. This wide-ranging effort includes encouraging innovation through initiatives such as U.S. dairy’s Net Zero Initiative. It means applying the best science learned and adapted through our internationally recognized FARM Program. And it also means through working to mitigate food and nutrition insecurity by advocating for school milk programs worldwide, along with other important priorities.

“Some have viewed the summit as an opportunity to issue lengthy lists of do’s and don’ts to the farmers worldwide who work hard every day to feed us all. We’re proud to promote an approach that recognizes that farmers everywhere advance sustainability in many ways – with America’s dairy farmers at the forefront. Rather than trying to impose a uniform, misguided ideology on how the world eats, farms and produces food, we all need to do our part to use limited resources wisely and efficiently to feed a growing world population in environmentally sounds ways.

“NMPF looks forward to future events, such as the UN’s Climate Change Conference in November, as benchmarks to highlight and encourage further progress toward more innovative and efficient production practices. More than that, we look forward to productive, collaborative efforts that advance these goals.”

From USDEC President and CEO Krysta Harden:
“The U.S. Dairy Export Council deeply appreciates the extensive, high-quality work and crucial leadership the U.S. government has shown during the UN Food Systems Summit in fostering positive discussion on how the global food system can work for everyone. At a time when food and nutrition insecurity is tragically increasing in many parts of the world, the U.S. dairy industry is proud to be part of global solutions for feeding more people, more nutritiously and more sustainably than ever before. We applaud U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack and USAID Administrator Samantha Power for their important remarks today highlighting the U.S. government commitments to improve global food security and invest in climate smart agricultural practices. And we look forward to working in the months ahead, both with the U.S. government through its Coalition of Action for Sustainable Productivity Growth for Food Security and Resource Conservation and with other crucial players, to build on the ambition and momentum the summit has generated to deliver a more sustainable global food system that works for all.  

“Throughout these food-systems discussions, a few key principles are clear. Rules-based international trade matters. Science-based, practical policies matter. Access to affordable, nutritious foods matter. Without these key principles, conflict arises, ideology triumphs over principle, and human health suffers. To support these principles, we reaffirm our commitment to advancing science and evidence-based policy making, promoting rules-based international trade, minimizing environmental impacts without sacrificing overall diet quality and diversity, and avoiding food-systems approaches that lack the flexibility necessary to address diverse national, cultural, and personal circumstances. Instead of advancing flawed ideology, we will work with coalitions of like-minded countries and stakeholders around priority issues that encourage real progress towards more sustainable food systems and support U.S. dairy producers and exporters.

“The U.S. dairy sector excels at providing the world’s most sustainable milk at the highest level of quality, of which the world will only need more as population grows and nutrition demands increase. As an industry, U.S. dairy’s commitment to sustainability, productivity and nutrition security makes it a case study -- not just in the livestock sector, but in all of global agriculture -- of continuous improvement for the world’s benefit.

“We offer our continued support for the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals, for greater food and nutrition security, and all aspects of sustainability in the United States and worldwide. This dialogue will continue, and we are excited to contribute to it alongside robust U.S. leadership.”



Meat Institute joins U.S.-led sustainable productivity growth coalition, submits Protein PACT to Food Systems Summit

The North American Meat Institute today (Thursday) announced that it will join the U.S. government-led multistakeholder Coalition of Action on Sustainable Productivity Growth for Food Security and Resource Conservation to be launched by the Biden administration at the UN Food Systems Summit.

The Meat Institute also announced that more than 96 percent of comments received during a public consultation launched in July supported its draft sustainability framework and the Protein PACT for the People, Animals, and Climate of Tomorrow, which the Meat Institute has submitted to the United Nations Food Systems Summit (FSS) commitment hub.

The Meat Institute expects to announce in November ambitious, data-driven targets to publicly verify progress on the 100 metrics in its sustainability framework, which aims to:
    Optimize contributions to healthy land, air, and water
    Be the leading source of high-quality protein in balanced diets
    Provide the most humane care and raise healthy animals
    Produce safe products without exception
    Support a diverse workforce and ensure safe workplaces

North American Meat Institute President and CEO Julie Anna Potts commented:          
"High-quality animal protein is at the center of healthy diets, and our commitments to economic, social, and environmental sustainability also place us at the center of solutions for a healthy future.

We are proud to join the U.S.-led coalition on sustainable agricultural productivity and to feature the Protein PACT in UN Food Systems Summit outcomes as the first initiative of its kind to unite farmers and processors in a common vision for transparent communication, continuous improvement, and ambitious commitments to ensure the sustainability of the beef, pork, poultry, and dairy people around the world rely on every day."

The North American Meat Institute is the leading voice for the meat and poultry industry.  The Meat Institute's members process the vast majority of U.S. beef, pork, lamb, and poultry, as well as manufacture the equipment and ingredients needed to produce the safest and highest quality meat and poultry products. To learn more, visit www.MeatInstitute.org.

The Protein PACT unites partners across animal protein in the first-ever joint effort to accelerate the entire animal protein sector's progress toward global sustainable development goals for healthy people, healthy animals, healthy communities, and a healthy environment. Protein PACT partners are establishing transparent baselines and benchmarks for our efforts, setting ambitious targets for continuous improvement, collecting data to verify and transparently report on progress, and launching comprehensive communications about animal protein's unique place in sustainable, healthy diets. To learn more, visit www.TheProteinPACT.org.



Mitigate this season’s most challenging corn and soybean diseases, including tar spot, with tips from agronomists

Late-season disease management is crucial to protecting corn and soybean yield potential come harvest. Although Corn Belt farmers already facing top 2021 yield robbers are past the prevention stage, the Golden Harvest agronomy team reminds them that it’s not too late to mitigate the diseases’ impact – not only for this season, but for the next as well.

Three of this season’s biggest challenges have been tar spot and Southern rust in corn, and Sudden Death Syndrome (SDS) in soybeans. Here are recommendations from Golden Harvest agronomists to manage them through the remainder of the season:

Respond to tar spot in corn
Although tar spot is relatively new to Midwestern corn fields, it has quickly become a prevalent and problematic disease.

Caused by the pathogen Phyllachora maydis, tar spot weakens a corn plant’s immune system, leaving it susceptible to more infection from other diseases.

“Most of the time, tar spot is not the only disease a corn plant is fighting off,” said Adam Mayer, Golden Harvest agronomist for southeast Minnesota and northeast Iowa. “The addition of tar spot to other common diseases in this area – such as Northern corn leaf blight, gray leaf spot or eyespot can quickly and easily downgrade crop quality.”

Tar spot presents itself as raised, black bumps on the epidermis of corn plant leaves. Once those spots are visible, Mayer cautions that this means the infection is already well on its way.

“The best control measure for tar spot is going to be prevention,” Mayer said.

As such, residue management in the off-season, crop rotation, limiting the number of corn-on-corn fields and careful hybrid selection should be top priorities for farmers in high pressure areas when planning for next season. Applying Miravis® Neo fungicide is also a good option for preventive control of tar spot.

“The genetic diversity that the Golden Harvest corn portfolio brings to the table really helps us be a leader in tar spot tolerance,” Mayer said. “We’re doing some really good things with Golden Harvest corn genetics to ensure that tar spot doesn’t become a larger epidemic-type issue moving forward.”

Manage Southern rust in corn
Southern rust pressure has been above average across Midwest corn fields during the 2021 growing season, including in the southwest Illinois region supported by Golden Harvest agronomist Nate Prater.

“We usually see Southern rust at a later stage in the season, but this year, it started affecting crops right after pollination,” Prater said. “That means these plants were dealing with the disease during kernel fill, so we’re likely going to see some yield effects.”

Prater described a Southern rust infection for a corn plant as equivalent to trying to run a marathon with your nose pinched shut and your oxygen cut off. Southern rust causes pustules on the top of plant leaves, preventing sunlight from being absorbed and limiting the amount of energy the corn plant can produce. As a result, the plant will rob that energy from other places, whether that be from the stalk, the kernel size or the kernel depth.

To mitigate the effects of a Southern rust infection at this point in the season, Prater recommends considering an earlier harvest date.

“You may have to change your harvest strategy a little bit,” Prater said. “Instead of waiting until the middle to end of October, it may be beneficial to start harvesting earlier in the fields where you’re seeing lodging and late-season standability issues due to Southern rust infection.”

To get ahead of the issue next season, Prater suggests selecting hybrids with strong tolerance to Southern rust, planting early and applying a quality fungicide such as Trivapro® at the R1 stage, shortly after pollination.

Prevent Sudden Death Syndrome in soybeans
SDS is a chief cause for concern for soybean farmers year after year. This yield-limiting disease starts as a root rot early in the year, before eventually leading to premature death of the soybean plant.

“Over the season, the soybean roots will slowly build up toxins from the soilborne pathogen Fusarium virguliforme,” said Ryan Dunsbergen, Golden Harvest agronomist for southeast Iowa and northeast Missouri. “Then in the case of a rain event, moisture comes into the soybean plant and flushes those toxins through the entire plant.”

Although it is too late in the season to control a current SDS infection, Dunsbergen said that it is still important to scout fields now to understand what types of pressure are present.

“Sometimes SDS does not get expressed in soybean leaves, so it’s important to get out and dig roots to understand your current SDS pressure,” he said. “That will help you make the right management decisions for next year.”

When preparing for next season, Dunsbergen recommends choosing varieties with tolerance to SDS, considering a strong seed treatment such as Saltro®, and improving drainage and reducing compaction in fields.