Monday August 19th Ag News

Corn Disease Update: Fungicide Expectations for Disease Control
Tamra Jackson-Ziems - Extension Plant Pathologist

Wet weather that persisted during the early 2024 growing season was very favorable for development of some corn diseases in Nebraska. In particular, diseases caused by fungi were favored by repeated rainfall events and high relative humidity, fog, etc. that supported the production of more spores and continuous plant infection. On some susceptible varieties and hybrids, diseases developed early and quickly. In some areas, disease severity is increasing, but in most areas, diseases are still at low severity and not a threat to yield.

Foliar fungicides were applied to some fields to mitigate losses due to disease or in pursuit of plant health benefits. However, low commodity prices and narrow profit margins make foliar fungicide application decisions more difficult as producers weigh the application costs and the uncertainty about what to expect from diseases (and growing conditions) through the remainder of the season.

Summarized below are the most favorable conditions and biological features of southern rust and tar spot.

Southern Rust (Puccinia polysora)
    77–82°F is optimal
    At least six hours of >95% relative humidity
    New pustules develop in as little as seven days after infection
    Each pustule produces thousands of spores for about seven days
    Yield loss up to 45% in severe cases
    Spores turn black during late season and may be confused with tar spot

Tar Spot (Phyllachora maydis)
    60–70°F is optimal
    At least seven hours of >75% relative humidity
    Visible black stromata develop 12-15 days after infection
    Yield loss can be 0-50 bu/acre
    Strongly favored by overhead irrigation

Recent questions have emerged about disease development after fungicide applications. One of the most important factors to consider when making a foliar fungicide application is the timing of the application and how long you can expect protection from the product.

In general, most FRAC Group 11 QoI (formerly called strobilurins) and FRAC Group 7 SDHI fungicides are expected to provide about 21-28 days of protection of leaves from infection by some fungi. Group 3 triazoles can provide some systemic or locally systemic curative activity, but only for infections that have just occurred in recent hours or couple of days. Thus, fungicides applied a day or more after infection will not stop all lesion development and some disease development may still be observed.

Locally, some agronomists and producers are reporting substantial disease development in the lower leaves where conditions are more humid and favorable, or where the fungicide application didn’t fully penetrate the canopy to the bottom leaves of the plant. Fungicides can’t restore or heal diseased plant tissue. And, unfortunately, gaining an economic return on the foliar fungicide application is determined by several additional factors that impact future disease development making the decision more difficult, such as:
    Disease history (for those pathogens that overwinter here — everything but rust diseases)
    Susceptibility of the hybrid or variety
    Weather forecast
    Use of irrigation
    Crop stage
    Crop rotation vs. continuous cropping
    Tillage practices

According to research results from Purdue University, the most effective application timings for management of tar spot in Indiana were those made between full tassel emergence (VT) to blister (R2). Applications made after early dough stage for either tar spot or southern rust are much less likely to provide an economic return except in extreme cases with severe disease.

Fungicide timing trials were conducted in 2008 at the South Central Ag Lab near Clay Center with two corn hybrids varying in gray leaf spot disease ratings and with Headline and Stratego fungicides. In the later planted treatments (April 30 vs. May 14), both fungicides provided yield increases over the nontreated control under substantial gray leaf spot pressure in the more sensitive hybrid when they were made as late as early dough, but not beyond that timing (Figure 4). There was little southern rust pressure in that trial.

The protection provided by most foliar fungicides will wear off within three to four weeks, leaving crops vulnerable to increased disease severity later in the season. Applications made too late in disease development will likely not provide the desired level of control. This may also be impacted by the seeming delay in development of disease symptoms from earlier infections.

Some pathogens may require up to three weeks for symptom development after infection (called the incubation period), which often occurred during an earlier period when weather conditions were more favorable. (Similarly, the latent period varies for each pathogen and refers to the time from infection to pathogen reproduction or sporulation.) Fungicides applied during this time won’t likely be able to stop lesion development if the pathogen infected the crop more than a couple days prior to application. Thus, producers may notice some increase in disease symptoms soon after a fungicide application.

The development of disease lesions after product application may give producers the impression that the products didn’t work as expected, but it’s important to keep in mind that fungicides — especially those containing active ingredients with Groups 7 and/or 11 — protect healthy leaf tissue from infection for a period of time, and slows disease development and potential impact on grain fill and yield.

Second Fungicide Applications
Given the anticipated protection window of most products is three to four weeks, if a second fungicide treatment is needed, it should be made three to four weeks following the first one. Second applications are much less likely to provide an economic return except in the cases of severe disease pressure.

Corn Diseases to Watch
Southern rust continues to be identified in corn fields across eastern Nebraska, with samples confirmed from most eastern counties. However, there has been little evidence of significant increases in southern rust severity in these areas, possibly due to hot, dry conditions in recent days creating less favorable conditions.

Tar spot has continued to be found at low to moderate incidence and severity in most locations, with a few additional counties added in recent weeks.

It’s important to continue to scout regularly during the early grain fill stages to monitor for rapid changes in disease incidence and severity, and consider whether a fungicide may be helpful. The southern rust and tar spot that is active in the lower canopy of fields still has the potential to increase significantly under very favorable conditions for either disease.

Unfortunately, bacterial leaf streak has continued to spread and increase in some fields and corn hybrids across Nebraska. Be careful not to confuse these wavy lesions with those of gray leaf spot. Bacterial leaf streak can’t be controlled with fungicide applications.



Central Valley Ag Participates in Cyber Tatanka Event

In June, Central Valley Ag (CVA) technology team members participated in the inaugural Cyber Tatanka Event, a two-week intensive cybersecurity training exercise led by the Nebraska National Guard in partnership with various civilian organizations.

The event offered participants real-world, hands-on experience in defending against cyberattacks, aiming to enhance their ability to respond to cyber incidents. As cyber threats continue to escalate, it's imperative for businesses and government entities to fortify their defenses.

“We want to ensure we know how to keep both our members and our employees data secure.” said Doug Clingman, Chief Technology Officer at CVA. “Technology is ever changing, and we need to do everything we can to stay diligent in our protection efforts.”

Ten civilian organizations from diverse sectors, including healthcare, energy, and agriculture, joined the training alongside representatives from six countries and six states. Each organization brought a unique perspective to the table, which provided not only insight into other industries, but created an opportunity for networking and collaboration.

“This was a valuable opportunity for CVA and our team to practice high-stakes scenarios and learn from other organizations, including the military,” said Clingman.

Central Valley Ag remains committed to lifelong learning, inspiring employees to seek opportunities for skill development and knowledge acquisition.



CAP Webinar: Family Business Relationships
Aug 22, 2024 12:00 PM
Shannon Sand, Extension Agricultural Economist, UNL Center for Agricultural Profitability

Farms and Ranches are unique entities where personal and professional lives intertwine. Successfully navigating family-business relations requires a delicate balance, including things like open communication, boundary setting, support and succession planning to name a few. In essence, a successful family/ranch combines the strength of family relationships with the discipline of a well-managed business. This webinar focuses on communicating with families involved in the business as well as those outside of the business.  

Get more information and register here:  https://cap.unl.edu/webinars.  



Farmers Pride 2025 Calendar Contest

You are invited to submit your photos now to the 2025 Farmers Pride Calendar Contest!

They are looking for high-resolution, scenic photos that feature agriculture in action. A few things to keep in mind:
    They are looking for scenic photos of agriculture - something you would want hanging on your wall all month long.
    They love Action Shots!
    They want a diverse range of photos that represent our equally diverse customers including agronomy, energy, feed, grain, and any agriculture based photos and more!
    Seasonal photos with snow are needed!
    Please do not add effects to photos - minimal brightness/contrast editing is fine, but they will take care of any effects.

Eligibility: Must be at least 18 years of age, or have the permission of a parent or legal guardian. No purchase necessary.

Any questions regarding the Farmers Pride Cooperative Calendar Photo Contest should be directed to our Marketing Department by emailing bctech@farmerspridecoop.com

Submit Here....  https://www.farmerspridecoop.com/about/calendar-contest.  



246 Iowa Retail Locations Receive Nearly $17 Million in USDA Biofuel Infrastructure Grants to Add E15 and Biodiesel Blends

Friday, Secretary Tom Vilsack announced that the U.S. Department of Agriculture is awarding $90.3 million of Higher Blends Infrastructure Incentive Program (HBIIP) grants in 26 states to upgrade fueling infrastructure. Within those grants, 246 Iowa retail locations received nearly $17 million to expand consumer access to higher biofuel blends like E15 and B20 across Iowa.

“Iowa retailers are really stepping up to benefit all Iowans by providing consumers with cleaner-burning, lower-cost, better-quality fuel options at the pump,” said Iowa Renewable Fuels Association (IRFA) Executive Director Monte Shaw. “E15 can save consumers 10 to 25 cents per gallon. With Iowa’s E15 Access Standard taking effect on January 1, 2026, programs like HBIIP and the Iowa Renewable Fuels Infrastructure Program (RFIP) provide tools to help Iowa retailers prepare. IRFA is encouraged by the number of retailers who are actively working to meet the deadline to expand the availability of homegrown biofuels while providing a boost to the economy.”   

HBIIP provides cost-share grants to retailers who are working to expand access to biofuel blends, aiming to significantly increase the sales and use of ethanol and biodiesel. On average each grant dollar has leveraged four dollars in private investment.



Conservation Field Specialist Joins Extension Natural Resources Team

Ethan Thies has joined Iowa State University Extension and Outreach as the program’s first conservation field specialist.

Thies began the new role July 29 and will be based out of the ISU Extension and Outreach Carroll County office.

He previously served as a watershed coordinator with the Iowa Department of Natural Resources and has first-hand experience dealing with water quality issues in Iowa.

“In my past role, I enjoyed getting to work directly with producers and landowners in northwestern Iowa,” he said. “Now I get to expand to the whole state and even farther across the Midwest – even outside of the state – all practices I’m passionate about as I serve Iowans.”

Thies grew up on a small farm near Denver, Iowa, where he spent time hunting and fishing with his father and grandfather. These experiences led to his love for conservation and natural resources.

He earned his bachelor’s degree in ag systems technology in 2014 and his master’s in agricultural education in 2021, both from Iowa State.

His first job after college was with Iowa State’s research farms, where he helped with field work for research plots, as well as specialty crop harvesters and the installation of edge-of-field conservation practices.

“Ethan has a deep knowledge of conservation including practices like cover crops: how to have success with them, adapt machinery and opportunities to cost-share expenses,” said Catherine DeLong, water quality program manager with ISU Extension and Outreach. “He is also a lifelong learner, having recently passed his Certified Crop Consultant exams and he is training to be a soil health advisor.”

Additionally, DeLong said he brings practical knowledge of edge-of-field conservation practices, including practices like saturated buffers, bioreactors and oxbows wetlands.

His position is funded in part by the Midwest Cover Crop Council (MCCC), so much of his work will involve working with the MCCC to facilitate cover crop adoption in Iowa and the broader Midwest.

Ethan Thies can be reached at ethies@iastate.edu



Hot Beef Sundae from Cattlemen's Beef Quarters Wins “Best Choose Iowa Fair Food” at the 2024 Iowa State Fair

Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Mike Naig today congratulated Cattlemen's Beef Quarters for winning “Best Choose Iowa Fair Food” during the 2024 Iowa State Fair. The Best Choose Iowa Fair Food Contest, an official contest of the Iowa State Fair, was created this year to highlight and celebrate fair food menu items made using ingredients sourced from Iowa. Choose Iowa is the state’s signature brand for Iowa grown, Iowa raised, and Iowa made food and ag products.

The Hot Beef Sundae served by Cattlemen's Beef Quarters was selected via an online vote on the Iowa State Fair’s website.

“The Iowa State Fair is famous for many reasons, including its unique and delicious fair food. Choose Iowa is continuing to grow as Iowa’s signature brand, and this new contest is a fun way to celebrate all of the Iowa ingredients used to make these memorable Iowa State Fair food offerings,” said Secretary Naig. “Thank you to all the vendors who entered the first year of this contest, and I congratulate Cattlemen's Beef Quarters for claiming the inaugural title of ‘Best Choose Iowa Fair Food’ with their Hot Beef Sundae. I encourage consumers to not only enjoy these Iowa-sourced foods at the fair, but also look for the Choose Iowa logo on food and ag products throughout the year.”

Approximately 10 percent of the food stands at the Iowa State Fair, including all of Iowa’s commodity groups that produce protein as well as the Iowa Honey Producers and the Specialty Crop Growers, submitted entries for the Best Choose Iowa Fair Food Contest. Choose Iowa aims to expand the number of vendors who participate in the contest in subsequent years.



Advanced RUSLE2 Workshop to Focus on Ephemeral Erosion and Conservation Practices

An Advanced RUSLE2 workshop has been scheduled for service providers and producers who are working with RUSLE2 and Iowa Phosphorus Index to develop manure management plans. The workshop will be held Sept. 12 at the Iowa State University Extension and Outreach Polk County office, 1625 Adventureland Drive, Suite A, Altoona, from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

RUSLE2 stands for Revised Universal Soil Loss Equation 2, a calculation used to guide conservation planning and inventory erosion rates.

Newly implemented changes to manure management planning will be the focus of this workshop, according to Kapil Arora, field agricultural engineer with ISU Extension and Outreach.

Participants will learn about ephemeral and gully erosion. The workshop will also focus on principles governing conservation practices both in RUSLE2 and the Iowa Phosphorus Index. Participants will learn about common tillage and rotation-based errors as well as how to divide fields for calculating the P-Index.  
Use of aerial imagery to identity conservation practices installed in Iowa farm fields will be discussed in depth. This workshop is a collaborative effort between the United States Department of Agriculture’s Natural Resources Conservation Service, the Iowa Department of Natural Resources, and ISU Extension and Outreach. The workshop qualifies for six Certified Crop Advisor Credits (6SW) and three professional development hours. Participation certificates will be provided upon completion of the workshop.

Registration is open to all service providers, producers, CNMP/NMP/MMP writers and agency staff who are interested in gaining in-depth knowledge about RUSLE2 operations and conservation practices. Participants are expected to have basic operating knowledge of RUSLE2 software and Iowa P-Index Calculator. Each registrant must bring a laptop computer pre-loaded with latest version of RUSLE2. Class size is limited to 30 participants.

In addition to Arora, the workshop will be presented by Dan Andersen, associate professor and extension agriculture engineering specialist at Iowa State; Chandra Shaw, USDA-NRCS; and Jeremy Klatt, Iowa DNR.

Registration is $225 through Sept. 6 and increased to $250 thereafter. Fees include lunch, refreshments and workshop materials. Refunds will only be issued for written requests received before noon on Sept. 6. A $25 processing fee applies to all refunded amounts. Registration can be completed online https://go.iastate.edu/YOLBPR or by mailing in the registration form with fees included.

For more information, contact Kapil Arora at 515-291-0174 or ISU Extension and Outreach Polk County at 515-957-5760.



Growth Energy Marks IRA’s Birthday with Call for Action on 45Z

Growth Energy—the leading voice of America’s biofuel industry—urged the White House to swiftly finalize clear, flexible guidance for the 45Z clean fuels credit, which was signed into law two years ago this week.

“After two long years, we’re eager to see this administration’s clean fuel incentive reach its full potential,” said Growth Energy CEO Emily Skor. “That’s why we’ve been working closely with the administration and our bipartisan champions on Capitol Hill to ensure the Department of Treasury finalizes flexible guidance for 45Z, so farmers and biofuel producers can plan and invest ahead of the next harvest.

“Properly implemented, 45Z could be the starting pistol for rural communities waiting to access new economic opportunities and deliver on the promise of climate-smart agriculture. To unlock those investments, the White House must avoid pitfalls that encumbered its approach to the 40B sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) credit. That means setting the new guidelines without delay, and sending a strong market signal that all low-carbon innovations on the farm and at the plant will be properly rewarded.

“President Biden said that farmers would provide 95 percent of SAF over the next two decades, and this anniversary is a wonderful opportunity to move us closer to that goal.”

Starting in 2025, the president’s 45Z clean fuel production tax credit will become the primary incentive for the production of low-carbon fuels in transportation on the ground and in the air. According to an analysis published by Growth Energy on the first anniversary of the IRA, a properly implemented 45Z tax credit could add $21.2 billion to the U.S. economy, generate nearly $13.4 billion in household income, support more than 192,000 jobs across all sectors of the national economy, and provide farmers with a 10 percent premium price on low carbon corn used at an bioethanol plant.