Corn field at sunsetMidseason is one of the most critical windows of the growing year and CHS agronomist Mark Herz says the best thing you can do right now is get out in your fields and know what you are looking at. His three priorities for scouting your fields:

  • lean on what you already know about your ground and its history,
  • recognize that what happens during this energy-accumulation stage sets the ceiling for your yield at harvest and
  • work through your scouting systematically so nothing gets missed.

No stranger to farmers, tar spot is the top disease concern he’s tracking this season, citing how it is hard to get ahead of, which can make a significant dent in corn yield if caught late. Spider mites and gray leaf spot are also worth keeping an eye on, depending on your region.

Herz also recommends leaning into technology to gain an edge in insect, disease and weed management. Drone-based imagery, AI identification apps and digital scouting platforms are making it easier to spot problems faster and act on what you are seeing. Pairing technology with good, old-fashioned field expertise will help farmers stay ahead of the game.

Read more midseason insights in this AgWeb article.