The unique spring weather had some Midwestern farmers questioning if corn would truly be “knee-high by the 4th of July” this year. Between delayed planning and a cold, wet start to the growing season, crop progress is a bit behind what farmers might normally see.

Now is the time to plan for fungicide application. The R1 growth stage (tassel) is an opportune time to implement fungicide disease management, helping the crop be more tolerant of heat and drought stress during reproductive stages. This can help the plant through harvest. Tar spot and southern rust are two key “driver diseases” impacting corn this season.

Read more on fungicide application and disease management here.