Follow these five tips from Pierce Paul, Ohio State University Extension pathologist, to deter disease problems in continuous corn:

• Use some form of tillage to bury crop residue. When not rotating crops, tillage becomes a necessity to reduce pathogen buildup from one season to the next.
• Plant hybrids with good disease tolerance and resistance—the more tolerant the hybrid, the less yield reduction. Also make sure the hybrid has good standability and stalk strength.
• Use fungicides as needed to control foliar disease when susceptible hybrids are planted and weather conditions are favorable.
• Base fertility programs on soil tests; avoid excessive rates of nitrogen and other nutrients.
• Control insect pests and weeds, as they can transmit viruses from weeds to corn. In addition, rootworm and stalk borer may cause injury to plant roots and stalks, permitting stalk rot fungi to enter the plant.

For more information on disease prevention in continuous corn, click here:

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