Continued Scouting Urged for Southern Rust Now in 26 Counties

Counties with confirmed southern rust

Continued Scouting Urged for Southern Rust Now in 26 Counties

Southern rust has now been confirmed in corn in 26 Nebraska counties. As we confirm more Nebraska counties with southern rust, it's important to know that the vast majority of rust reports have been sparse and no fungicide application was required at this time.

A few localized areas, especially where it was first reported, have required fungicide applications.

Rust will continue to build in the coming weeks and the weather, particularly warm humid conditions, will largely determine disease progression. Continued scouting is important as southern rust infection during the grain-fill through dough stages can cause critical injury.

Please continue to scout frequently for this disease and share observations and samples with the Plant and Pest Diagnostic Clinic so we can track its development.

Thank you to all who have submitted samples to help outline and better understand the movement and severity of southern rust in Nebraska this year.

Sample Submission

For help identifying diseases you’re seeing, submit samples to the UNL Plant and Pest Diagnostic Clinic. Click here for more information on how to submit a sample and the sample submissions form.

Related Resources

southern rust on a corn leaf
Figure 1. While the majority of southern rust infections so far have not required treatment, growers are urged to continue scouting, particularly when temperatures turn warm and humid again. (Photo by Tamra Jackson-Ziems)

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