Much of the corn in the area is in dough to early dent stages with some at late milk. Southern rust has continued to develop and is highly noticeable in low to mid canopies now, even with fungicide applications. Typically we’d say southern rust occurs on the top side of leaves unless severe, whereas common rust typically occurs on both sides of leaves. On leaves that were flipped over from the July 8 wind storm, I’m seeing southern rust spores (confirmed via microscope) on the undersides of leaves that are now technically facing upward, but not on the ‘normal’ top side of leaf (an interesting observation that a crop consultant asked me about and then I also saw this week to confirm it truly was southern).

Spidermites and aphids are also flaring in fields. Seeing quite a bit of tip back and some ear development abnormalities most likely due to the July 8th wind storm just prior to tasseling. There’s also a number of hybrids with multiple ears on the primary node, but it’s more of a curious thing than most likely anything of detriment.

Soybeans are in various stages of seed fill. Overall, they look pretty good. Sudden death syndrome started to appear this week. Frogeye leaf spot is minor in fields and there are fields with isolated patches of spidermites. Also seeing egg masses and tiny larvae of woolly bear caterpillars and various loopers.

Crops are looking good in the area. Little moisture has been received over the last two weeks, those fields with irrigation are utilizing it. Most corn fields in the area range from R3 milk to early R5 dent growth stage. Several diseases can be found while scouting corn fields, gray leaf spot, northern corn blight, bacterial leaf streak, southern rust, common rust and physoderma brown spot.

Many soybean fields are R4 full pod to R5 beginning seed stage. In soybean fields seeing more insect damage than diseases. Japanese beetles can easily be seen with a few thistle caterpillars being spotted while scouting. Soybean gall midge has made its way from the northeast corner of Butler County and now can be found throughout. Soybean gall midge has been confirmed in Polk County in soybeans for the first time as of August 11th, 2020. Two soybean fields were found to be infested but they did not show signs of wilting or death.