June 27, 2008

In this week's CropWatch, Plant Pathologist Tamra Jackson discusses hail injury to corn and whether a fungicide should be used to help the crop recover. With soybean there is less data to support the need for a fungicide application after hail. Hail damage can favor some diseases, such as stem canker; however, to date we have not seen much of this disease in Nebraska.

Therefore, based on current data, I do not recommend a fungicide application to help the crop recover from hail injury prior to the R3 growth stage. The R3 (pod fill) growth stage is when the most significant yield increases have been observed. In most cases applications prior to this stage have not been shown to significantly improve yield.

Loren Giesler
Extension Plant Pathologist