Rain brings nitrogen, disease concerns for corn plants

Persistent rainfall continues to throw curveballs at this year’s growing season.
Angie Rieck-Hinz, field agronomist with Iowa State University Extension, said the Franklin County area received 17.13 inches of rain from April 1 to June 25. The average for that span is typically 12.65 inches of rain. From June 1 to June 25, the area recorded 6.4 inches of rain. Those numbers, she said, don’t include the rain that fell last week.
Despite the rain, Rieck-Hinz said if fields aren’t under water or were planted in a timely fashion, crops appear to be progressing well.
“Corn crops, if they don’t have water standing or haven’t been under water, are looking pretty good,” she said, adding that corn in the area ranges from V-5 to V-12 stages. “We have some corn that will tassel in the next 10 days or so.”
While corn in the area has finally gotten through the complications of the late winter and delayed planting season, the conditions have created some additional issues planters need to keep an eye on.
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