Weigh The Value Of Midseason Inputs

MORGAN SCHMIDT

DELPHOS, KAN.

   The corn vegetative stage is a critical time for farmers. This growth stage provides opportunities to fix problems in the field and keep yield potential on track. The challenge is to evaluate the crop health in each field and then determine the need for additional inputs.

   As corn approaches the vegetative stage in Kansas, it is key to evaluate fertility levels to ensure that yield nutrient availability is matching harvest yield goals. At this stage, with proper application timing, yield potential can still be influenced by additional fertilizer and fungicide treatments. Opportunity still exists to apply additional nitrogen and sulfur to the crop.

   Channel Seedsmen evaluate crop health and share their findings with customers, providing an unbiased opinion about which fields can benefit from vegetative stage input applications. Some choices are easier than others. If weeds are a problem, spraying an herbicide is an obvious choice. If corn is showing yellowed leaves from nitrogen deficiency, side-dressing could be necessary.

   The criteria for vegetative fungicide applications on corn can be less clear. Farmers may want to protect healthy fields with good yield potential as well as fields at risk for disease. Fields that are candidates to benefit from a fungicide application include:

   • Continuous corn

   • High-residue fields

   • High-productivity fields

   Field size and topography are also considerations as some fields are not well positioned for aerial fungicide applications late in the vegetative stage. A choice for those fields could be an application during the early vegetative stage; fungicide can be applied with field machinery along with an herbicide. Research has shown fungicide timing impacts efficacy, so be sure to talk with your local Seedsman for a more in-depth conversation.

   Not all fungicide products are created equal. Check product labels to confirm the fungicide you select will control the disease species in your field.

   Lastly, when tank-mixing fungicides with herbicides, check labels for guidance to avoid plant injury. Visit the Agronomy Library at Channel.com for more information about midseason corn growth and inputs. ∆

   MORGAN SCHMIDT: Channel Technical Agronomist