Disease and Weather Pressures Challenge Corn Belt as Harvest Nears

Across the country’s top 18 corn-growing states, corn harvest reached 4% the week ending Sept. 7, according to USDA’s latest Crop Progress report. The bulk of the progress comes from southern states like Texas and North Carolina, while Corn Belt states have only single-digit progress, or none at all. 

Among Iowa, Illinois, Nebraska, and Wisconsin, very little corn harvest progress has been made, but growers are preparing for the season. Here’s a closer look. 

Iowa

“In the southern parts of my area a few have started already,” said Wyffels agronomist Eric Wilson, who supports southern and northeast Iowa. “Growers are aware of the poor stalk quality in many of the fields that were heavily hit with disease this year and are making plans to begin combining and drying corn soon if their operation is able to.”

By Sept. 7, 26% of Iowa’s corn had reached maturity, ahead of the five-year average of 23%. USDA reported 0% corn harvested for the state, which is typical according to historical data.

Illinois

“Growers are ready to start, with the lower end of southern Illinois already running,” said Syngenta agronomist Phil Krieg. “The mood is pretty poor right now,” he said.

Krieg said yields for early corn are at least 30–50 bushels per acre (bpa) lower than last year. “The outlook for June-planted corn is even worse,” he said. “Corn planted in the last half of June pollinated poorly due to the heat, and the dry conditions during grain fill took away more bushels. Ears have dropped prematurely, and that is never a good sign of a strong grain fill period.”

Further north in the Prairie State, the outlook is more positive. Most growers are excited to get started, with “lots of combines and equipment out in the barnyards,” according to Ryan Gentle, a Wyffels agronomist covering most of the west half of Illinois.

“Early reports have been pretty good with corn being 240–260 [bpa] range at 27–28% moisture,” he said.

As of Sept. 7, 27% of the corn in Illinois had reached maturity, just shy of the 28% five-year average. USDA said 2% of the crop had been harvested, which is 1 percentage point ahead of average.

Nebraska

“Nebraska corn farmers are ready to get harvest started,” Syngenta agronomist Travis Gustafson said. “They’re watching the weather and hoping we get conditions conducive to good dry down and a clear harvest.” 

“Overall, I think most growers are expecting decent yields but not necessarily record yields,” he shared, adding that “disease and a dry August has taken its toll on the corn crop.”

Nebraska’s corn hit 23% maturity by Sept. 7, behind the five-year average by 5 points. USDA reported 0% corn harvested, although the five-year average is 1%.

Wisconsin

“In general, growers are looking forward to a pretty good harvest, and are excited for it to begin,” said Syngenta agronomist Nick Groth.

“The southern half of Wisconsin, in particular, is looking at a really good crop in most areas. Late season disease including southern rust, tar spot, and northern corn leaf blight may have taken a little yield off the top, especially in fields that did not receive a fungicide, but I think most growers are still optimistic,” Groth shared. 

He said a few areas in northern Wisconsin had a recent frost scare, so producers there may be especially anxious for harvest to kick off. “Lows dipped into the upper 30s in several areas, definitely making growers nervous, as the corn crop in northern Wisconsin still has a ways to go before black layer.”

As of Sept. 7, 10% of Wisconsin’s corn had reached maturity, ahead of the five-year average by 1 percentage point. None of the crop has been harvested according to USDA, which is typical for this time of year.