After battling dry conditions and uneven emergence this spring, many Nebraska producers are finally feeling more optimistic about their crops. But as corn moves closer to tassel, a different set of challenges is beginning to take center stage.
Near Mason City in Custer County, Ethan Zoerb says this year’s corn and soybean crop has come a long way since planting.
“Originally the corn started out a little bit rough,” Zoerb said. “It was just a tough spring. It wasn’t very wet. It just led to emergence being a little bit up and down. But now that it’s getting to be two weeks out from tassel on the earlier stuff, it’s starting to look pretty good.”
The recent improvement has been welcome after a season that got off to a slower-than-normal start. Zoerb says fertilizer applications are largely complete, and soybeans are finally beginning to canopy after lagging behind earlier in the season.
While crop conditions have improved, Zoerb says growers can’t afford to let their guard down.
As president of the Custer County Corn Growers, he has been keeping a close eye on reports from agronomists across the region. One concern is tar spot, which has already been confirmed in Custer County near Broken Bow.
“Tar spot has already been confirmed in Custer County,” Zoerb said. “That’s a disease that kind of burned some guys last year. It’s something growers are going to want to get out ahead of with treatments. It’s not a disease you want to play around with.”
Zoerb is also monitoring western bean cutworm activity through pheromone traps. So far, moth flights are running roughly 10 to 11 days ahead of where they were last season. While an earlier flight doesn’t necessarily mean higher damage, timing will be important.
Because many corn fields are still days away from tasseling, Zoerb says there’s hope that larvae emerging too early won’t survive long enough to feed on pollen. Warm temperatures in the coming weeks could also help reduce pressure.
Beyond what’s happening in the field, Zoerb is preparing to represent Nebraska growers at Corn Congress, where corn leaders from across the country will discuss issues ranging from trade and transportation to expanding ethanol markets through year-round E15.
For now, however, his focus remains on the crop at home.
After a spring that tested growers’ patience, many fields are finally showing promise. The next step is protecting that potential by scouting regularly and staying ahead of diseases and insects before they become larger problems.