Author: Clinton Hardy
Planning Unit: Daviess County CES
Major Program: Grains
Plan of Work: Agriculture Production, Management, and Environment
Outcome: Intermediate Outcome
The widespread adoption of fungicide application to corn has led to improved yields by better control of foliar diseases. This adoption has created a paradigm shift in the farmer approach to in-season corn management and ever-increasing opportunities related to application technique, fungicide product options and now, short-stature corn hybrids which increase the number of acres ground-driven spray equipment can navigate. An on-farm trial was established in Daviess County in 2023 in cooperation with Clint Hardy, Daviess County agriculture agent, and with the support of Bayer CropScience. The Daviess County farm business hosting the trial was one of only two research locations in the United States for this trial comparing the efficacy of ground-applied fungicide applications to helicopter and drone-applied fungicides in traditional “tall” corn and the new short-stature corn from Bayer CropScience. Research indicated that all application methods effectively reduced foliar disease and increased yield compared to a non-treated control in all hybrids tested. Spray deposition variability was observed among application methods and will be further investigated through University research trials. Yield data indicate that over all hybrids tested, fungicide application resulted in a 9 to 12 bushel per acre gain over the non-treated control, resulting in an approximate profit of $10 to 25 per acre from a fungicide application. These data were presented at a Daviess County extension meeting on June 20 and will be distributed further through extension channels in 2024.
Land utilized for corn and soybean production comprises approximately 148,000 acres, nearly 50%, of ... Read More
The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program comprises more 75% of the USDA Farm Bill budget alloca... Read More
The Daviess County Cooperative Extension Service hosted their first Open House in many years in May ... Read More
The Daviess County Cooperative Extension Service hosted their first Open House in many years in May ... Read More
Grain storage bins have been in use since their invention by Illinois farmer Fred Hatch who is thoug... Read More
Grain production is an important source of farm income in Todd County. Todd County ranks 7th in Kent... Read More