Success StoryEconomics of on-farm foliar fungicide applications in corn



Economics of on-farm foliar fungicide applications in corn

Author: Kiersten Wise

Planning Unit: Plant Pathology

Major Program: Integrated Plant Pest Management

Outcome: Intermediate Outcome

Foliar fungicide applications have now become common in corn production, often applied in the absence of disease and in contrast to Integrated Pest Management recommendations. Farmers and County Agents need information to help them understand how fungicides should be used, and when they have optimum efficacy against corn diseases. On-farm research trials were established in Henderson County in conjunction with the County Agent to examine the impact of foliar fungicides in comparison to non-treated controls. Fields were sprayed at late vegetative growth stages with fungicide. Foliar disease severity and yield data were collected, and economic data were used to determine return on investment of foliar fungicide application. In the Henderson County trial location, with final grain price and fungicide application cost, the farmer needed to increase yield by 6.3 bu/A to pay for the cost of the foliar fungicide application.  Yield was increased in the fungicide treatment, but only by 5 bu/A, meaning that the fungicide treatment did not break even, and was not profitable. This research is impactful beacuse it helps farmers learn about the profitability (or lack of profitability) of fungicide applications in their own production system.  






Stories by Kiersten Wise


2024 Pest Management Field Day Highlights Impactful Pest Management Research Conducted at University of Kentucky

about 5 months ago by Kiersten Wise

The Pest Management Field Day returned to the UKREC in 2024 on June 27, 2024. This was the fifth yea... Read More


Understanding the barriers to adoption of IPM in Grain and Specialty Crops in Kentucky

about 5 months ago by Kiersten Wise

The Extension faculty in the Department of Plant Pathology collaborated with Dr. Erin Hester and Ele... Read More


Stories by Plant Pathology


Development of "Scabinar 2024", a successful multi-state webinar on management of Fusarium head blight of wheat

about 5 months ago by Carl Bradley

Fusarium head blight (also known as “scab”) of wheat is the most damaging disease that regularly occ... Read More


University of Kentucky Crop Pest Management Webinars--2023

about 5 months ago by Carl Bradley

The University of Kentucky Grain Crops Integrated Pest Management group organized a 4-week webinar s... Read More