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Midwest farmers face stalk quality issues

An agronomist with Seed Consultants says late season dry conditions in the Midwest have led to stalk quality deterioration.

Bill McDonald says it has caused the stalk to cannibalize itself to meet the plant’s nutrition needs.

“Plants had to pull it out of the stalk to get started and then we got some rains and ears filled out,” he says. “We have some decent size ears, but our stalk quality is not that good this year.”

He tells Brownfield it has also led to diplodia and fusarium stalk rot.

Despite the challenges, he says he is surprised with overall yields.

“This corn has really taken everything we’ve thrown at it and it’s yielding very nicely,” he says.

McDonald says farmers should scout fields for stalk quality and not hesitate too long to harvest the crop.

Audio: Bill McDonald, Seed Consultants