Early Frost Threatens Late-Planted Crops

Oct 03, 2019

About half of the state’s corn crop, 48%, hasn’t reached maturity yet, according to a USDA crop report released this week. That’s far below the 82% maturity at this time last year. Soybeans crops are also about 15% behind last year.

"That means if there's an early frost, yields would be reduced," said Roger Elmore, Prof. of Agronomy at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln.

Frost is predicted Wednesday night for at least part of the state.

The National Weather Service has issued a freeze warning for all of the panhandle and a frost advisory for much of central Nebraska.

But fields are in a much better place this week compared to last; the previous USDA report indicated only 37% maturity for corn.

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Video: Sclerotinia and Lygus in Seed Canola: Field Update with George Lubberts, CCA | Enchant, Alberta

Join Certified Crop Advisor George Lubberts for this Prairie Certified Crop Advisor (Prairie CCA) field update from Enchant, Alberta. In this 12th video of the series, George takes us into a seed canola field where the male rows have been removed and the female plants are filling pods. This video was taken in the third week of August 2025.

George discusses the early signs of sclerotinia stem rot, explaining how infection begins in the stem, impacts pod development, and leads to premature ripening. He also shares insights on lygus bug management, including timing of spray applications to minimize feeding damage and maintain seed size and quality.

With cool, damp summer conditions, George notes that while disease pressure is present, overall field health remains good. The crop is just beginning to show early seed colour change, signaling progress toward maturity.

Topics Covered:

•Sclerotinia stem rot identification and impact

•Managing lygus bugs in seed canola

•Crop stage and seed colour change observations

•Timing insecticide sprays for optimal protection

•Insights from a CCA field perspective in southern Alberta