Scout Now For Ear Rots

Sep 27, 2016

By Alison Robertson, Iowa State University

Warm, wet conditions as grain dries down could favor the development of ear rots. In the eastern corn belt, corn pathologists report that Diplodia ear rot (Fig. 1) is prevalent (C.O.R.N. Newsletter; The Bulletin; and the Pest and Crop Newsletter). In Illinois, there are reports of grain being turned away from elevators because of poor quality due to Diplodia ear rot.

Figure 1. Diplodia ear rot is usually recognized by the dense, white mycelium that starts at the base of the ear and grows between the kernels.

Corn coming in to the Iowa State University Grain Quality Lab from field trials in central, northeast, and southeast Iowa has been affected by a variety of ear rot fungi, and many individual ears display symptoms of multiple fungi. Some of these ear rot diseases are capable of producing mycotoxins, which can result in marketing restrictions for affected grain. Unfortunately, the risk at this point is not generalizable—fumonisins, deoxynivalenol (vomitoxin), aflatoxin, and zearalenone are all potential suspects in locations throughout the state. Corn earworm injury was noted in central Iowa samples; these samples were also heavily impacted by ear rot fungi.

It is important to scout fields to determine if ear rots are a problem. If greater than 10 percent of the ears are moldy, fields should be scheduled for an early harvest to prevent further deterioration of grain. Dr. Charlie Hurburgh recently presented some tips for grain handling and storage.

Source: iastate.edu

Video: WARNING! Rough Start To Breeding Season!!

WARNING! Sheep Breeding Season Begins With A Bang! Breeding season is officially underway at Ewetopia Farms, but it didn’t exactly start the way we planned!

This vlog begins with us sorting through our rams to find the perfect match for a customer’s breeding program. What should have been routine quickly turned dangerous when one of our more nervous rams panicked. In seconds, Arnie’s knee was injured, and then I was slammed hard onto the concrete floor — both of us taken down by one ram!

Thankfully, it was just bruises, but it’s a reminder of how unpredictable and powerful mature rams can be. Once we recovered, it was time to get back to the real work — the start of breeding season.

We sorted the ewes into four breeding groups (two Suffolk and two Dorset), checking parentage as they ran through the chute, deworming those that needed it, and setting aside thinner ewes for session two of breeding season in a month’s time.This staggered approach keeps lambing organized and prevents overcrowding in the barns.

From rogue rams to the excitement of new breeding groups, this episode is full of action. Stay tuned for the next vlog, where we’ll share how we chose the rams for each group!