In Ukraine, UkrAgroConsult reported that fungal diseases are spreading rapidly through corn fields in the Midwest, potentially affecting what is expected to be a record crop this year.
Farmers say the main culprit is southern rust, which arrived in Iowa in July — a month earlier than usual. Combined with wet conditions, this has created an ideal environment for the disease, which can reduce corn yields by up to 45%, according to the report.
The report noted that farmers say this year’s outbreaks are the first they have seen such a force. Many producers have been forced to use fungicides, but the treatments do not always save the fields and are expensive in conditions of low grain prices. Some farmers have already lost dozens of bushels of yield even on treated areas, it added.
More on the story
Category: Food & Agriculture
