Ear Rots in Corn

Ear rots can be difficult to control since weather conditions are critical to the disease development. Rots can establish any time after pollination in wounds created by insects, birds, machinery, and even hail. Rainy weather or heavy, prolonged dews often lead to ear rots in these wounded cobs.

Why are rots a concern?

The direct concern for ear rot disease is yield loss due to poor quality grain. In years when conditions favour development, large portions of fields can be affected. Once fields are infected, other management practices should be followed which can increase cost of harvesting, drying, and storing the grain.

Some of these disease organisms will produce toxic chemicals known as Mycotoxins (toxins produced by fungus). These chemicals are another major concern as they can cause various health problems when they contaminate grain fed to livestock or used for human consumption. It is essential to limit levels of the rots that can produce these toxins.

Scouting

Scouting is the only way to find out if there is an ear rot problem in your field. Strip back the husks on 100 plants scattered throughout the field. If more than 10% of the ears have 25% or more of the cob affected, take the following precautions.