Crop Watch 2025: Corn Yield Threats
Several threats are impacting corn yields this season, including overly tight tassel wrap, Southern Rust and tar spot.
Unscripted: ‘Overly Tight Tassel Wrap’ Affecting Pollination?
Ken Ferrie, Farm Journal field agronomist, joins Tyne Morgan and Clinton Griffiths to shed light on crop conditions, particularly pollination issues.
Crop Condition News
If you have tar spot, Southern rust or other disease pressure and plan to dry the crop in the field, you might want to spray again.
Corn yield estimates in South Dakota are less than 1 bu. per acre lower than 2023 tour estimates while soybean pod counts are up. Ohio’s corn yield estimates are slightly lower than last year and soybean pod counts came in 1.84% lower.
As scouts set off for the 2024 Pro Farmer Crop Tour Monday morning, market watchers say there a few key things they’ll need to see out of next week’s tour. From ear counts to stands to kernel size, here are the biggest metrics to watch during tour.
The latest WASDE report from the USDA forecasts record-breaking yields in five of the states Pro Farmer Crop Tour will tour —Indiana, Illinois, Iowa, Nebraska and South Dakota. Illinois could see an amazing average corn yield of 225 bu. per acre.
Now on-demand: Re-watch each night of the Pro Farmer Crop Tour nightly meeting broadcast.
Crop Tour is a fact-finding mission with a goal of getting a strong, objective view of corn yield potential from one big field across seven states.
When average daily humidity levels reach and stay at 75% or above, that’s a signal your crop could be at high risk from the disease.
Some growers are struggling with waterlogged fields that are producing stunted, yellowing corn. Field Agronomist Ken Ferrie offers farmers hope and help with his practical, no-nonsense recommendations.
Ken Ferrie outlines various treatment scenarios, depending on what farmers find in their fields. He cautions that severe infections can easily cause 60-bu.-per-acre yield losses.
Hot, dry weather is forecasted for Russia and Ukraine while flooding in the U.S. Midwest shuts down rail lines and submerges fields and towns. China’s corn and soybean crops are getting some relief after a heatwave.