Anthracnose a problem in corn……..again

        Anthracnose was once again a major issue in some corn fields locally and certainly in western areas of the state where entire fields were lodged from stalk degradation.  Anthracnose may appear as a leaf blight, stalk-rot, top-kill of the stalk, and kernel rot.  However, most damage results from the stalk rot and leaf blight phases.  It’s interesting to note that the leaf blight stage is not highly correlated with resistance to stalk rot. 

        The anthracnose fungus can attack corn plants at any stage of development.  Symptoms of the stalk rot phase are easy to recognize and usually are not confused with other stalk rot diseases.  Late in the season shiny black, linear streaks and blotches appear on the surface of the lower stalk above the brace roots.  Occasionally, the entire stalk becomes blackened.  The internal stalk tissue or pith becomes discolored, turning dark gray to brown and shredded.  Severely diseased stalks are weakened and are likely to lodge before harvest.   Anthracnose may develop in the upper stalk above the ear, resulting in top dieback (common both this year and last).  These blighted tops may top-lodge above the ear.  

        Hybrid selection is the best and first step in disease control.  Hybrids available vary widely in their level of susceptibility to anthracnose.  Hybrids with some resistance to the leaf blight phase may not be resistant to the stalk rot phase of anthracnose.   Anthracnose severity has reached the point where some companies are going to discontinue offering certain hybrids based solely on their susceptibility to the disease. 

        The anthracnose fungus survives in corn residues.  Interestingly, Wisconsin research does not show an increase in severity with no-till versus conventional tillage.  It’s not exactly known why this is the case.

GDU’s and precipitation for the 2007 growing season

        Every growing season seems to bring with it a unique weather feature.  Sure, it was dry this summer in some areas.  Officially in Fond du Lac, raindrops were hard to come by from July 4^th until about the second week in August; however, we’ve been there before.  Even more strange was our fall weather.  When was the first killing frost?  The official low temperature in Fond du Lac never went below 32 degrees until October 28, about three weeks past our normal first frost date.  Prior to that date we had several nights that came within a degree or two of 32 in the city, which lightly frosted sensitive plants and those in low lying rural areas (including the night of September 15).  Overall, the nearly 700 GDU’s we accumulated in September and October has only been matched recently during the fall of 1998.  Our normal for those two months is about 550 GDU’s. 

        As for the growing season, total GDU’s were 2983 from April 1 through October 27.  This is about 200 above normal.  Prior to September, most months were only slightly above normal with only April and July being slightly below normal.  April through October precipitation officially measured 21.2 inches, or 1.6 inches below the 30 year average.  Of course, it’s not how much rain but when it falls that counts.

For more details see:   2007 Fond du Lac Growing Degree Unit + Rainfall Accumulations

WI Tractor and Machinery Safety Certification Program Offered

Fond du Lac Co. UW-Extension will be offering the Tractor and Machinery Safety Certification Program beginning on Friday, December 28th.  Any youth who plans to participate in the program must pre-register by calling Kathy at 929-3171 or 748-7565.  The participant’s name, address, phone number, social security number, and date of birth will need to be provided. Wisconsin law dictates that youth must be at least 12 years of age to enroll in this program. 

Completing all requirements of the program enables youth working for their parents to legally drive tractors on a public road and 14 or 15-year olds working for a non-parent employer to drive tractors and operate machinery as a job related activity.  Youth participants are offered a wide range of information on safe tractor/machinery operation and specific safety guidelines when working on a crop or livestock farm.  The program is completed in early April with both a written and driving examination.  A complete schedule of program meetings will be mailed to participants once they are registered.  Cost for the program is $30 per participant.

Got a Century or Sesquicentennial Farm?

 In celebration of Wisconsin's agricultural heritage, long-time farm and home owners are encouraged to register for a 2008 Sesquicentennial or Century Farm and Home Award.  To qualify for the award, continuous family ownership of a property in the state of Wisconsin for the past 150 or 100 years must be proven.