Weather continues to drive crop progress across Greene County.

Landus Cooperative Field Agronomist Zach Minnihan says the wetter and cooler spring season, coupled with oversaturated farm fields, will cause corn and soybeans to be stagnant for a while. He talks about another factor that will see an increased impact on crops.

“We’re going to definitely see some disease pressure come in. With so much moisture we’ve had this year, including this last little bit. But through April and May and how wet and cool we were, that’s the habitat for disease to grow in.”

Minnihan points out that lower overnight temperatures in the ten-day weather forecast may lead to a greater chance for diseases like Northern Corn Leaf Blight and Grey Leaf Spot. However, Minnihan adds that farmers should be proactive before diseases settle in.

“My theory kind of is, get out there before it takes yield away rather than wait until you see something, because then it’s already taken foliage and starting to beat up on your crop, before you can get a product or fungicide application across that field.”

Greene County Extension Director Lori Mannel says the weather outlook is going to be warmer and dryer in the next ten days, with limited rainfall, which could be a cause for concern on poorly rooted crops.