Stalk integrity could become one of the biggest challenges of this harvest.

In this episode of The Acre Advantage, Dan Bjorklund is joined by Landus agronomist Jaci Winkelpleck and grower Mick Johnston to talk about what they’re seeing across Iowa as crown rot, stalk rot, anthracnose and bacterial leaf streak begin showing up in corn fields.

They break down how cool, wet planting conditions earlier this spring are showing up now, what growers should be looking for before harvest, and how early-season plant health can impact standability and yield later in the year.

The conversation covers:

• Why stalk and crown issues are showing up field by field
• What SkyScout imagery is revealing that can be difficult to see from the road
• Managing crop stress from emergence through VT
• The role of starter fertilizer, micronutrients, fungicides and products like Halcyon
• Why cost per unit of production can matter more than cost per acre
• How in-season management decisions compound over the course of a growing season
• How to perform a simple push test before harvest
• Why compromised fields may need to come out earlier rather than waiting for ideal grain moisture

Dan also references a recent agronomy video showing drone footage and SkyScout imagery from fields where scattered areas of premature plant death are becoming visible.

Watch the agronomy video Dan references:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sRyTl90gJLI

Dan, Jaci and Mick also discuss how whole-field scouting technology can help growers identify problem areas, evaluate management decisions and use this year’s information to make better decisions for the next crop.