Stay Prepared for Southern Rust!

This article was written by Technical Marketing Manager, Kim Tutor, and Communication Specialist, Presley Nickens.

The map below (taken from Historical End of Season Maps - Corn ipmPIPE) shows confirmed cases of southern rust in 2021. While there are few confirmed cases so far, southern rust is a worrisome disease that you need to be aware of this season. In 2020, southern rust contributed to a loss of 91.4 million bushels in the U.S. and Canada (https://cropprotectionnetwork.org/resources/publications/corn-disease-loss-estimates-from-the-united-states-and-ontario-canada-2020).  

The disease is characterized by dense circular pustules that are orange in color. They are found almost always on the upper leaf surface but may be on the sheath as well. Like a lot of diseases, southern rust prefers high temperatures (around 80 degrees), high humidity, and extended periods of leaf wetness.

Are you looking for a fungicide to target southern rust? Headline® Amp fungicide is a proven, trusted, cost-conscious, and value-driven option. It can be applied at all vegetative and reproductive stages of corn development. For optimal Plant Health benefits, including disease control, optimized growth efficiency, and environmental stress mitigation, the recommended timing is between VT-R2 growth stages.

In a summary of small plot replicated trials from 2014 to 2020, Headline® Amp fungicide delivered the most yield at tassel. 

For more information about Headline® Amp fungicide, contact your local BASF Representative!