2024 Corn Season in Review: Lessons and Highlights from the Field

In 2024, farmers across the United States planted 91.5 million acres of corn, according to the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA). Heading into harvest, USDA forecasted the total harvest at 15.1 billion bushels, with average yields reaching a record high of 183.1 bushels per acre.

📸: by mdmworks via canva | Corn Field

While the USDA forecasted record average corn yields for 2024, that isn’t to say that this growing season was without challenges. From extreme weather, such as drought and derechos, to pest pressures, including weeds and disease, corn growers across the U.S. had numerous obstacles to overcome from planting to harvest.

With the 2024 harvest winding down and planning for the 2025 season already underway, now is the perfect time to evaluate these challenges and how they were managed to better prepare for the season ahead.

Weed pressure

Throughout the U.S., farmers once again battled problematic weeds in 2024. Wet conditions combined with cooler temperatures in many parts of the country resulted in extended weed germination and emergence periods, making them more difficult to manage. Overall, pigweeds like Palmer amaranth and waterhemp were especially problematic, but other weeds including kochia, common lambsquarters and ragweed were also an issue in some parts of the U.S.

One of the best ways to help manage these problematic weeds in 2025 is to plan for pre and postemergence herbicide applications.

📷by Russell Graves / AgStock | illustrating closeup of Common Lambsquarters (Chenopodium album)

For early-season weeds, Surtain™ herbicide is the first-of-its-kind solid encapsulation herbicide technology with control or suppression of 79 grass and broadleaf weeds including Palmer amaranth, waterhemp and giant ragweed. With residual PPO chemistry and excellent crop safety, Surtain herbicide can be applied pre- through early postemergence in corn to fight resistant weeds and preserve other weed management tools for seasons to come.

📷by BASF Internal Photo | illustrating untreated and surtain herbicide treated corn field

For reliable postemergence weed control, Status® herbicide starts working within hours for faster knockdown and superior control of tough broadleaf weeds while helping to manage the spread of glyphosate resistance. With a wide application window, Status also controls lambsquarters, buckwheat, kochia, giant and common ragweed, cocklebur, pigweed species, velvetleaf, ladysthumb, nightshade and more.

Disease pressure

July rains and wet conditions throughout much of the Midwest created a favorable environment for foliar diseases to develop in corn. Two notable diseases affecting the corn crop this past year were tar spot and gray leaf spot. Both of these fungal diseases create lesions on the plant’s leaves and can severely reduce yields. However, by the time there are visible signs of disease, the damage may already be done. In fact, fungal diseases like tar spot and gray leaf spot can infect corn for nearly three weeks before visible signs emerge. That’s why early preventive fungicide applications are crucial for protecting the crop and reducing the severity of disease.

📷by BASF Employee Internal Photo | illustrating suspected tarspot of corn

Veltyma^® fungicide can be counted on to deliver valuable protection and reduce the vulnerable period for disease to establish. With its combination of faster curative activity and longer residual, Veltyma fungicide offers revolutionary application timing flexibility unlike any other product on the market. Most corn fungicides have an application window of V14 through R1, but Veltyma fungicide can be as early as V10 and as late as R3. With two weeks more application flexibility than other fungicides, Veltyma fungicide provides valuable extra time to work around weather, schedules and application obstacles to managing fungal diseases like tar spot and gray leaf spot.

Insect pressure

As far as insects are concerned, corn rootworm is an annual problem that can cause significant yield losses, especially in the Corn Belt. The 2024 season was no exception with thresholds for the pest being met or exceeded from southeast Kansas to west central Ohio and beyond.

📷by Duane Rathmann | illustrating northern and western corn rootworm

For protection against corn rootworm larvae and other common belowground pests including wireworms, white grubs, and seed corn maggots, Nurizma^® insecticide can be applied in-furrow at planting. With a unique mode of action and a low application rate of 1-2 fl oz/acre, Nurizma insecticide controls belowground pests to protect corn yield potential and harvest efficiency. Finally, for pest such as European corn you can control by planting seed corn with the appropriate Bt traits.

📷by Nigel Cattlin via Alamy | illustrating European corn borer (Ostrinia nubialis) caterpillar in damaged stem

A network of support

Overall, the 2024 growing season had its fair share of weed, disease and insect pressures that diminished yields and profits across the key corn-growing regions of the United States.

To protect yields in 2025, it will be critical to make a plan to address these pressures and other potential challenges. To help you achieve this, experts are available to help you make your decisions. Reach out to your seed retailer, a nearby extension office agent, or a seed company professional like your regional BASF representative.

You can also join Grow Smart Live to follow and connect with BASF experts and stay updated with what's happening in your local area.

For more information, contact your local BASF representative or authorized retailer.

Nurizma, Status, and Veltyma are registered trademarks of BASF. Surtain is a trademark of BASF. All other trademarks are the property of their respective owners and use of any such trademark does not imply any affiliation with or endorsement by its owner. ©️ 2024 BASF Corporation. All Rights Reserved.