This has been an interesting couple of weeks in Colquitt County agriculture. The local corn crop ranges from V6 to R1. The cotton crop ranges from not planted to 2 leaf. The crop progress report released on May 10 reported that 24% of the Georgia cotton crop and 28% of the Georgia peanut crop had been planted. The average for the period from 2021 to 2025 for this date is 25% for cotton and 31% for peanuts. The wet conditions this week in Colquitt County has slowed planting efforts.
For the period of May 1 to May 16, 2026, according to the Sunbelt Ag Expo location of the UGA Weather Network, 7.65 inches of rain were reported. In 2024, 7.17 inches of rain were reported, and growers had to stop planting for a few days.
What about the corn disease situation? Dr. Bob mentioned the other day in a disease update that we are still in May and no rust has been found; a fungicide application now, even on tasseling corn, is premature. It is advisable to wait a bit, unless some other disease, such as northern or southern corn leaf blight, is a factor. While some fungicides are better than others, given current conditions—still in May with no rust found—any pre-mixed-mode-of-action fungicide, with price as a consideration, is appropriate.
A good resource from the Crop Protection Network about corn fungicides is available below. This publication was developed by the Crop Protection Network, a multi-state and international collaboration of university/provincial extension specialists and public/private professionals that provides unbiased, research-based information to farmers and agricultural personnel.
Source : uga.edu