By Bonnie Coblentz
Mississippi’s corn crop is looking good this year, and harvest began in July for what was one of the earliest planted corn crops in state history.
Erick Larson, corn specialist with the Mississippi State University Extension Service, said most of the crop will be mature by the end of the month. This is weeks earlier than usual.
“Most of our corn crop was planted in the last 10 days of March,” Larson said. “Early planting and warmer-than-normal spring temperatures promoted earlier maturity.”
Mississippi growers are estimated to have planted about 780,000 acres, down from a record 910,000 acres in 2025. Recent corn acreage has fluctuated widely, with 580,000 acres in 2022, 790,000 acres in 2023 and 490,000 acres in 2024.
Pest and disease issues have been minimal. Larson said there has been an unusual amount of heat stress that has resulted from anaerobic soils, which limit plant and root function.
“The most prevalent corn issues have resulted from excessive rain beginning around Memorial Day and extending through the month of June,” Larson said. “Anaerobic soil, cloudy skies and high night temperatures limited the ability to produce energy, resulting in more kernel abortion in the tips of ears than normal.”
This kernel abortion in the tips of corn ears, often called tip-back or tip dieback, is a condition where kernels at the very end of the cob cease developing and shrivel up. Kernels at the tip of the ear form last and receive fewer nutrients when the plant is stressed.
Tom Allen, Extension plant pathologist and researcher with the Mississippi Agricultural and Forestry Experiment Station, said fungus can invade areas where tip dieback has occurred.
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