More growers are noticing northern corn leaf blight (NCLB) – the most common corn leaf disease in Ontario. A proactive and integrated approach to management will mitigate significant financial losses.
The simple answer
Regular scouting is the best way to identify increases in the severity of NCLB. Ontario research has shown that an effective fungicide applied to an NCLB tolerant corn hybrid between tasseling (VT) and silking (R1) is the most effective way to decrease NCLB severity and protect grain yield potential. Reducing corn residue (<50% cover), rotating crop species (no corn after corn) and planting corn as early as possible will all contribute to reducing NCLB severity and increasing yields.
A little more information
Corn disease surveys conducted by OMAFRA (Ridgetown) and Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada (Ottawa) have noted an increase in NCLB severity and incidence across the province.
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