Michigan State University will host a Corn Virtual Field Day from 9 to 11 a.m. Sept. 9, providing an emphasis on 2020 production issues, including tar spot disease, field unevenness and integrated management.

The event, moderated by Kristin Poley, manager of Michigan research and soil health partnership for Corn Marketing Program of Michigan, will feature MSU Extension specialists and educators.

Organizers have developed an interactive and responsive program that will include video, conversation, and questions and answers. 

Tar spot in corn

“Tar spot is a recently introduced disease to Michigan, and we are still learning a lot about it and how best to manage it,” says Marty Chilvers, MSU Extension field crops pathologist. “The 2018 season saw some fields experience losses on the order of 50 bushels per acre due to this disease. The 2019 season was drier in July and August, so losses were far less severe. However, the pathogen continued to spread and can now be found across the lower half of Michigan.”

The second half will focus on uneven corn development within a field with a panel of MSU Extension field crops specialists. Among the presenters will be weed specialist Erin Burns. 

“Understanding how early-season weed control decisions impact season-long success is a critical component to corn production,” says Burns, who will share resources about weed control research in corn conducted by the MSU Weed Science Program.

“Variability early in the season can impact pollination success, and there are many agronomic factors affecting that variability,” says MSU cropping systems agronomist Manni Singh, who will discuss management decisions that drive some of those agronomic factors.

Other topics include:

Two pesticide recertification credits and two continuing education units for certified crop advisers will be available for those participating in the live event. The program will be recorded with archived videos available shortly afterward.

To register, visit the registration website. A Zoom link will be provided upon registration. For more information about this and other MSU Extension virtual field days, visit the Virtual Field Days website.

Source: Michigan State University Extension, which is solely responsible for the information provided and is wholly owned by the source. Informa Business Media and all its subsidiaries are not responsible for any of the content contained in this information asset.