Corn Ear Rots

This year does not appear to be a particularly bad year for ear rots. The season has been cooler than normal, and the weather has been fairly dry since silking. However, some field crop specialists have noticed ear rot problems, in particular, Diplodia ear rot. The incidence of corn ear rot should be determined before harvest for a number of reasons. First, ear rot diseases can reduce yield and quality of the corn harvest. Second, some of the fungi that infect corn ears may produce mycotoxins, which are harmful, and can be fatal, to livestock. Finally, ear rots can continue to be a problem in storage if the grain is not stored under the best possible conditions