A Banner Year for Foliar Disease

The 2025 North Dakota Corn Disease Survey is showing higher-than-normal disease pressure this season. NDSU Extension Plant Pathologist Andrew Friskop says warm, wet conditions allowed certain foliar diseases more time to develop. “This year was what I call a banner year for foliar diseases,” said Friskop. “The good thing is most of the diseases didn’t develop until the dent stage or after the dent stage, so I don’t think there’s much yield loss.” Friskop was surprised by the amount of Northern corn leaf blight and Southern rust. “In Iowa, they had very high levels of Southern rust, and that likely contributed to spores blowing into North Dakota. The good thing for us is it didn’t really take off until later in the season, but in Iowa, they’re losing 50 or 60 bushels just from Southern rust alone. It’s going to be part of a lot of conversations among corn growers this winter season.”