Some Reminders Before Field Corn Planting (Prostko)

Based upon my 22 years of experience in Georgia, here are 3 things that I know will happen somewhere in a patch of field corn in 2021:

1) Herbicide carryover will be blamed for corn injury but low soil pH is the real problem (Figure 1). Favorable average soil test results and/or "grid-sampling" do not guarantee that there are no areas of low soil pH in a field.

2) Herbicide carry-over will be blamed for corn injury but nematodes are the real problem (Figure 2).  In my opinion, nematodes are much more of a problem than is currently perceived by many.

3) Valor (flumioxazin) injury, from either sprayer contamination (i.e. improper cleanout) or drift will occur (Figure 3).  Good news is that depending upon rate and stage of growth, field corn has some tolerance to Valor (Figures 4 and 5).