Stalk integrity could become one of the biggest challenges of this harvest.

In this episode of The Acre Advantage, Dan Bjorklund is joined by Landus agronomist Jaci Winkelpleck and grower Mick Johnston to talk about what they’re seeing across Iowa as crown rot, stalk rot, anthracnose and bacterial leaf streak begin showing up in corn fields.

They break down how cool, wet planting conditions earlier this spring are showing up now, what growers should be looking for before harvest, and how early-season plant health can impact standability and yield later in the year.

The conversation covers:

• Why stalk and crown issues are showing up field by field
• What SkyScout imagery is revealing that can be difficult to see from the road
• Managing crop stress from emergence through VT
• The role of starter fertilizer, micronutrients, fungicides and products like Halcyon
• Why cost per unit of production can matter more than cost per acre
• How in-season management decisions compound over the course of a growing season
• How to perform a simple push test before harvest
• Why compromised fields may need to come out earlier rather than waiting for ideal grain moisture

Dan also references a recent agronomy video showing drone footage and SkyScout imagery from fields where scattered areas of premature plant death are becoming visible.

Watch the agronomy video Dan references:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sRyTl90gJLI

Dan, Jaci and Mick also discuss how whole-field scouting technology can help growers identify problem areas, evaluate management decisions and use this year’s information to make better decisions for the next crop.

Disease pressure is building across Iowa, but it's not the same story everywhere.

In this episode of Acre Advantage, Dan Bjorklund is joined by Jaci Winkelpleck and Kade Schmidt to break down what they're seeing in fields across the state. From bacterial leaf streak and gray leaf spot to southern rust, tar spot, and the emerging Curvularia leaf spot, the team discusses what is developing, where it's showing up, and what growers should be watching over the coming weeks.

The conversation also explores how SkyScout is helping agronomists identify high-risk areas faster, along with new POMA technology that may detect tar spot infections before visible lesions appear. The team shares yield data from fungicide trials, discusses when a second fungicide application may be warranted, and reviews how nutritional products performed under high-stress conditions last season.

• Current disease pressure across Iowa corn and soybeans
• Southern rust, tar spot, bacterial leaf streak, and Curvularia updates
• How SkyScout is prioritizing scouting locations
• Early disease detection with POMA technology
• Fungicide timing and ROI from 2025 field trials
• Nutrient and biostimulant performance under weather stress
• What growers should monitor over the next several weeks

If you have questions about disease pressure in your fields or want to learn more about SkyScout, contact your local Landus agronomist.

#SkyScout #Corn #Soybeans #Agronomy #Fungicide #TarSpot #SouthernRust #CropScouting #Landus #AcreAdvantage

As Iowa crops enter one of the most critical months of the growing season, what should growers be watching?

In this episode of the Acre Advantage Podcast, Landus Technical Agronomist Dan Bjorklund is joined by longtime agronomist Dave Lunke to discuss how spring planting conditions are still influencing fields today—and what July weather could mean for the rest of the season.

They cover the lasting effects of cool soils and uneven emergence, why root development matters more than what's visible above the canopy, and what Landus agronomists are finding through field visits and SkyScout® imagery. The conversation also explores sulfur deficiencies, early disease observations including tar spot, anthracnose, and gray leaf spot, emerging insect pressure, and how weather during the next several weeks could shape yield potential.

Whether you're evaluating fungicide timing, monitoring disease pressure, or simply wondering what to expect as crops approach tasseling, this episode offers practical, field-tested insights to help you make informed decisions throughout July.

In this episode:

• How spring planting conditions continue to impact crop performance
• Why July weather often determines the rest of the growing season
• Early observations of disease pressure across Iowa
• Nutrient deficiencies and what they're telling us
• What to watch as corn approaches tasseling and pollination
• How SkyScout® is helping identify issues before they become widespread