Challenging weather patterns continue across southern and central Minnesota. In the southwest to south central part of the state, conditions remain dry with western Cottonwood County and areas west of there needing the most rain. Many other areas of the state continue to receive too much rain. Latham® dealer Larry Litzau near Glencoe has certainly received more than enough rain! Check out the report we filed Monday “From the Field” and see how his crops are faring in saturated soils. Be sure to click on the report from June 8 to see the ponding photos.

Areas on either side of state Highway 212, from east to west, have received heavy rains and high winds. Hail damage stretches from Redwood Falls to Hastings with the most severe hail damage just north of New Ulm where corn was completely stripped and beans fields were annihilated to black dirt. The garden spot of Minnesota seems to be Lac Qui Parle County, north of Madison, where corn is reported to be 5 feet tall.

Knowing the amount of hail damage throughout our area even the less severe damaged fields are now susceptible to a multitude of diseases. Several corn diseases can be increased by hail including but not limited to bacterial stalk rots and Goss’s Wilt. Common smut and ear molds are also associated with hail damage.

Soybeans can usually recover from low to moderate hail damage fairly well but can also be susceptible to bacterial blights and other issues. Plants that have been damaged or wounded are also more susceptible to infection from plant pathogens. Soybean plants that have torn stems should be watched closely in the coming week for evidence of pathogen infection. Lesions around the base of the stem and plant wilting are often good indicators. If this is the case, it will be necessary to estimate the number of viable plants in the field again, and make a decision concerning replanting.

Please be scouting your fields now and throughout the growing season; document any hail damage, excess water damage or disease issues on a per field basis now. Keep these notes handy at harvest to help identify reasons of any possible disappointing yield results. (It’s easy to forget at harvest the events that happened throughout the entire growing season.) These field notes will also be helpful as you make seed purchases for the 2013 season.

Goss’s Wilt needs some sort of lesion or damaged tissue in order to become a factor. There isn’t much we can do now with any Goss’s Wilt issues, but if it is present this year, switch that field to soybeans next year. In the future, be sure to select hybrids suited for Goss’s Wilt. For more information on Goss’s Wilt, read this article by Dean Malvick with the Department of Plant Pathology at the University of Minnesota.