At its worst, an ear looks like it was eaten by an animal. The ear will lose its integrity and thus break more easily, and it also will form a crust with other damp ears. But most important, White says, is that the fungus leaves the corn vulnerable to other fungi that also can make the corn moldy. Then, crusty clumps can clog the grain bins, or a thin layer of crust can form over the top of the bin, potentially spreading throughout the bin, he says. Typically a farm has three to five grain bins, Kingman says, and bins can hold anywhere from 30,000 bushels to 100,000 bushels of grain.
Corn stored in the bins is used for products like corn syrup.
Diplodia can lead to economic problems for farmers, according to a Grain Quality Task Force report. As kernels are eaten by the fungus, the weight of the corn is reduced, resulting in a lower sale price. In addition, corn that's damaged sells for less money. But more serious is the loss of life. Typically, a farmer will try to unclog the bin or break through a crusty surface, Kingman says.