It is resistant to anthracnose and maize dwarf mosaic and is moderately susceptible to bacterial stripe. Della does not resist lodging as much as Dale and is more variable in plant height. It is similar to Dale in syrup quality. The biggest advantage of Della is that it matures one week earlier than Dale and thus would let you start cooking a little earlier in the fall. Miss. Dale matures about 3 weeks earlier than the older varieties, Sart and Wiley, which are late for Kentucky, and about 14 days later than Sugar Drip.
Dale is resistant to leaf anthracnose, stalk red rot, and maize dwarf mosaic.
The medium-sized stalks of Dale grow upright and straight and are covered with a waxy bloom. The good standing ability of Dale is one of its strong assets. Dale normally has enough starch in its juice to give desirable syrup body, but not enough to interfere with syrup processing. The syrup from Dale has a mild sorghum flavor, good amber color, and excellent quality. The syrup does not readily gel.