Easy test for stalk rot Stalk rot is on a lot of farmers' minds this year. The stress from hot and dry conditions mean fungus-related corn diseases are likely to turn up this fall.
Stalk rot causes stalks to become weakened, so they fall over from wind, rain or snow.
This makes corn much more difficult to harvest, and can lead to yield reductions. University of Nebraska plant pathologist Jim Stack suggests sampling a field for stalk rot by squeezing the lower third of 50-100 stalks to see if they compress easily. If a quarter of the stalks collapse, the field is at a high risk of yield loss, and should be harvested as soon as possible, he says.