Corn Diseases in Southwest NY
Joshua Putman, Field Crops and Forage Specialist
Southwest New York Dairy, Livestock and Field Crops Program
The 2019 growing season was favorable to diseases in our corn and soybean production systems. In southwest NY, Northern Corn Leaf Blight (NCLB) and Grey Leaf Spot (GLS) showed up and spread throughout our corn fields. Northern corn leaf blight fungus survives the winter on infected corn residue and remains on the soil surface. As temperatures increase in the spring, the fungus produces spores which then splash or are wind-blown onto the lower canopy of the corn plants. Last year, the cool, wet summer allowed for early appearance in our corn fields. Grey leaf spot is a destructive disease that can significantly reduce yields. Just like NCLB, the disease survives on corn residue on the soil surface and splash from the soil surface onto the lower leaves of a corn plant. The wind can carry the spores to a neighboring field if the disease is present in the crop residue. These two diseases can result in 10-50% yield reductions if the timing and conditions are favorable. Weather is the primary influence on the development of these diseases, but proper management with hybrid selection and use of an in-season fungicide will help limit the exposure to these diseases. Contact your local extension specialist for correct identification and management of these pests!
For more information see: https://www.extension.purdue.edu/extmedia/BP/BP-56-W.pdf;
https://www.extension.purdue.edu/extmedia/BP/BP-84-W.pdf
Field Crops
Dairy
Business
Livestock
Grains
Upcoming Events
Crops, Cows & Critters - Southwest New York Dairy, Livestock & Field Crops Newsletter Sponsorship
December 19, 2025
Our two forms of publications feature research-based and timely information from our four specialists, listed to the right, along with local event notifications and Cornell University outreach. This information is provided to participants who range from dairy, livestock, and field crops producers to agricultural suppliers and consultants.
Weekly Email Update: Shared with 625+ households who have signed up with our program.
Monthly Paper Mailer: To reach our stakeholders and farmers who lack internet access, we send out a monthly mailer where your company's logo and contact information would be featured with a mailing list of 330+ households.
If you sponsor our weekly and monthly publications you reach approximately 955 households.
Visit our website to view our newsletters!
2025 Cornell Food Beverage & Animal Feed Manufacturer Survey
December 19, 2025
Industry and Educational Advocates for New York State's Food, Beverage, and Animal Feed Manufacturing industries:
As you know, NYS has a diverse food and beverage manufacturing industry, in both the types of industries that exist and the wide distribution of firms by scale. Many manufacturing firms have strong backward linkages to agricultural production sectors in the state that support both farm-level and downstream food industry firms and consumers. In collaboration with the New York State Department of Agriculture and Markets, a team from Cornell University's Charles H. Dyson School of Applied Economics and Management has recently rolled out the 2025 New York State Food, Beverage, and Animal Feed Manufacturer Survey. The industry will benefit from an updated assessment of the industry that informs private and public investments and opportunities to support firm growth and improved profitability.
Cornell Organic Field Crops & Dairy Conference
March 6, 2026
Waterloo, NY
Farmers, researchers, educators, and agricultural service providers from across the Northeast are invited to the 2026 Cornell Organic Field Crops & Dairy Conference, held Friday, March 6, 2026, from 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. at the Lux Hotel & Conference Center in Waterloo, N.Y.
Co-hosted by New York Soil Health and Cornell CALS, the annual conference brings together leaders in organic grain, dairy, and livestock systems to share practical tools, new research, and farmer-tested strategies to support resilient and profitable organic production.
Announcements
No announcements at this time.