Nebraska confirms Southern Rust in corn

Nebraska's Thayer County confirmed Southern rust on corn last week.

The plant disease was confirmed Thursday (July 31) in samples submitted from Thayer County to the UNL Plant and Pest Diagnostic Clinic.

There also are unconfirmed reports of the disease in two more counties.

Warm temperatures, high humidity and showers forecast for early next week are expected to promote development and spread of the disease.

Rust diseases are immensely harmful as they produce large amounts of spores that are easily moved by wind for long distances.

This is the third year that southern rust has been reported in Nebraska, having caused substantial yield loss in south central Nebraska in 2006 and losses to a lesser extent in 2007.

Southern rust severity can increase rapidly during periods of high humidity or wetness.

Southern rust was reported at low severity in a field in Manhattan, Kansas one week ago and continues to be severe in some southern states.