By Rachel Cramer
A fungus that attacks corn has spread to over 40 Iowa counties.
Southern rust creates reddish-orange patches on the tops of corn leaves. This blocks photosynthesis, which weakens the plant and can reduce yields. Severe cases in Florida reported losses up to 45%.
“It's unlikely that we would see yield losses that significant here in Iowa, but there is potential this year to see more yield loss than we would see in a usual year,” said Meaghan Anderson, an extension field agronomist with Iowa State University.