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Several Crop Protection Network (CPN) webinars are scheduled for this spring. Some of the best minds in agriculture will talk about ways to keep soybeans healthy.

Martin Chilvers, Michigan State University associate professor of plant pathology; Carl Bradley, University of Kentucky extension professor of plant pathology; and Trey Price, LSU AgCenter associate professor of plant pathology will give talks in February, March and April.

Cooler and wetter conditions can effect corn germination and emergence, but they can also provide a favorable environment for seedling diseases.

One research study being conducted by ISU is taking a closer look at seedling diseases in corn. The goals of the research are (i) to identify what pathogens are reducing corn stands and (ii) determine their sensitivity to various fungicides found in seed treatments.

To help expand the scope of this study, we are looking for corn seedlings showing symptoms of seedlings diseases (yellow, dying leaves, wilted, stunted).

Several corn fields in southeast Iowa are having disease issues this spring. After visiting with several ag retailers and farmers, I had Alison Robertson and Tom Kaspar, a plant physiologist with the USDA-ARS, out yesterday to look at some fields with issues. When we put all the pieces together, we have to try to decide whether pathogens, such as Pythium, started the problem, whether they just took advantage of another problem, or whether it was a combination of issues.

A couple of weeks ago in a blog post, I shared with you some research we are doing on the effects of cold stress on soybean susceptibility to seedling pathogens.