Some Minnesota farmers are seeing a unique harvest phenomenon known as “sooty mold.”
University of Minnesota Integrated Pest Management Specialist Bruce Potter says tiny spores are turning combines black.
“They’re harmless to the corn and is growing on the outside of the plant, the stems and leaves. It’s similar to the mold you see when you have soybean aphids and get some discoloration on those plants.”
He tells Brownfield abnormal warmth and humidity at harvest is causing the sooty mold, and earlier maturing hybrids are most effected.
