5-17 FB Fungicide

 It is decision season for growers across the country as they make plans to protect their investments and maximize yields. One of the key determinations is appropriate timing for applying a fungicide. While advice on this issue can be varied, growers know that the correct timing can mean the difference between a good season and a great one. I recently talked with BASF technical market manager Nick Fassler who has seen more than 10 years of research on this topic. I asked his opinion on when is the best time for growers to apply a fungicide on their corn acres. “Historically and even as recently as last year what we consistently see is that the optimum time for a fungicide application is during those early reproductive stages. That would be after full tassel up through brown silk and that provides excellent protection during late season grain fill. So this timing is of the most beneficial timing to really protect that crop through the length of the season. Something else about that timing. It is ahead of the disease curve so you are getting excellent preventative activity by inhibiting disease and protecting it during this timeframe and maximizing that grain fill as well as your yield potential.