By Scout Nelson
Kansas corn growers now have stronger tools to fight corn leafhoppers and corn stunt disease. The Kansas Corn Commission is backing research led by K-State Plant Pathologist Rodrigo Onofre, PhD, to monitor and manage these emerging threats in the state.
“Controlling corn stunt starts with mitigating the number of corn leafhoppers in a field,” Dr. Onofre explained. Since corn leafhoppers can carry a bacterial pathogen that leads to corn stunt, early detection is key. Fungicides are not effective because the disease is bacterial.
To help farmers respond early, a collaborative effort involving K-State Research and Extension, Kansas Independent Crop Consultants, Corteva, and local ag agents is underway. At least three counties in each crop reporting district are being monitored using sticky traps. These are collected weekly and sent to Dr. Onofre’s lab for analysis.
About 33 Kansas participants are part of the project, which will run for 40 weeks. The trapped insects are tested to see if they carry corn stunt. The results are shown on a live map at kscorn.com/corndisease, where users can also access maps for other diseases like tar spot and southern rust, and watch video updates.
Corn leafhoppers are small, white insects with dark spots between their eyes and a V-shaped mark on their thorax. When they carry the bacteria, they can spread corn stunt by feeding on corn plants.
To further support growers, Dr. Onofre will offer free testing during the 2025 season for both corn tissue and insect samples. This data will help Kansas growers detect issues early, make informed decisions, and protect crop yields effectively.
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Categories: Kansas, Crops, Corn, Weather