These assessments aren’t for in-field management, but to improve the quality of the grain harvested and allow for educated decision-making in 2016.

Nebraska is starting to see early evidence of stalk and ear rot diseases. As harvest approaches, growers should watch for early symptoms and consider monitoring high risk fields.

Recent surveys indicate that 20% of the fields in Pennsylvania do not have a current soil test. With high yields, the plant food contained in the soil is depleted more rapidly.

Much of the 2014 Nebraska corn crop has experienced repeated and prolonged stress and wounding. While most of the corn crop looks good, we are beginning to see early evidence of problems developing. In particular, stalk rot diseases are beginning to develop in various areas across the state. Producers should strongly consider monitoring their fields for stalk rot diseases and weakened stalks as corn dries down and harvest approaches.

As the 2014 corn crop heads down the “home stretch” toward physiological maturity and harvest, here are a few items you may want to add to your “honey do” list.

It's not a question of if stalk rot will be an issue this year, says Matt Hubsch, lead agronomist for Legend Seeds.

Scout cornfields now for stalk rots which may threaten standability, Alison Robertson, Iowa State University plant pathologist says.