Southern Rust a Threat To Corn Crops

Farmers across Wisconsin are facing new challenges with their corn crop. At the University of Wisconsin-Madison’s Entomology and Plant Pathology Farm in rural Columbia County, staff are inspecting and testing corn crops for diseases that could threaten corn country. Damon Smith, a professor from UW-Madison’s College of Agriculture says one of the biggest concerns this year is southern rust, a fungus that travels from the gulf states each spring. Fungus weakens the plant and reduces the harvest, but scientists say the corn remains safe to eat.