We could have a record corn crop in 2021! At least it looks that way in the eastern Corn Belt. Corn plants in many fields added a couple of extra rows per ear and even added a second ear. Plants were busy making as many progenies as possible.

Timely rains during the same period made certain that kernel depth and test weight improvement further added to already high potential yields. However, conditions that were favorable for crop growth also were conducive to development of fungal leaf diseases such as northern corn leaf blight and gray leaf spot.

The discovery of a gene that regulates the angle of root growth in corn is a new tool that could enable the breeding of deeper-rooting crops with enhanced ability to take up nitrogen.

An international team of researchers led by Penn State identified the gene, ZmCIPK15 — a moniker indicating where it is in the genome and how it functions. The gene was found to be missing in a naturally occurring mutant corn line that grew roots at steeper angles, making them go deeper into the soil.

While some early corn is starting to be harvested in the state, some of the crop is still at the R5 growth stage (dent). After looking at several fields and speaking with consultants and extension agents, corn maturation has been slower than usual this year due to moderate temperatures, high humidity, and high rainfall amounts.

China is likely to take a break from buying large amounts of U.S. corn after record purchases this year because the domestic harvest is approaching and local prices have slumped to the cheapest since late 2020.

The world’s largest importer has already bought more than 10.5 million tons of U.S. corn for the 2021-22 marketing year, and over 23 million tons for the current season, U.S. Department of Agriculture data show. Total imports next year will likely be 20 million tons, according to the USDA’s Foreign Agricultural Service, while the USDA’s official forecast for this year is 26 million tons.

A three-day frost that took place last week in the South Western states of Brazil in Parana, Mato Grosso do Sul, Sao Paulo, Brazil, as well as Paraguay, are leading to lower corn yield projections.

Yield losses directly related to the frost are difficult to estimate, but according to Corteva, corn plants are extremely sensitive to frost, depending upon what stage they are in. Yield loss can reach as high as 66% in R4 stage. Most corn in Parana was in the R5.5 stage, where yield loss could reach 10%. Corn needs to reach R6 before it can withstand damage from frost.

A mass of cold air has hit Brazilian regions where safrinha corn (second crop corn) is produced, and although it is early to say because the frost just happened this Monday and Tuesday, producers are indicating that at least 50% of the production is suffering - some farmers even risk saying yield losses of 70% to 90%.

The mass caused a strong frost to arrive in the mid-south region of Brazil. Frost formations like these have not been seen in the country for a long time. Such weather also damaged coffee and sugar cane productions in São Paulo, Mato Grosso do Sul, and Paraná.

With high commodity prices, this is not the year to take the season off from scouting. Even if your corn was planted late, agronomists say you should continue scouting throughout the entire season.

“There may still be some things you can do this season to protect yield potential,” says Dave Nanda, director of genetics for Seed Genetics Direct. “If insects come in during silking in big numbers, or if diseases come in late, you must be ready.”

Big speculators weren’t the only force driving corn futures a dollar or more off their highs in May. But these so-called hedge funds certainly helped accelerate the downturn over the last two weeks, trimming bullish bets by more than 95,000 contracts worth some 475 million bushels.

Still, these professional gamblers may not be the real force behind corn’s ups and downs in 2021. Their net long positions actually peaked way back in January, just after nearby futures topped $5 for the first time since 2014.

You know fungicides return more dollars per acre on your investment if there is significant disease pressure, especially with susceptible hybrids. Jason Gahimer, manager of Beck’s Practical Farm Research, says there are other ways to increase the likelihood of a higher yield response and better return on investment when applying fungicides.

His team examined these practices in PFR studies. They include selection of the right fungicide, proper timing of application vs. growth stage of corn, obtaining adequate coverage and applying at the best time of day.