Field library

False Smut

A fungus that turns single grains in the panicle into round velvety balls. The balls start orange-yellow, turn olive-green, and end up black. Usually only a few grains per panicle are hit, but the powder dirties the rest of the grain and pulls the price down.

How to scout

After flowering, walk the field and look on the panicles for odd yellow or green balls sitting where a grain should be, especially in the lush, heavily fertilised patches.