Navarro, Research Scientist at Corteva Agriscience, has spent a lot of time recently focused on corn stunt, a bacterial disease that affects corn plants. It stunts growth and reduces yields. Until 2024, it wasn't a disease often seen in the U.S. Fast forward to the 2025 growing season, and it's becoming a growing issue for corn growers in southern states.

"When we first started to see this last May, we were getting lots of calls from farmers," she said. "One of the first symptoms you're going to be observing is that at the beginning of the season you'll see the plants dying, some reddening in the leaf, and then you will see a corn leafhopper."

Outbreaks in Texas have been linked to the corn leafhopper moving north from Mexico. Corn leafhoppers feed on corn plants, and then they spread the bacteria to other plants as they feed on them. 

Navarro's best advice is to scout early and often. For more information, go here: https://www.pioneer.com/us/agronomy/corn-leafhopper.html