Sean and Andrew sit down with Maira Duffeck from Oklahoma State University to hear her two cents on the latest disease attacking corn fields. 

The crew discusses:

✅ How artificial intelligence will transform disease and pest management 

✅ The pathogens behind corn stunt disease, and how it’s closer to your fields than you might think

✅ How corn leafhoppers transmit corn stunt disease

✅ Tracking the progression of corn leafhoppers across the U.S. (follow along here → https://cropprotectionnetwork.org/maps/corn-leafhopper)

✅ The potential for overwintering of corn leafhoppers and corn stunt disease pathogens

✅ Symptoms of corn stunt disease and what to do if you notice them in your fields

Learn more about corn stunt disease: https://www.cropscience.bayer.us/articles/bayer/corn-stunt-spiroplasma-disease-and-red-stunt-disease-complex

Meet the Guest:

🌱 Maira Rodrigues Duffeck is originally from Brazil, where she earned her bachelor’s degree and Ph.D. in plant pathology. Her doctoral studies led her to Penn State University, where she spent two years as a visiting scholar studying Fusarium head blight of wheat. She then worked at The Ohio State University as a postdoctoral researcher studying serial pathogens and diseases in corn and wheat before starting her current position as an assistant professor at Oklahoma State University, where she balances her time between extension and research.

Learn more about Maira: https://experts.okstate.edu/mairodr

A Penney for Your Thoughts is hosted by Sean Blomgren, agronomist and owner of Blomgren Seed from Boone, Iowa, and Andrew Penney,  plant doctor and Preceon agronomy lead for Bayer Crop Science from Ames, Iowa. We cover all things agronomy and high-yield management, share what we're seeing in the field and bring in trusted voices from the industry to deliver timely, relevant insights that matter to your farm. By combining real-time updates from the field with expert insights from industry professionals, we help you achieve your highest yields yet. It's ag talk that just makes cents.

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