Corn Yield Loss Estimates Due to Diseases in the United States and Ontario, Canada from 2012 to 2015

TLDR

The cost of disease‑mitigating strategies is another potential source of profit loss. The survey aims to provide data to inform and prioritize research, policy, and education in corn pathology and disease management. Yield losses were estimated by surveying Corn Disease Working Group members across 22 U.S. states and Ontario from 2012 to 2015. Yield losses varied by state and year, with foliar diseases dominating in the north and stalk rot or nematodes in the south, and an average economic loss of $76.51 per acre from 2012 to 2015.

Abstract

Annual decreases in corn yield caused by diseases were estimated by surveying members of the Corn Disease Working Group in 22 corn-producing states in the United States and in Ontario, Canada, from 2012 through 2015. Estimated loss from each disease varied greatly by state and year. In general, foliar diseases such as northern corn leaf blight, gray leaf spot, and Goss's wilt commonly caused the largest estimated yield loss in the northern United States and Ontario during non-drought years. Fusarium stalk rot and plant-parasitic nematodes caused the most estimated loss in the southern-most United States. The estimated mean economic loss due to yield loss by corn diseases in the United States and Ontario from 2012 to 2015 was $76.51 USD per acre. The cost of disease-mitigating strategies is another potential source of profit loss. Results from this survey will provide scientists, breeders, government, and educators with data to help inform and prioritize research, policy, and educational efforts in corn pathology and disease management. Accepted for publication 26 August 2016.