Background
An Indiana grower met with his crop advisor in late May to early June to review strategies for improving crop health and yield potential. Coming off a tough spring with multiple cold days between planting and emergence, disease pressure—particularly from tar spot—was a significant concern due to the previous year’s experience. Although the grower had never applied a fungicide at the V5 stage before, he had heard of others doing so.
During the meeting, the crop advisor shared a V5 fungicide response chart built from over 13,000 acres of 2024 data. The chart highlighted the potential impact of V5 applications on fields with more than three cold days between planting and emergence, helping the grower visualize the opportunity to support his crop through early stress.
Challenge
The grower was interested in a V5 fungicide application but uncertain whether applying it across all his fields would provide a consistent return. His acres included both high-performing, irrigated fields and lower-yielding, more variable ground. Blanket application could be costly and inefficient.
He needed a way to identify which fields would benefit most from the treatment—especially during a busy part of the season when chemical and labor decisions must be prioritized carefully.
Solution
Using AGMRI data, the crop advisor provided a chart that pinpointed fields most likely to benefit from a V5 fungicide application (shown above). This data-driven approach allowed the grower to target specific fields rather than applying fungicide uniformly across his acres.
By focusing on fields with early cold stress and higher disease risk, he could confidently move forward with applications that would generate a return on investment.
Results
The data showed that treated areas in the targeted fields experienced an average 3.5 bushel per acre increase compared to untreated areas. By using a cost-effective fungicide, the grower more than covered his application costs and saw a clear financial benefit.
Encouraged by the outcome, the grower plans to use AGMRI in future seasons to refine and prioritize field treatments, particularly during critical growth stages.
