Many areas of the Midwest have been experiencing a significant amount of dry weather over the last few weeks. Because of this I have received a number of calls and questions from farmers regarding floppy corn (rootless corn) syndrome. In this video, I am in East Central Illinois in a field that was planted on May 10, 2017. Since planting, this area has gone through a significant dry spell, which is uncommon for the area.

Corn plants suffering from floppy corn syndrome will appear to be laying down in the field. One thing I have noticed while scouting fields is that, most often, the mesocotyl of these plants still appears to be healthy and intact. However, due to the dry weather, many plants have not had significant development of their nodal roots (major root system).

Check out this video to learn more about the symptoms and causes of floppy corn syndrome and what you can expect moving forward.