Weather conditions have created the prime time for Aspergillus ear rot to develop in corn – according to Purdue Extension Plant Pathologist Kiersten Wise. There is no field without some potential for the disease – which is why Wise says growers need to scout their fields before harvest to determine the level of incidence of the disease and inspect their grain. The disease is an olive green mold that develops on corn ears. Fields at risk most are those where corn was planted between late March and early April. If corn was planted later in April – Wise says it is still at risk if it was under extreme drought stress during pollination, planted in sandy soils or had insect and hail damage. While there are no management strategies to reduce the disease in fields at this point – Wise says there are ways to lessen the aflatoxin issue. Those include harvesting the corn as early as possible, drying the grain to less than 15-percent moisture, removing fine material and thoroughly cleaning equipment before and after use.