Farmers face the risk of major yield loss from corn diseases in any given season, but they will have a new defense in 2017 with the debut of DEKALB® Disease Shield™ corn products.

Six new DEKALB Disease Shield products are being introduced that provide industry-leading protection against today’s top corn diseases, along with exclusive genetics to maximize yield opportunity.

Developed through the brand’s advanced breeding program, DEKALB Disease Shield corn provides a broad spectrum of enhanced protection against today’s most common, yield-robbing corn diseases, including anthracnose stalk rot, gray leaf spot, Goss’s wilt, northern corn leaf blight and, in limited geographies, southern rust.

DEKALB Disease Shield products span the 109 to 120 relative maturities for 2017 and will continue to expand in the coming years. “They not only offer great, season long disease tolerance, but also strong agronomics and elite genetics to help deliver the consistent yield performance farmers expect from the DEKALB brand,” said Jared Webb, DEKALB product manager.

The 2017 DEKALB Disease shield products available in the Corn Growing Area include:

• DKC59-50RIB brand blend – a 109 RM product with VT Double PRO® RIB Complete® Corn Blend
• DKC64-34RIB brand blend – a 114 RM product with SmartStax® RIB Complete® Corn Blend
• DKC64-35RIB brand blend – a 114 RM product with VT Double PRO RIB Complete Corn Blend
• DKC66-74RIB brand blend – a 116 RM product with SmartStax RIB Complete Corn Blend
• DKC66-75RIB brand blend –  a 116 RM product with VT Double PRO RIB Complete Corn Blend
• DKC70-27RIB brand blend – a 120 RM product with VT Double PRO RIB Complete Corn Blend

The same corresponding genetics, except for DKC59-50RIB, will be available in the Cotton-Growing Area without RIB Complete® corn blend.

Trial plots show effective protection

Webb said DEKALB Disease Shield showed very effective disease protection in on-farm and university trial plots during 2016 in areas that experienced significant disease pressure. “Overall,  DEKALB Disease Shield plants were healthier and had excellent staygreen characteristics compared to competitor products, which had less green tissue due to disease lesions on the plants,” he said. “Farmers we have heard from are looking forward to planting this new corn technology because it helps reduce their risk. From season to season, they never know when a major disease will occur, and with DEKALB Disease Shield they know they are protected.”

Josh Young, of Carlinville, Illinois, said his trial plot of DEKALB Disease Shield corn stood up well to this season’s disease pressure. “When we look at DEKALB Disease Shield, the performance, the disease resistance, we expect high yields,” he said. “They look like they’ve protected their ultimate potential without reduction from foliar disease pressure.”

Even in times of lighter disease pressure, farmers say the new corn technology can mean they can plant with more confidence. “Protecting my top end yield potential is important to our operation,” said Jeff Steinhoff, who planted a DEKALB Disease Shield trial plot on his farm in St. Charles, Missouri. “The concept of DEKALB Disease Shield offering broad spectrum disease protection through the season gives me peace of mind that my crop can reach its fullest potential and maximize my return on investment.”

Other benefits of this new corn line-up include better standability and improved harvestability. All six DEKALB Disease Shield products are available with Acceleron® Seed Applied Solutions with Enhanced Disease Control.

For additional information on protecting their cornfields in 2017, farmers can contact their DEKALB Asgrow® dealer or visit www.DEKALB.com/DiseaseShield.