April 22, 2025 - Corn growers know better than anyone: success starts underground. From the moment a kernel is placed in the furrow, it faces an invisible gauntlet of pathogens, insects, and environmental stressors. That’s why in-furrow disease and pest control isn’t just a helpful add-on—it’s a critical step in setting your corn crop up for strong, even emergence and high yield potential.
The first 50-60 days after planting are a make-or-break period for corn. Any early-season stress—from chilling injury to soilborne disease—can compromise emergence, reduce stand counts, and stunt root development. And once you lose that momentum, it's hard to get it back.
In-furrow applications offer a powerful advantage by protecting the seed and young roots right where they’re most vulnerable. This means:
Better stand establishment
Stronger root systems
More uniform plant growth
Greater resilience to weather and nutrient stress
Simply put, in-furrow protection helps corn plants hit the ground running.
Corn may look tough above ground, but below the surface, it’s surprisingly susceptible to a range of pathogens—especially under cool, wet conditions. Common culprits like Pythium, Fusarium, and Rhizoctonia can delay emergence or cause damping-off in young seedlings.
In-furrow fungicides provide a crucial first line of defense. By treating the soil zone around the seed, these products help:
Prevent early rot and seedling blight
Reduce the risk of root pruning and systemic infection
Support better nutrient and water uptake all season long
This disease protection is especially important when planting into high-residue systems or under no-till conditions, where pathogen load can be higher.
Some of the most damaging pests in corn are the ones you don’t see—until it’s too late. Corn rootworms, nematodes, seed corn maggots, and white grubs all operate below ground, attacking roots and seedlings before scouting is even possible.
In-furrow insecticides strike early and precisely, delivering protection directly in the root zone where these pests are most active. This can help:
Preserve stand counts and root integrity
Reduce replant risk
Improve uniformity across the field
And when corn plants grow evenly, they compete less with each other and convert inputs more efficiently into yield.
One of the biggest advantages of in-furrow application is precision. Put the product exactly where it's needed—at the seed and prevent yield-robbing root damage. When corn roots are injured the plant’s ability to absorb water and nutrients efficiently is significantly reduced, compromising the corn crop at critical growth stages. An at-plant Precision crop protection application not only maximizes the efficacy of your inputs but also:
Give young corn plants an extra boost in root development and stress tolerance with in-furrow crop protection.
For corn growers, yield is built from the roots up. And while much of the season’s story is told above ground, it’s the early, unseen battle in the furrow that often determines the ending.
By investing in in-furrow disease and pest control, you’re investing in stronger emergence, healthier roots, and a crop that’s ready to handle whatever the season throws at it. In the race to harvest, there’s no substitute for a strong start—and in-furrow is how you get there.
Try these products for the most efficient and effective at-plant corn solutions:
And for an extra foliar boost, try these Precision Chemistry fungicides on your corn acres: