VIDEO: Southern Rust Outbreak in Webster County Corn

WEBSTER COUNTY, Miss. (WCBI News) – An area of corn crop in Webster County was found to be infected with Southern Rust.

Southern Rust is a reddish-orange fungus that thrives in hot weather, traveling by wind and infecting the corn.

This is unusually early in the season for these sightings to occur.

Members of the Mississippi State Extension Service are looking at preventing the spread of this disease to crops in the neighboring counties.

“Right now, we’re looking at the crops, just trying to make sure that was just maybe an isolated situation. We’re not in panic mode at this stage; we’re just scouting fields looking for diseases,” said MSU Regional Agronomy Specialist, Dennis Reginelli.

Another issue is the large amounts of rain received in the last week.

Other than that, Reginelli says the corn is looking good for this season.