Agronomists say combine fine-tuning and careful timing important this harvest season due to southern rust, other diseases. 

Southern rust and other leaf diseases in 2025 suggest this year’s harvest won’t be business as usual for Iowa farmers, creating unique challenges in the field.

Harvesting will require more fine-tuning than a typical year, advises Doug Houser, digital ag Extension specialist with Iowa State University Extension and Outreach. Slowing down, checking losses and adjusting settings for grain quality and residue distribution are key steps when running through the corn this fall.

“The diseases that we’re seeing have really cut the photosynthesis short, which means that we have shallower kernels,” Houser said. “And the leaves … you can see when you’re driving by a lot of fields, they are bone dry,” which can lead to...