Corn Disease Found In North Louisiana Crops

The LSU AgCenter says a bacterial infection of corn has been confirmed in four northeast Louisiana parishes. That represents the farthest south that Goss's wilt has been found. And while it hasn't shown up in Mississippi and Arkansas, but experts there say it's sure to happen.

AgCenter Plant pathologist Clayton Hollier says the discovery is surprising because Louisiana's a long way from the corn belt.

Hollier says that since June 18, the bacterium has been found in Louisiana's Madison, Tensas, and East and West Carroll parishes.

He says farmers whose corn has been infected should bury stalks and leaves left in their field to cut chances of a wider outbreak next year. He says planting a different crop could help, too.