With the struggles of planting crops in the rear-view mirror, you will see farmers struggling with the decision on how to get across the finish line this fall. According to the United States Department of Agriculture's Wisconsin Crop Progress and Condition Report, soybean blooms were at 47 percent, a couple of days behind the pace of last year and the five-year average. Corn silking was 40 percent complete, ahead of last year's pace and the five-year average. While both crops are in better condition than last year, there is less of it in the fields. The USDA's National Agricultural Statistics Service says 300,000 fewer acres were planted this year than last. While other crops took up some of those acres, many were affected by the wet spring. Throw in low corn prices, and Rio Creek Feed Mill agronomist Adam Barta says farmers have to decide to protect what they have already worked so hard to grow.

Barta suggests farmers scout their fields to see how they may be affected by disease before taking additional measures if they have not already treated them with fungicides and herbicides.

Pictured above are tar spots on a corn plant, one of the many diseases farmers are looking for in their fields this time of year.