To the naked eye, corn and soybeans that were planted later than
usual might appear to have made up for the time lost earlier in
the spring. The pace at which these plants have grown, though,
means they might be prone to a unique combination of challenges.
One of these is the increased likelihood of disease.  It’s
common knowledge that late-planted corn is more likely to
display fungal disease symptoms. Not as well-known is why the
corn is so much more susceptible to disease. Bayer CropScience
identified the following reasons the crop is more susceptible:
1. When planting is late, warmer environmental conditions lead
to faster disease growth.   2. Faster fungal growth leads to
more inoculum, increasing the odds of infections.   3. Late-
planted corn means plants are younger when the fungi are more
active.   4. Young plants are more vulnerable to infection than
older, hardened plants.   5. Warmer conditions lead to rapid
tissue growth on the plants.   6. Rapid tissue expansion leads
to a thinner, waxy cuticl