Although recently we've had a return of the usual cool, wet weather, the overall warm spring means that corn planting is underway early this year. It's a good time to consider how this might affect diseases. For the most part, there is good news. Early planting can increase the risk of seedling disease and some other soilborne pathogens, but this year, the cold, wet soil usually associated with early planting just isn't there. For many other diseases, the risk of disease (or yield loss) is lower for early-planted corn.