Tar Spot: Expert Control and Management Resources
Tar spot is an aggressive fungal disease that rapidly destroys corn leaf tissue, leading to significant yield loss and reduced stalk integrity. To protect your crop, scout your fields for small, raised black lesions and use proactive management strategies such as hybrid selection, residue management and well-timed fungicide applications. Stay ahead of outbreaks with the latest tar spot scouting tips and expert control recommendations for the current growing season.
Now’s the time to be scouting for the disease, especially where the inoculum is present. Tracking weather data, particularly daily humidity levels, can help you keep an eye on tar spot this season.
Corteva Forcivo will feature three modes of action to address foliar diseases in corn, soybeans, wheat and other crops via overlapping preventive and curative activity.
Despite being outside the optimum window for tar spot control, this Wisconsin field trial yielded strong results.
Iowa farmers say a foliar fungicide application can add more bushels per acre by preventing losses to disease pressure and minimizing the impact of environmental factors, such as heat stress and drought.
There’s a big crop in the field for many Midwest growers, and it requires fuel. N supplies ears with the energy they need to add kernels all the way to their tips and to pack on weight.
If you have tar spot, Southern rust or other disease pressure and plan to dry the crop in the field, you might want to spray again.
When average daily humidity levels reach and stay at 75% or above, that’s a signal your crop could be at high risk from the disease.
Some growers are struggling with waterlogged fields that are producing stunted, yellowing corn. Field Agronomist Ken Ferrie offers farmers hope and help with his practical, no-nonsense recommendations.
Ken Ferrie outlines various treatment scenarios, depending on what farmers find in their fields. He cautions that severe infections can easily cause 60-bu.-per-acre yield losses.
Scientists from the Agricultural Research Service have identified several different species of fungi and bacteria that can stop tar spot from developing.