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Be on the lookout for tar spot

An agronomist with Beck’s Hybrids says farmers need to be scouting for tar spot.

Chad Kalaher, who covers northeast and east central Illinois, tells Brownfield conditions this season are favoring the corn disease.

“Really we have a bigger risk with later planted crops.”  He says, “Tar spot hits, let’s say before tasseling, it’s definitely going to take more of a management decision there to apply fungicide once, maybe even twice.”

He says it’s already been confirmed in several midwestern states.

“Tar spot can be in the bottom or the top of the plant, so it’s not just looking at the bottom and all the way up to the ear.”  He says, “Now it’s looking at the whole plant. We just have to stay vigilant on these diseases.”

Kalaher says tar spot prefers cooler and wetter summer conditions.

AUDIO: Chad Kalaher – Beck’s Hybrids agronomist