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Preventive tar spot treatments going out

A mid-Michigan farmer says he’s not taking a risk with tar spot this season.

Mark Senk spoke with Brownfield while he was out spraying for the disease Tuesday.

“My farm was hit really hard with tar spot in 2021 and the fungicide really paid off that year,” he shares. “We had acres that didn’t have fungicide versus acres that did and it was really a payoff.”

He says at the moment corn stands look really good.

“We’re going to put fungicide on all our corn acres this year,” he says. “Going through the corn, there really isn’t any visual diseases that I can pick up and I don’t see any bug issues.”

Tar spot has been confirmed in at least 12 Michigan counties so far. 

Michigan State University recommends making fungicide application between the silking and dough stages for the best suppression.

Senk farms 3,000 acres of corn, soybeans, and wheat with his family in Owosso.

AUDIO: Mark Senk