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Scouting for tar spot

An extension agronomist is urging producers to be on the lookout for tar spot during the growing season.

Meaghan Anderson with Iowa State University says it’s been mostly spotty the last few years. “Tar spot was highly variable,” she said. “It seemed to depend very much on areas where people planted varieties that were more susceptible to tar spot.”

She tells Brownfield it’s more of a wait and see approach at this stage. “It’s that June, July, into August weather that’s going to tell the tale as to whether tar spot is going to be a big problem this year.”

Tar spot overwinters on corn residue and the spores can blow in from neighboring fields.