Tar spot has been steadily making its way across the Midwest. Parts of eastern Iowa have already been noticing the disease showing up in their cornfields. As the 2021 growing season rapidly approaches, many are wondering what they need to be looking for in their fields, what can stop tar spot, and how far will it move across Iowa this year.
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Dean Grossnickle is An Agronomy Services Representative for Syngenta. He talks about tar spot, where it comes from, and how it is starting to make its presence known in Iowa.
Tar spot is responsible for losses of between 20 and 60 bushels per acre. While the numbers in Iowa have yet to be that high, Grossnickle says if it gets the right conditions, those yield losses could mount.
For farmers in central and western Iowa, who could be seeing this disease for the first time, the question is about detection. How do you decipher this disease from something less threatening to your corn crops? Diligent scouting is going to be key. Grossnickle says spotting tar spot early can be tricky, as you can mistake it for just dirt on the leaves or bug droppings.
Just because the disease is new to our state, does not mean you have reason to panic. If you are proactive, you can get ahead of the disease. Syngenta has tools to help you neutralize the threat from tar spot in their Miravis? Neo and Trivapro? fungicides. Both can offer preventative and curative options in your cornfields.
For more information, visit your local Syngenta retailer.
