Farmers need to be proactive when fighting tar spot

by | Nov 29, 2022 | 5 Ag Stories, News

Tar spot has continued its invasion of Iowa in 2022. The invasive disease that was first found in the eastern corn belt several years ago has continued its westward trek into the state of Iowa and was found throughout the state this year.

Rod Jurgens, a farmer from Hopkinton Iowa, says that tar spot is a real threat to corn yield numbers.

Jurgens was a part of a farmer panel at the AgReliant Genetics Tar Spot Summit in Westfield Indiana today. Jurgens says that he has prepared for tar spot every growing season.

2018 was the first time Jurgens had identified and dealt with tar spot in his fields.

Jurgens says it is already too late to respond to tar spot once you have identified it in your fields. It is better to plan for the invasive disease ahead of time.

Rod Jurgens says that he has tweaked his application method for fungicide which has dealt with tar spot effectively.

That?s Rod Jurgens, a farmer from Hopkinton Iowa.