Tar spot found in new states

by | Mar 28, 2022 | Educational Articles

Since 2015, tar spot has expanded its footprint from Illinois, Indiana, and other midwestern states and notably Nebraska, Georgia, Kentucky, and Pennsylvania added confirmed fields this year.
By MARGY ECKELKAMP October 26, 2021

In 2021 tar spot expanded its footprint in every direction–north, south, east and west–and the disease brought severe yield loss in its most highly infected areas. Farm Journal Associate Field
Agronomist Missy Bauer says her customers in Michigan saw 60 to 100 bu. yield decline thanks to premature plant death brought on by the disease.

Since 2015, tar spot has expanded its footprint from Illinois, Indiana, and other midwestern states and notably Nebraska, Georgia, Kentucky, and Pennsylvania added confirmed fields this year. “This is a disease you have to pay attention to,” says Dr. Nathan Kleczewski, plant pathologist with Growmark. “In Illinois over the last four years–two of those years had light outbreaks and two years with severe outbreaks. You have to be prepared, and right now using a fungicide at the appropriate timing and selecting a less susceptible hybrid are the best tools we have.”

To read more go HERE.