Joe Stephan first saw the tell-tale black specks of tar spot while touring corn research plots in the fall of 2016. At that time, tar spot was a new corn fungal disease, found only in limited locations in the Midwest.
“We had heard about tar spot and recognized the signs. But the disease tended to show up late in the growing season, so we didn’t expect much impact on yield. There was little data available,” recalls Stephan, an AgriGold agronomist in northern Indiana and southwest Michigan.
Fast forward just two years.
“By 2018, tar spot expanded its geographic footprint and started to affect plants much earlier in the season. In tar spot-infected fields, yield dropped by as much as 20, 30 or 40 bushels per acre,” Stephan says. The disease robs yields by reducing leaf surface area for photosynthesis so there is less energy available for plant and ear development.
Tar spot has since spread throughout the Midwest and eastern Corn Belt — affecting Iowa, Illinois, Indiana, Wisconsin, Michigan, Kentucky, and many other states. Last season it was identified as far west as Nebraska. Now farmers can track the spread of the disease. The Tarspotter app developed by the University of Wisconsin-Madison is a useful tool to help forecast disease pressure and assist farmers in making management decisions.
To reduce tar spot disease pressure and prevent potential yield losses, Stephan advises growers to work with their local agronomist or crop advisers to develop individualized farm and field management plans. Recommendations include understanding risk factors, planting corn hybrids with proven tar spot tolerance in fields that are unlikely to get fungicide applied and planning for timely fungicide applications.
Fields at risk for tar spot
As with other corn fungal diseases, hot, humid weather creates optimal conditions for tar spot.
“Irrigated fields are more susceptible because leaves stay wet longer. And irrigated corn tends to be taller with wider leaves, holding more moisture in the canopy,” Stephan says. “River bottoms, low-lying areas or fields surrounded by woods may also have an elevated risk, as well as fields planted in corn after corn because inoculum remains in crop residue.”
Decoding tar spot ratings
Planting tar spot-tolerant hybrids is the first step in managing the disease.
“The industry has done a good job of identifying hybrids with tar spot tolerance,” says Stephan. For example, AgriGold publishes tar spot ratings for its hybrids online and ranks tolerance on a scale of one to five, with five being the highest level of tolerance. Stephan emphasizes that other seed brands have different methods of reporting tar spot tolerance.
“Make sure you understand tar spot ratings and consult with your seed supplier to find the appropriate tolerance level for your field,” Stephan says. “Focus highly tolerant hybrids on fields that may be difficult to spray with fungicides, such as small fields or fields that are close to residential areas.”
Tar spot tolerance results
Matt Sebasty is one farmer who sought out tar spot tolerance after previously experiencing yield losses. Sebasty farms 3,500 acres of corn and soybeans at New Carlisle, Indiana.
“We first noticed tar spot in the 2020 season,” he recalls. “We were taken by surprise by tar spot and lost over 30 bushels per acre.”
Sebasty was better prepared to tackle tar spot in 2021 — despite a wetter-than-normal growing season that set up ideal conditions for the disease. He tried a hybrid highly rated against tar spot: AgriGold A636-16VT2RIB.
“The hybrid performed exceptionally well against tar spot pressure and outpaced our 2021 farm average by 21 bushels per acre. Many of the other hybrids we grew took large yield losses due to tar spot,” he says.
Fungicide strategies
It’s important for corn growers to understand that no hybrid is resistant to tar spot. Highly tolerant hybrids should stay healthier longer but may still be affected by the disease. Therefore, growers concerned about tar spot should plan their fungicide strategy now.
“Farmers should scout for the disease as the canopy starts to close and humidity rises,” Stephan says. “Keep in mind if it’s too wet to scout, conditions are ideal for tar spot.”
Fungicide timing can vary but in most cases two applications are needed. “Some farmers apply fungicides at planting and then plan for aerial application at the R3 stage. Others choose to spray at V8 to V10 stages and then follow up with another spray later,” Stephan says. “For those looking to make one application, the ideal time is just after tasseling, or before tasseling if humidity is high.”
Regardless, Stephan encourages farmers to avoid a “wait and see” attitude when it comes to tar spot, due to potential limitations in fungicide supply and infrastructure to get it applied.
“Farmers should be prepared and have their fungicide purchased and ready to go,” he says. “With current corn prices, spraying for tar spot is very cost effective when you factor in a potential loss of 20 or more bushels per acre.”
