By Linda Geist
Good scouting is the best way to identify tar spot in corn, says University of Missouri Extension state plant pathologist Mandy Bish.
Tar spot was confirmed in June of 2023 and 2024 in Missouri, which is earlier than in previous years, when the disease showed up in August or September. This earlier appearance is likely to continue because Missouri’s spring air temperatures are favorable for the disease, says Bish. However, the disease typically slows significantly in July as air temperatures rise.
Tar spot gains ground in Missouri cornfields
The yield-robbing disease gained ground in Missouri cornfields in recent years and likely will continue to spread in 2025, says Bish. The pest monitoring and forecasting website ipmPIPE shows where the disease has taken hold in Missouri, mostly in the northern half of the state.
Source : missouri.edu