Just because tar spot was mostly a no-show in 2022 and 2023 doesn't mean that will be the case in 2024. Charting humidity levels can help predict if the disease will strike.
David Heublein won the conventional, non-irrigated category of the 2023 NCGA yield contest for the state. The amazing yield was grown with only one-third of the total rainfall his fields usually get in a growing season.
It’s no surprise those who chase high-yield honors set aside acres for that very purpose. However, there’s something to learn from the management practices that go into growing a record crop.
According to FMC, growers who use the product will find healthier root systems, improved plant stands and decreased lodging in their crops – potentially contributing to better yields.
Corn growers in 13 states have confirmed tar spot outbreaks now. Iowa leads the pack with the disease reported in at least 36 counties. Indiana is a close second. "It’s starting to explode," one agronomist says.
Wilbur-Ellis will offer the product for control of tar spot, common rust, Gray leaf spot, Northern corn leaf blight and Southern corn leaf blight for certain corn belt states.
“This is the earliest we’ve reported tar spot in Iowa,” says Robertson, Iowa State professor of plant pathology. She says the early detection could be due to the Tarspotter app. Here's how it works.
Flattened corn can often recover, stand and produce decent yields. Soybeans can shake off a storm and flourish, but beware spider mites in the next 10 days if temperatures stay 85-plus degrees with low humidity.
Growers in California have a new tool to control Powdery Mildew starting this season. Lallemand Plant Care announced today the registration of LALSTOP G46 WG for use against Powdery Mildew.
Row spacing is getting a closer look from farmers who are evaluating the practices that contribute most to soybean yield. Agronomic experts offer their insights here to help growers heading to the field this week.
Before planting even starts, diseases are likely on soil residue. That includes tar spot. While many believe rainfall and temperatures are key tar spot drivers, Agronomist Missy Bauer says there's a third indicator.
Actinovate can be used to protect crops against diseases including downy mildew, fusarium, phytophthora and many more. Actinovate becomes active in the soil when the temperature is above 45 F.
Unlike the early tar spot problem farmers experienced in 2021, the disease wasn't first reported in Indiana until August this year. Darcy Telenko studies the timing of fungicide applications in battling tar spot.
Both parties agree that valid intellectual property rights are important to the industry and should be respected. Atticus will continue to offer for sale its azoxystrobin products.
Tar spot and southern rust are increasing concerns and require a proactive management plan. Some fungicides can mitigate these and other diseases while protecting plants from stress. Retailers can guide your decisions.
As Rob Gibson, Certis Biologicals Global Portfolio Manager, says this partnership brings together the individual strengths, and the companies hope to have product approved in the market by September 2024.
“We think this is a unique proactive way to assess disease risk and disease developments in the season to change the way fungicides can be applied,” says Matt Free agronomy department manager at Evergreen FS
Availability could be a challenge this season. If you can only make one application, pull the trigger between tassel and R3 in corn and between R2 and R3 in soybeans, advises Ken Ferrie, Farm Journal Field Agronomist.
“Archive is a powerful pre-mix fungicide that will help growers combat the major storage pathogens that threaten their crop,” says Heather Ambuehl, post-harvest lead at Syngenta.
This late season disease is nothing to hit the snooze button on. “This is a disease you have to pay attention to,” says Dr. Nathan Kleczewski, plant pathologist with Growmark.
With the three-fold approach as a fungicide, CEO Darren Anderson says the product provides farmers with the confidence of a chemistry and the opportunities of a biological.
MiCrop Fungicide Powered by F Value Technology delivers innovation, proven performance and enhanced return on investment and will be available from Albaugh’s distribution partners and ag retailers this spring.
Farmers are still leaning into the services provided by their trusted advisors. A majority of farmers (69%) turn to a crop consultant or agronomist when making the final decision on crop inputs.
The company says the new formulation offers three modes of action, which provides consistent disease control, higher yield potential and improved plant health.
Tar Spot has been lurking in Midwest fields since 2015—and possibly even earlier by escaping detection. In five years, it has spread to eight states and decimated yield potential in its path.
“It’s important to remember 2019 had excess rainfall and high humidity. So, it was a prime environment for a lot of diseases, and with the increase in disease, we have a lot of inoculum in the soil” says Randy Kool
The acquisition includes active ingredients Fenamidone and Pencycuron as well as product registrations and trademarks including Consento, Reason, Monceren, and Prestige, and related intellectual property and labels.
“We piloted outcome based pricing in 2019, and we will continue to pilot it in 2020,” Chad Bilby says. “In this we’ll continue to gain feedback on the value farmers see.”
