AUDIO: Katie Strathman – BASF
A technical service representative with BASF says the recent heat wave may have slowed down development of tar spot during the day.
However, Katie Stratham tells Brownfield…
“Tar spot likes moderate temperatures, 60-to-70-degree temperatures, and it likes having increased leaf wetness.” She says, “I know that it’s been a little bit hotter during the days than in the 70s, but we also have to think about those nighttime temperatures because when we have nighttime temperatures in that range, fungi can still reproduce.”
She says confirmations of the disease continue to climb, and as the Midwest continues to see warm and humid conditions, it’s not likely to slow down.
“Scouting fields is key because that’s going to give you the best look at what’s going on in your backyard and your acres.” She says, “When we start to see disease, it doesn’t necessarily mean we pull the trigger right now today. It means that we need to be prepared to pull the trigger at the right time.”
Strathman says the best way to protect a corn crop from tar spot is a fungicide application at tasseling.
