A “Serious Disease” is Killing Corn Across the Midwest

“Tar spot” is moving across the Midwest and Great Plains, according to a report from researchers at Kansas State University.

The disease first appeared in Indiana and Illinois in 2015. Since then, it has spread to surrounding states. Farmers spotted it in Nebraska for the first time in 2021, and in Missouri, Kansas, and South Dakota last growing season.

“It’s a very aggressive disease compared to some of the other diseases we deal with like southern rust, or gray leaf spot, or northern corn leaf flight. It moves very, very quickly. I’ve seen pictures from the Midwest where the infection begins, and seven days later that field is completely shut down,” said Southwest Missouri agronomist, Brian Bunt.

The fungal disease attacks leaf tissue in corn and can rapidly deteriorate the plant. According to the Crop Protection Network, it’s estimated that tar spot caused farmers to lose around $3 billion in the United States from 2018 to 2021, and has the potential to be more destructive in states that are just now seeing cases.

“This could continue to spread west and spread south, from where we first saw it in the northern parts of the Great Plains, so there’s definitely a risk it could move into our immediate area,” said Bunt.

Source: ksnt.com

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