Sharing is caring, except for when it comes to crop diseases. Many of the diseases that impact corn have in fact been shared through spores in the wind at some point, but most have become endemic to the corn producing regions of Canada. For this episode of The Agronomists, host Lyndsey Smith is joined by… Read More
Category: Tar spot
Peter “Wheat Pete” Johnson is back from a refreshing vacation full of family and fun, and he’s ready to share The Word once again. In this week’s episode, Johnson discusses tar spot risk, late white mould infection, aphid thresholds, and much more! Have a question you’d like Wheat Pete to address or some field results… Read More
Wet, humid conditions can cause corn diseases to advance quickly. The usual suspects are always a concern: Northern corn leaf blight, gibberella ear rot, and more, but a new-to-Ontario disease, tar spot, has been harder to predict when it comes to threat level. In 2022, early indications showed the disease was present but a dry… Read More
Corn growers who dodged the tar spot bullet last season are unlikely to be nearly so lucky this year, as the disease has been identified in southern Ontario and conditions are conducive to its spread. Peter “Wheat Pete” Johnson has that discussion on this week’s edition of Wheat Pete’s Word, plus an insect alert, an… Read More
What’s the best strategy for applying fungicide in highly variable corn fields where plants range in maturity from three to 10 leaves? That’s a question BASF agronomist Ken Currah tackles on this episode of the RealAgriculture Corn School. He says that’s been the story of many corn fields this year, especially on clay soils where… Read More
Tar spot has been spreading across North American corn growing regions ever since the leaf disease was first detected in 2015. Characterized by tar-like speckling on the upper surface of corn leaves, the fungal pathogen can deliver yield hits ranging from 20 to 60 bushels per acre (in highly infected fields). On this episode of… Read More
Fungicides are a key tool in the tar spot management toolbox. But what’s the best time for growers to apply a fungicide to get optimal control of the disease and the best return on their crop protection investment? On this episode of the RealAgriculture Corn School we catch up with Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food… Read More
Wednesdays are for Wheat Pete’s Word! This late August episode of the Word features some yield estimates with a discussion on whether to over- or under-estimate, a first look at fungicide pay-back on wheat, the mightiness of rye in rotation, and why waterhemp is a menace. Have a question you’d like Johnson to address or… Read More
Host Lyndsey Smith is tackling gibberella and tar spot management in this episode of The Agronomists, with guests Ken Currah of BASF and Greg Stopps of Corteva. This episode of The Agronomists is brought to you by ADAMA Canada, the Mind Your Farm Business podcast, and the Wheat School! Don’t forget to apply for your… Read More
Protecting yield potential from northern corn leaf blight (NCLB) and a newer pest, tar spot, requires being well-armed and ready to apply the right fungicides at the right time. That’s because these diseases are not only big yield robbers, but the window to provide adequate control is quite narrow, and gets narrower with certain weather… Read More
After a methodical march north from the Corn Belt, tar spot has now gained a foothold in Ontario. Last year, the yield-robbing leaf disease was confirmed in five counties in the southwestern, stretching from Essex to Simcoe. Characterized by tar-like speckling on the upper surface of corn leaves, the fungal pathogen has been delivering yield… Read More
It’s time for the season finale of Ontario Diagnostic Days! The annual Ontario field crop diagnostic days held at Ridgetown, Elora, and Winchester are again virtual in 2021. On this live broadcast, University of Guelph professors Dave Hooker and Francois Tardif join host Shaun Haney to talk three hot topics that are sure to grab growers’… Read More
Tar spot is taking a bite out of yields in some Ontario corn fields but there is hope that growers will have effective tools to manage the leaf disease. Characterized by tar-like speckling on the upper surface of corn leaves, the fungal pathogen has been delivering yield hits ranging from 20 to 60 bushels per… Read More
It’s time for Day 7 of Ontario Diagnostic Days! The annual Ontario field crop diagnostic days held at Ridgetown, Elora, and Winchester are again virtual in 2021. Wheat and soybean fungicide tips, tar spot control in corn, manganese deficiency, plant growth regulators and double crop soybeans are all featured in this episode. We’ll kick it off with Ontario… Read More
The warnings about tar spot that started several years ago were, unfortunately, bang on. In this week’s episode of Wheat Pete’s Word, host Peter Johnson shares some scouting stories from several counties where tar spot has been found in corn, and what farmers will likely have to plan for in 2022. Also in this episode,… Read More