Tar Spot, a new disease infecting corn, is spreading across
Ontario, raising concerns that it could eventually be as damaging as in the
areas of the United States where it first showed up, blown in from Mexico on storm
winds.
It has shown up in Southern counties the last two years and this
year it’s in Wellington, Grey and Bruce.
It looks like black insect poop, but can be distinguished with a
spit test – wetting and rubbing because only poop comes off.
Tar spot is taking a toll on corn crops in parts of Illinois
this week, said Ken Ferrie, Farm Journal Field Agronomist and owner of
Crop-Tech Consulting at Heyworth, Ill.
“In a
number of fields, not only have the wheels come off the bus, but it's sliding
down the highway on its frame and the sparks are flying,” he said.
What
Ferrie is seeing with tar spot in some fields is unprecedented. Heavily
infected fields, particularly those with D hybrids, have been dying.
“Fields
that had a decent amount of green went dead-brown in seven to 10 days,” he said.
“The corn all died early, most of it before reaching black layer.
