A relatively new fungal disease called tar spot has re-emerged in the Midwestern U.S. in recent weeks, causing significant losses in affected fields spread across a dozen states, according to Purdue University.
Feed Strategy reports that farmers whose fields have been affected have reported losses of up to 50% in recent weeks, according to Darcy Tolenko, a field crop pathologist with Purdue University Extension.
The outbreak is centered in northern Indiana, where the fungus was first reported in 2015, but has spread to surrounding states and has been reported as far south as Georgia and Florida, according to monitoring by Purdue University.
The fungus is particularly concerning because of how rapidly the disease progresses. Fields that were fine last week are “completely blighted” a week later, making treatment with fungicides difficult.
Read the full report at Feed Strategy.
