Tar Spot, a fungal disease that shows up on corn husks and leave and can be seen by black spots on those has moved into Iowa corn fields this year. Earlier years they had shown up in the Eastern Corn Belt but now have traveled West where it causes severe damage in yields. Agronomist Brandon Hulme with Champion Seeds in Ellsworth, Iowa says Tar Spot’s footprint in Iowa has expanded this year.

He says now that it’s appeared Tar Spot is likely to hang around for awhile.

Hulme says growers need to scout for the disease and definitely have some type of management plan in place to deal with it.

Hulme says its critical to catch Tar Spot early before it digs in and does severe damage to the corn.