‘Not Uncommon’ to Hear of 40-50-Bushel Yield Loss in Eastern Indiana Due to Tar Spot

Some farmers are rapidly approaching the finish line while others are already taking their victory lap on this year’s harvest. Tar spot was found in all 92 Indiana counties this year and had varying yield impacts.

“I would say, in my geography on the eastern side of the state of Indiana, anything south of State Road 26 was impacted quite substantially,” says Pioneer agronomist Brian Shrader. “As we got later planting windows north of State Road 26 because of the early rains, it wasn’t as bad. It did come in, but it came in late. But for those folks that were affected in those early planting windows, it’s not uncommon, even with fungicide applications, especially if the timing was a bit off, to hear of 40–50-bushel yield reductions because of tar spot.”

Shrader says farmers also reported very poor stalk quality on the eastern side of the state.

“Now, again, with tar spot that was related. But because we ended up with such a significant level of drought stress late, the corn hybrid had to go to the stalk to try to fill the ear because conditions were so good early when we set ears, and so we had a lot of stalk cannibalization late just trying to get those ears filled. And even with the drought stress, I’m amazed at some of the yield numbers that I’m hearing in these areas that were so severely drought stressed.”

Given all the challenges from this year, Shrader credits farmer management and modern genetics for the better than anticipated yields. Hear my full interview with Shrader below.

Get in touch with your Pioneer representative to start putting a plan together for next year by visiting pioneer.com/findmyrep.