What single practice has been your most effective defense against corn tar spot in humid regions—hybrid tolerance, residue management, or a specific fungicide timing? What field result convinced you, and how would you adapt the tactic for a farm just starting to see tar spot?

The most effective defense for us has been hybrid tolerance paired with a single, well-timed fungicide at VT-R1, not blanket spraying. The convincing field result was side-by-side strips where tolerant hybrids with that timing held green leaf area longer and finished with fewer lesions and a clear yield edge versus susceptible hybrids, even with the same spray. For a farm just starting to see tar spot, I'd start by prioritizing tolerant hybrids on higher-risk fields and reserve fungicide for when humidity and night temps line up, rather than spraying early or twice without pressure Albert Richer, Founder, WhatAreTheBest.com

In humid regions, managing corn tar spot is most effectively achieved through hybrid tolerance, selecting resistant corn hybrids that demonstrate reduced disease incidence and improved crop health. A comparison of two adjacent fields showed that a resistant hybrid had significantly lower tar spot levels and healthier foliage, resulting in a higher yield at harvest compared to the susceptible hybrid. This highlights the importance of using resistant varieties for better outcomes.