When Is Fungicide Still Worth It? | Tar Spot in Corn | Pioneer Agronomy

Tar spot is showing up across parts of the Corn Belt, raising an important question for growers: When is it still worth making a fungicide application? In this episode of Kick'N Dirt, Mike, Kevin and guest agronomist Carl Joern discuss tar spot management as the 2026 crop moves toward grain fill. 🌽 As Carl explains, the goal isn’t simply to spray on a predetermined calendar date. It’s about understanding disease development, the environment and the crop in front of you — and making an application when it has the best chance of protecting yield and delivering a return. Listen for a conversation about Pioneer’s Fungicide Timing Solution, disease thresholds, fungicide timing, hybrid selection, late-season plant health and the role weather plays in disease development. The group also discusses what growers can learn from this year’s tar spot pressure, including how to scout earlier, document disease development and make management decisions based on the specific hybrid, environment and crop stage. #pioneer #agriculture #tarspot #corn #farming