Tar Spot Poll Results: July 21, 2026

This week we decided to follow-up on Tar Spot after first asking about it back on June 29. The disease can appear late and spread quickly when it does so it's a critical one to keep an eye on as the season progresses.

When looking at this week's result the overall footprint of "yes" observations from FBN members hasn't changed much, but what has changed is the total number of observed instances. This week, 92 of the 643 participants state "yes" they have seen Tar Spot this year, or roughly 14%. This is up from 49 "yes" answers out of 518, or 9%, in the previous poll.

It's important to understand when looking at the results and comparing to the last poll that it's not a true "apples to apples" comparison since we can't control who did or did not respond each time. Also, these are instances reported by FBN Members and not always “confirmed cases” so please consult local extension or your FBN representative if you have questions about what you are seeing in your fields.

That said, when you look at everything together it starts to paint a pretty clear picture of progression, especially when you compare it to the Crop Protection Network's Tar Spot Map that I've attached to the post. There appears to be growing risk in pockets of Kansas, Nebraska, Iowa, Illinois and Indiana with other areas worth keeping an eye on, especially with the recent cool(er) and humid conditions.

Let us know what you’re seeing in your fields in the comments below and keep scouting!