Disease Pressure Is Rising in Ohio: What Growers Should Be Watching This Summer

As we move into the heart of summer, disease pressure is beginning to build across Ohio corn and soybean acres. Warm temperatures, humidity, frequent rainfall, and dense crop canopies are creating favorable conditions for diseases to develop and spread.

While we have not yet found any Tar Spot in the fields we’ve scouted, we’re beginning to see Gray Leaf Spot and Northern Corn Leaf Blight show up in corn. In fact, every field we walked this morning had some level of disease present.

That doesn’t mean it’s time to panic—but it does mean now is the time to scout fields, evaluate disease pressure, and have a plan in place before problems become more severe.

This season, we’re continuing to keep a close eye on Tar Spot in corn and Red Crown Rot in soybeans as both remain important diseases to watch throughout Ohio.

Tar Spot Remains a Major Concern

Although we have not yet observed Tar Spot in our area, it remains one of the most significant foliar disease threats to corn throughout the Midwest. The disease appears as small, raised black spots on leaves and can spread rapidly once conditions become favorable.

While Tar Spot hasn’t arrived yet, Gray Leaf Spot and Northern Corn Leaf Blight are already showing up in fields across the area, making this a good reminder that disease pressure is increasing.

When infections reach the upper canopy during grain fill, photosynthetic activity can be reduced, impacting kernel development and yield potential. Fields should continue to be scouted regularly as the season progresses.

Red Crown Rot Is Expanding Into Ohio

Red Crown Rot, once considered primarily a Southern soybean disease, continues to move northward and has now been identified in Ohio.

The soilborne disease attacks soybean roots and lower stems, often causing premature decline and yield loss. Because symptoms can resemble other issues, proper identification is important.

Beck’s recently shared a great overview of the disease, its spread, and management considerations.

Watch the video here: https://youtu.be/VqlDgrGNlBY?si=izEbOBKV5gLG264D 

Don’t Miss the Fungicide Window

Once disease becomes widespread, protecting yield gets much more difficult. That’s why timely fungicide applications are one of the best investments you can make during reproductive stages.

Whether you’re seeing Gray Leaf Spot, Northern Corn Leaf Blight, or simply preparing for the potential arrival of Tar Spot, a well-timed fungicide application can help:

✔ Protect green leaf area during grain fill

✔ Reduce disease severity and slow its spread

✔ Preserve photosynthetic capacity

✔ Protect yield potential and return on investment

If you’re planning a fungicide pass, now is the time to get it on the schedule! New Horizon Ag Solutions offers complete fungicide programs for under $25 per acre, making it easy to protect your crop without the hassle of coordinating multiple products and services.

Each program includes:

✈️ Professional aerial application
🧪 Premium fungicide chemistry
💧 Nuvano® Pure water conditioning
🌱 Nano technologies to maximize every application

Available for both corn and soybeans, with drone application options available depending on your operation.

Instead of piecing everything together yourself, we’ll handle the application and help ensure every acre receives the protection it needs.

Optimize Every Fungicide Pass

Fungicide timing matters—but so does the environment your products are applied in. High-pH spray water can cause certain fungicides to degrade more quickly, reducing their effectiveness before they ever reach the crop. 

Across much of the Midwest—including Ohio—hard water is common. Hard water and high spray water pH can reduce the effectiveness of certain fungicides, causing some active ingredients to begin breaking down before they ever reach the plant.

That’s why every tank should start with Nuvano Pure. By lowering spray water pH into the optimal range, Nuvano Pure creates the right environment for your fungicide and foliar products to perform as intended.

Once your water is conditioned, pair your fungicide application with NanoPro and NanoN to improve nutrient efficiency and get more from every pass. When you’re making one of the most important applications of the season, every part of the tank mix should be working for you—not against you.

Did you know? Much of Ohio falls within hard or very hard pH regions, making water quality an important consideration for growers trying to optimize their fungicide applications.

Stay Proactive

The best disease management strategy is often prevention. Regular scouting, water testing, monitoring disease forecasts, and making timely fungicide applications can help protect your crop before disease pressure becomes a yield-limiting factor.

If you have questions about disease management, fungicide timing, or foliar nutrition programs, contact New Horizon Ag Solutions today. We’re here to help you protect yield potential all season long.

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