Disease pressure doesn’t start when symptoms become obvious—and this season is making that clear. Tar spot has already been confirmed in multiple states, including Iowa, earlier than many agronomists expected.
In the newest episode of the Acre Advantage podcast, host Dan Bjorklund from Landus Cooperative sits down with Kade Schmidt of Intelinair to talk through what they’re seeing across the Corn Belt and what it could mean for the rest of the growing season. Intelinair is the technology partner behind SkyScout, the crop intelligence tool that Landus Cooperative brings to its growers. The conversation digs into early disease detection, how thermal imagery and field analytics help identify issues before they’re visible from the road, and why current weather conditions have both agronomists and farmers paying close attention. Dan and Kade also cover fungicide timing, nutrient loss following heavy rainfall, and the value of targeted scouting throughout the season.
In this episode:
Early tar spot detection across Iowa and the Midwest
How SkyScout identifies disease pressure and crop stress
Fungicide timing and ROI considerations
Nitrogen and sulfur loss after excessive rainfall
Thermal imagery, NDVI, and scouting strategies
What growers should be watching for over the next several weeks
As conditions continue to favor disease development across parts of the Corn Belt, understanding what the data is telling us can help growers prioritize their scouting efforts and make more informed decisions all season long.
