This week farmland in the northeast region received additional precipitation and winds over the July 4th weekend. Rainfall totals reported ranged from 1+ inches to isolated fields that received 9+ inches. When sharing an update, the challenge is whether to report on the part of the field that has been unaffected (or even enhanced) by the rainfall, or the parts of the field that have been killed or damaged by ponding or saturated soils. Depending upon where you look, there are outstanding portions of fields, but if you evaluate the field as a whole and note the unevenness and drowned out areas the field overall rating diminishes. Soybean are at R2 or full flower, at this stage the plants begin a period of rapid dry matter and nutrient accumulation. This week shorter season or earlier planted corn hybrids have reached R1 or pollination and scouting for foliar leaf diseases has intensified. This job will soon be less pleasant when pollen shed increases. In fields scouted, I have yet to find symptoms of Tar Spot. I have noted black specks on corn leaves, but the Tar Spot stromata (lesions) cannot be brushed off. What I have found are either wind deposited dirt or possibly insect frass or excrement. If you can wipe off the black spot on a leaf it is not Tar Spot. Follow our weekly reports for updates on Gray Leaf Spot, Tar Spot, Southern Rust and other diseases found in both corn and soy across the state.