I am no expert on needle cast, but I have a couple JBP that have what I guess is a mild case of it, and the needles look a little like that. Discoloration/ yellow splotches on old needles, some have the rings on them close to the end of the needles... It is a likely candidate.
It appears to be a mild case on mine I say because the trees sure are healthy! Both are pushing massive numbers of new buds... It is funny though- planted in the ground right next to each other and one has new candles developing that are probably 3 inches +... MASSIVE for this early in the Spring, and the larger one next to it hasn't got a candle much over an inch on the entire tree... Guess they are slightly different varieties... Sorry for the aside-
Yes. Bet Needle cast is a good bet, or some type of fungus- copper is good for control I am told, but you have to go nuclear to get RID of it... I forget what the stuff was called- something with numbers... 636...??? Maybe someone who knows can chime in...