Stephen Wegulo - Extension Plant Pathologist

Faculty Bio
Website: Wheat Disease section of CropWatch Plant Disease Management
Twitter: @wegulo2

2018 wheat field day at the High Plains Ag Lab — Figure 1. Attendees look at wheat plots and listen to UNL small grains breeder P. Stephen Baenziger at the High Plains Ag Lab in Cheyenne County on June 21. (Photos by Stephen Wegulo)

Wheat Disease Update for Central to Western Nebraska June 22, 2018

Wheat diseases were found at varying levels across a wide area of fields surveyed this week in western Nebraska in conjunction with the 2018 Wheat Tours.

2018 Wheat Field Day at the Eastern Nebraska REC near Mead. — Figure 1. Attendees view wheat varieties and listen to UNL Small Grains Breeder Stephen Baenziger and Nebraska Extension Educator Nathan Mueller during a wheat plot tour at the Eastern Nebraska Research and Extension Center (ENREC) near Mead June 12. (Photos by Stephen Wegulo)

Wheat Update: Diseases Increasing June 13, 2018

Recent rains have created favorable conditions for disease development in wheat. If irrigating, manage applications to reduce further development and spread of diseases.

Wheat field — Figure 1. A grower’s wheat field in Webster County on May 30.

Wheat Diseases Minimal June 8, 2018

Diseases continue to be absent or at very low levels in Nebraska wheat, with no reports of stripe rust or leaf rust and low levels of powdery mildew. Prevailing high temperatures and dry conditions in many areas have reduced the risk of significant disease development.

May 30 Nebraska Extension Wheat Field Day in Jefferson County — Figure 1. Attendees viewed more than 30 wheat variety trials at this Nebraska Extension Winter Wheat Field Day northeast of Fairbury May 30. Ten more wheat field days will be held this June. (Photos by Stephen Wegulo)

Wheat Disease Update — Levels Still Low May 31, 2018

Wheat fields in southeast and south central Nebraska were green with little disease and high yield potential, based on this week's field survey. Recent rains relieved moisture stress in wheat in some areas of the state, but more rain is needed in southeast Nebraska to alleviate stress.

Wheat field in Saline County at heading — Figure 1. A wheat field in Saline County at the heading growth stage with no diseases on May 23. (Photos by Stephen Wegulo)

Wheat Disease Update: Southeast Nebraska May 24, 2018

A survey of wheat in southeast Nebraska found diseases generally absent or at very low levels, mainly due to recent dry conditions. Continued scouting for foliar diseases is recommended, especially in areas that receive rainfall and where the wheat crop has not yet headed.

Wheat field 5/17/18 — Figure 1. A healthy-looking wheat field in Box Butte County in the northern Panhandle on May 17. (Photos by Stephen Wegulo)

Wheat Disease Update May 18, 2018

A survey of wheat fields in central, southwest, and Panhandle regions of Nebraska found little disease. In addition recent rains have helped alleviate moisture stress.

Wheat field exhibiting symptoms of sulfur deficiency. — Figure 1. Areas of yellow wheat on slopes in a field in Nuckolls County on April 27, 2010, typical of sulfur deficiency.

Addendum to May 11 Wheat Disease Update May 14, 2018

To differentiate sulfur deficiency from nitrogen deficiency in wheat, look for field patterns. Symptoms of yellowing limited to certain areas is more typical of sulfur deficiency. In addition, symptoms of sulfur deficiency are more conspicuous when soil temperatures are cold as in early spring.

Healthy field of wheat — Figure 1. A disease-free irrigated wheat field in Nuckolls County on May 9. (Photos by Stephen Wegulo)

Wheat Disease Update May 11, 2018

No diseases were found during a survey of wheat fields in south central and southeast Nebraska this week, but growers are urged to continue scouting as recent rains may create conditions favorable to disease development.