Management of foliar fungal disease is achieved in many of our field crops by applying fungicides. Over the past several years, there have been examples of misidentification of some bacterial diseases that are easily confused for fungal diseases in field crops.
With the predicted return to more normal temperatures, it's time to get into wheat fields and start scouting. Stripe rust has already been reported in southeastern Kansas and is expected to move northward. Included is a table of fungicide efficacy ratings for disease management in wheat.
What factors contribute to diseases in wheat and what management steps can help deter wheat disease problems. Also addressed is how to use integrated pest management to reduce threats that could rob yields.
Figure 1. Stripe rust in a grower's winter wheat field in Kimball County in June 2015. Taking steps now before planting can help reduce disease impact for your 2018 crop. (Photo by Stephen Wegulo)
Before planting winter wheat this fall growers have an opportunity to address and manage several factors that could lead to reduced yields in 2018. Here are five steps to take.
Wheat streak mosaic virus (WSMV) problems have been extensive throughout the western Great Plains this year, significantly reducing the yield potential of many fields. A critical key in managing this threat in the next crop is elimination of volunteer wheat. Tillage or chemical weed control should occur at least one month before planting to allow host plants time to dry up and cease being a host.
Planting clean, certified, fungicide-treated wheat seed is one of the first steps in assuring top yields from your 2018 wheat crop. Another is selecting resistant varieties, where available. Together these practices can help you more effectively manage seed-transmitted diseases of wheat.
This year the onset of stripe rust was earlier in eastern Nebraska than in western Nebraska, allowing it to develop to levels that could be scored in state variety trials in Washington, Saunders, and Clay counties. A table provides ratings for a number of varieties and lines at three sites.
Timely control of volunteer wheat and other weeds is key to managing yield loss risk in your 2018 crop. Yield-limiting risk factors affected by weed control include wheat streak mosaic and other diseases, insects (wheat stem sawfly and disease vectors), moisture loss, and increased weed seed production.
