What is the Outlook for Diseases in your Wheat Crop?
Sandra Wick
Well we have certainly been experiencing some warm temperatures this past week and you
February and March are critical months for the wheat crop and strongly influence the outlook for the 2016 production season. Mild temperatures and adequate moisture during these months will increase yield potential of the crop, but could also increase the risk of severe disease.
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| Stripe Rust in Wheat |
According to Erick DeWolf, K-State Research and Extension Plant pathologist, university reports around the region indicate that stripe rust is active at low levels in Texas. There are also low level reports of stripe rust in southern Oklahoma, as well as leaf rust was detected at low levels near Stillwater, Oklahoma. These reports are important because severe outbreaks of stripe rust and leaf rust in Kansas are often proceeded by outbreaks of disease in states to the south of Kansas. Weather conditions in Texas and Oklahoma over the next 6 weeks will certainly have a major effect on the development of disease in those states. If the disease continues to develop in the south, the risk of Kansas experiencing wheat diseases increases dramatically.
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| Leaf Rust in Wheat |
Research plots near Manhattan a couple weeks ago, already found trace levels of leaf rust. This is not unusual for this time of year but it is still too early to know if leaf rust will survive the winter this far north. In many years, leaf rust is detected in February; however, dry conditions may limit the spread of the disease to new growth in March and the disease could die out locally. Low levels of powdery mildew were also observed in the research plots at Manhattan. For more information on wheat diseases, contact your local office of the Post Rock Extension District.
There is no need for management activities at this point. However, growers should be listening for more reports of disease in Texas and Oklahoma. Scouting for overwintering leaf rust in Kansas can begin anytime, but is most useful in late March and early April. K-State Research and Extension has excellent publications on each of these diseases with more information at the following links, Wheat stripe rust - http://bit.ly/20ObKlOf and Wheat leaf rust - http://bit.ly/1SKM7TJ.
There is still time to register for the Post Rock Extension District upcoming meeting, “On-Farm Research and Cropping Systems” scheduled for Thursday, February 25, in Mankato at the Community Center starting at 10:30 a.m. and concluding at 3:00 p.m. A FREE lunch will be served at NOON, sponsored by the State Exchange Bank. Topics will include how to establish on-farm research along with past and current projects in addition to providing information on crop rotation considerations and addressing the economic budgets of each rotation. Pre-registration is requested by Monday, February 22 and a minimum of 10 producers is required to hold the meeting. For more information or to register, be sure to call or stop by any of your local offices of the Post Rock Extension District in Beloit, Lincoln, Mankato, Osborne or Smith Center.
