Wheat on the Eastern shore of Maryland is heading and should start flowering within a week or so. Wheat in the north-western part (Frederick, Carroll, Hartford counties) is also close to heading or has started heading.

The FHB fungal pathogen infects the wheat plants at the flowering stage (when the yellow anthers emerge from the heads), which is the stage at which the application of fungicides is conducted in wheat. The FHB map currently does not show high risk, especially for a genetically resistant variety. However, keeping an eye on the forecasts and weather patterns over the next few days as your wheat flowers is recommended.

If you are planning to apply fungicides for FHB, remember that triazole-containing fungicides (Miravis-Ace, Prosaro, Prosaro-Pro, and Sphaerex) should be used to control FHB. In addition to scab, they can also control other fungal pathogens like powdery mildew. Strobilurin-containing fungicides should not be used at this stage.

--Nidhi Rawat, Small Grains Pathologist, University of Maryland

Wheat in Maryland has either already flowered or is finishing-up flowering. The FHB prediction map shows high FHB risk. If your wheat is still in the window for FHB fungicide application (from flowering up to the following 4-7 days) you should consider the application of FHB fungicides: Miravis-Ace, Prosaro, Prosaro-Pro, or Sphaerex. These fungicides are also effective against other foliar fungal diseases such as stripe rust, powdery mildew, and tan-spot etc. Strobilurin-containing fungicides are not recommended for application at this stage.

--Nidhi Rawat, Small Grains Pathologist, University of Maryland

Scab infection risk is high this week across the entire commonwealth as a result of increased precipitation and humidity. Risk levels subside as the week progresses in the central portion of the state, but remain elevated across the south and to the east and west. Most wheat in the south is now flowering, and if your barley or wheat in high risk areas is heading and approaching flowering, consider a fungicide application when the weather allows. Miravis Ace, Prosaro, Prosaro Pro, and Sphaerex all provide very good scab suppression. The Miravis Ace label allows for earlier application than other fungicides, but *best results are still achieved when application is timed after full heading in barley and flowering in wheat*. If weather conditions prevent fungicide application at ideal timing, an application as soon as conditions allow will still be quite effective in reducing scab and DON production. Follow labels to determine post-harvest interval constraints for the fungicide you choose. Spray nozzles should be angled at 30 deg down from horizontal, toward the grain heads, using forward- and backward-mounted nozzles or nozzles with a two-directional spray, such as Twinjet nozzles. Additionally, a fungicide treatment at heading using any of these products will also give you excellent control of most leaf diseases as well.

--Alyssa A. Collins, Associate Professor, Plant Pathology and Environmental Microbiology, The Pennsylvania State University

Wheat is mostly ending flowering across Maryland now, except for some late-planted fields. The FHB prediction map shows enhanced FHB risk. If your wheat flowered within the past 4-7 days, you are still in the window for FHB fungicide application. This season, we are also observing several foliar diseases such as stripe rust, powdery mildew, BYDV, and tan-spot in our variety trial plots. Some farmers are also reporting these issues from their fields. If you are considering the application of fungicides at this stage, use FHB fungicides: Miravis-Ace, Prosaro, Prosaro-Pro, or Sphaerex. These will control other fungal diseases, in addition to FHB, but not BYDV. For BYDV none of the fungicides can provide control, as it is a viral disease. Genetic resistance is the only real solution for BYDV. Strobilurin-containing fungicides are not recommended for application at this stage.

--Nidhi Rawat, Small Grains Pathologist, University of Maryland

With the abnormal twists and turns in the weather, where we had the past few weeks as dry and hot, this week starting from the weekend has been pretty wet and cool. The weather has provided some relief to the drought-like conditions that the wheat plants were showing the last week. However, this weather is also conducive to FHB development, especially in the susceptible varieties. Wheat is currently flowering across the state of Maryland. Flowering is when yellow anthers emerge out of the wheat spikes. If you have planted a susceptible variety for FHB, you should consider applying FHB fungicides. If you are planning to apply fungicides for FHB, remember that triazole-containing fungicides (Miravis-Ace, Prosaro, Prosaro-Pro, and Sphaerex) should be used for controlling FHB. They can control other fungal pathogens like powdery mildew, rusts, in addition to scab. Strobilurin-containing fungicides should not be used at this stage. These fungicides do not need to be tank mixed with anothe r product for spraying. The fungicide products should be applied at the full rate recommended by the manufacturers. Aerial application at a rate of 5 gallons per acre or ground application at 15 gallons per acre with 300-350 um droplet size is recommended. Spray nozzles should be angled at 30-45 deg down from horizontal, toward the grain heads, using forward- and backward mounted nozzles or nozzles with a two directional spray, such as Twinjet nozzles.

--Nidhi Rawat, Small Grains Pathologist, University of Maryland

Scab infection risk is likely to increase next week across the southern portion of PA as a result of increased precipitation chances. Most wheat has not yet headed, but if your barley or wheat in high risk areas is heading and approaching flowering, stay alert and consider a fungicide application for susceptible cultivars. Miravis Ace, Prosaro, Prosaro Pro, and Sphaerex all provide very good scab suppression. The Miravis Ace label allows for earlier application than other fungicides, but best results are still achieved when application is timed after full heading in barley and flowering in wheat. If weather conditions prevent fungicide application at ideal timing, an application as soon as conditions allow will still be quite effective in reducing scab and DON production. Follow labels to determine post-harvest interval constraints for the fungicide you choose. Spray nozzles should be angled at 30 deg down from horizontal, toward the grain heads, using forward- and backward-mount ed nozzles or nozzles with a two-directional spray, such as Twinjet nozzles. Additionally, a fungicide treatment at heading using any of these products will also give you excellent control of most leaf diseases as well.

--Alyssa A. Collins, Associate Professor, Plant Pathology and Environmental Microbiology, The Pennsylvania State University

Wheat is currently flowering or will soon flower across the state of Maryland. Flowering is when yellow anthers emerge out of the wheat spikes. This is again that year, in which if you planted a resistant variety, you would be okay without spraying fungicides for controlling Fusarium head Blight (FHB risk map: top picture). However, if your planted variety is not FHB resistant, you should consider application of FHB fungicides (FHB risk map: lower picture). If you are planning to apply fungicides for FHB, remember that triazole-containing fungicides (Miravis-Ace, Prosaro, Prosaro-Pro, and Sphaerex) should be used for controlling FHB. They can control other fungal pathogens like powdery mildew, rusts, in addition to scab. Strobilurin-containing fungicides should not be used at this stage. These fungicides do not need to be tank mixed with another product for spraying. The fungicide products should be applied at the full rate recommended by the manufacturers. Aerial application at a ra te of 5 gallons per acre or ground application at 15 gallons per acre with 300-350 um droplet size is recommended. Spray nozzles should be angled at 30-45 deg down from horizontal, toward the grain heads, using forward- and backward-mounted nozzles or nozzles with a two directional spray, such as Twinjet nozzles.

--Nidhi Rawat, Small Grains Pathologist, University of Maryland

Wheat on the Eastern shore of Maryland is heading and should start flowering within a week or so. Wheat in the north-western part (Frederick, Carroll, Hartford counties) is also close to heading or has started heading. Barley is already headed or is currently heading, depending upon the location and the variety. The FHB fungal pathogen infects the wheat plants at the flowering stage (when the yellow anthers emerge from the heads), which is the stage at which the application of fungicides is conducted in wheat. The FHB map currently does not show high risk, especially for a genetically resistant variety. However, keeping an eye on the forecasts and weather patterns over the next few days as your wheat flowers is recommended. If you are planning to apply fungicides for FHB, remember that triazole-containing fungicides (Miravis-Ace, Prosaro, Prosaro-Pro, and Sphaerex) should be used for controlling FHB. They can control other fungal pathogens like powdery mildew as well, in addition to scab. Strobilurin-containing fungicides should not be used at this stage.

--Nidhi Rawat, Small Grains Pathologist, University of Maryland

Barley is heading across the region, but scab risk is fairly low for all except those growing very susceptible varieites in western PA. If you missed a fungicide application at full heading, there is great news: we have recently revised our recommendations regarding fungicide timing. Work done by researchers in North Carolina found that the best spray timing for protecting winter barley from scab is application six days after 100 pct heading. With this new guidance we should get better DON reduction in barley than under our previous recommendation which targeted 50 pct heading. Current labels state that the last stage of application is mid-flower and there is a 30-day harvest restriction. Do not use any of the strobilurins (Quadris, Headline), or strobilurin/triazole (Twinline, Quilt, Stratego) combination products at flowering or later. There is evidence that they may cause an increase in mycotoxin production.

Miravis Ace, Prosaro, Prosaro Pro, and Sphaerex all provide very good scab suppression. The Miravis Ace label allows for earlier application than Caramba or Prosaro, but best results are still achieved when application is timed after full heading in barley. Spray nozzles should be angled at 30 deg down from horizontal, toward the grain heads, using forward- and backward-mounted nozzles or nozzles with a two-directional spray, such as Twinjet nozzles. Additionally, a fungicide treatment at heading using any of these products will also give you excellent control of most leaf diseases as well.

--Alyssa A. Collins, Associate Professor, Plant Pathology and Environmental Microbiology, The Pennsylvania State University

Barley is currently heading throughout Maryland currently. Wheat has still a few weeks to flower. We have had intermittent wet and warm days recently, and the trend seems to be continuing. Although the FHB risk map does not show a very high risk currently, remember that barley is susceptible. If you are considering applying fungicides on barley, remember that triazol-containing fungicides (Miravis-Ace, Prosaro, Prosaro-Pro, and Sphaerex) should be used for controlling FHB. Strobilurin containing fungicides should not be used at this stage

--Nidhi Rawat, Small Grains Pathologist, University of Maryland