The earliest planted spring wheat, spring durum and spring barley began to head and flower last week. Right now, scab risk for moderately susceptible varieties is greatest for a pocket in NW and NE North Dakota. For susceptible varieties, scab risk is elevated for the northern half of North Dakota, with localized pockets of risk in the southern half of the state. Moderately resistant levels still are estimated to have low scab risk at this point in time. Humidity levels have started to increase (and when combined with isolated thunderstorms) will increase scab risk for most areas of ND throughout the Fourth of July weekend. With the wide range of planting dates this year, I am expecting small grains will be heading and/or flowering into mid to late July.

--Andrew Friskop, Associate Professor and Cereal Extension Pathologist, North Dakota State University