With PA wheat now emerging from the head, many fields are on the verge of spray decisions as we see anthers popping out. Most of the state is in the “Low” risk category for Fusarium head blight infection at this time. If you choose to spray, target your wheat crop at early flowering. Caramba, Prosaro and Miravis Ace give good control of most leaf and head diseases, in addition to suppressing scab. Spray nozzles should be angled at 30° down from horizontal, toward the grain heads, using forward- and backward mounted nozzles or nozzles with a two directional spray, such as Twinjet nozzles. Continue to visit wheatscab.psu.edu to use the Fusarium Head Blight Prediction Center, as your fields begin to flower.
--Alyssa Collins, Extension Field Crops Pathologist, Penn State University
For more details, go to the FHB Risk assessment tool at http://www.wheatscab.psu.edu
For the latest news and updates from the U.S. Wheat & Barley Scab Initiative, go to https://www.scabusa.org