Most winter wheat fields and nearly all winter barley fields in New York are now past flowering stages and beyond the period for effective fungicide application. There was a predicted, medium to high risk of FHB infection of susceptible winter cereal varieties that flowered in early June in certain areas of the state. Growers are advised to scout their crops over the next few weeks (ideally at kernel soft dough stages) for symptoms of Fusarium head blight in order to assess the likelihood of deoxynivalenol contamination in grain and to plan their harvest strategies and post-harvest marketing of grain. Foliar diseases generally have occurred at minor severities to date. Stripe rust has not been observed beyond individual wheat fields in Seneca and Wayne Counties.

Spring malting barley is progressing rapidly through growth stages with many fields approaching flag leaf emergence, and some fields of ‘Conlon’ barley in the Hudson Valley already emerging from the boot. Spring barley growers are urged to track growth stage closely and to consider a spray with Caramba, Prosaro, or Miravis Ace as soon as most heads are fully emerged (up to 7 days beyond head emergence if necessary). Application of these fungicide products should be based on Fusarium head blight (FHB) risk as well as the risks of powdery mildew, rusts, and fungal leaf blotches in the upper canopy based on scouting of individual fields. Low levels of barley leaf rust have been observed in winter barley and could be a bigger factor in spring barley if moist, humid conditions occur over the next few weeks. Fungicide products containing QoI (FRAC Group 11) fungicides should not be applied to headed barley as they may result in increased levels of DON in grain. Check the Fusarium Risk Assessment Tool (http://www.wheatscab.psu.edu/ ) and your local weather forecast frequently through the head emergence period for spring cereals.

-- Gary Bergstrom, Extension Plant Pathologist, Cornell 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