Over the past week, there have been several reports of wheat and barley heading across the state and now is the time to start monitoring scab risk. Most areas of the state with a heading small grain crop are under low scab risk (drought stress), however there are a few pockets with higher risk. According to the model, risk is moderate to high for susceptible varieties in the eastern quarter of the state and for a small pocket in northwestern ND. Scab risk for moderately susceptible (score of 5-6 in the selection guide) and moderately resistant (score of 4 in the selection guide) varieties is low across the state. As a reminder, the best time to apply a fungicide for FHB in wheat is at early flowering, and the best time in barley is at complete head emergence.

--Andrew Friskop, Cereal Extension Pathologist, NDSU Department of Plant Pathology

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