Head scab risk remains low across most of North Carolina. For wheat flowering today, risk is LOW throughout North Carolina EXCEPT it is medium in Dare County and pockets of the counties north of the Albemarle Sound. Wheat heads are susceptible to Fusarium infection from early flowering through about 7 days after mid-flowering. Fungicides containing QoIs (strobilurins) should be avoided after flag leaf stage, as they can increase DON (AKA vomitoxin) in a scab epidemic. Miravis Ace, Prosaro, Caramba and Proline are about equally effective in reducing scab at early wheat flowering and even several days later. None of those products, including Miravis Ace, is as reliably effective in suppressing scab if applied before flowering, e.g., at 50% heading. In other words, better a little late than early with scab-targeted fungicide applications. Monitor scab risk at wheatscab@psu.edu.

-- Christina Cowger, Small Grains Pathologist, USDA-ARS and North Carolina 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