The Fusarium Head Blight Prediction Center provide daily estimates of disease risk for wheat and barley in 35 states. The map displays the probability of severe disease with red and orange areas of the map having the greatest risk. Wheat production in Missouri, Illinois, Kentucky, Tennessee, North Carolina, Delaware and Maryland are the current focus of the prediction effort. The disease models currently indicate a low risk of disease for most of this area. Growers in these states should keep an eye out for weather systems that could bring rain and extended periods of high relative humidity. These weather conditions could increase the risk of disease.

Tips of using the tool: The prediction center uses a wheat growth model to focus the estimates of disease risk on areas where the crop is at or approaching the vulnerable stages of growth for Fusarium infection. Areas where the crop is too young, or is already approaching harvest are displayed as a gray color on the map.

The tool shows the disease risk for susceptible wheat varieties for todays date. You can select earlier assessment dates by clicking on the calendar menu at the top of the risk map. Use the menu button on the upper left to active risk maps for wheat varieties with moderate levels of genetic resistance to Fusarium head blight.

Risk maps based on 2, 4 or 6 days of forecasted weather can help users anticipate future trends in disease risk. These maps are available by selecting the 2d, 4d and 6d buttons to the right of the calendar menu.

--Erick DeWolf, Plant Pathologist, Kansas State University