Most winter wheat fields in New York have heads fully emerged from the boot, and plants in a significant number of fields have initiated flowering (yellow anthers visible). This is a critical time for making a fungicide spray decision. The fungicide products Miravis Ace, Prosaro, Prosaro Plus, and Sphaerex are each labeled on wheat in New York and are effective in suppression of Fusarium head blight (FHB) and deoxynivalenol (DON) mycotoxin contamination. An application of these fungicide products should be based on 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. There is an application window of approximately 7 days beginning at start of flowering of wheat in which reasonable FHB and DON suppression can be expected. The calculated risk of FHB infection is currently high for wheat flowering today in several wheat growing regions of New York. Of course, the risk level may change in followi ng days. Check the Fusarium Risk Assessment Tool (www.wheatscab.psu.edu) and your local weather forecast frequently.

The presence of stripe rust, a potentially yield-limiting disease, in your field or vicinity is an added factor in considering a flowering-timed fungicide spray this year. The fungicides mentioned above are effective against stripe rust. Stripe rust has been confirmed in Genesee, Seneca, and Tompkins Counties this week and I suspect it is much more widespread. I urge wheat growers to scout their fields for stripe rust and to report occurrences to their field crops extension educator.

--Gary Bergstrom, Extension Plant Pathologist, Cornell University