Barley is beginning to emerge from boot in the southernmost regions of Pennsylvania. Be sure to scout for growth stage as there appears to be a good deal of variability across the region due to the dry fall and patchy establishment. Risk of scab infection is low now, but keep an eye on your risk forecast as your crop approaches heading.

The best fungicide application window for barley is from 100% heading up to a week later. If you plan to spray for head scab, choose a labeled triazole-containing product (FRAC 3) like Proline, Prosaro, Prosaro Pro, Miravis Ace, or Sphaerex. Do not use a product that contains any strobilurin (FRAC 11).

Continue to visit wheatscab.psu.edu to use the Fusarium Head Blight Prediction Center for estimating your crop's scab risk.

--Alyssa A. Collins, Associate Professor, Plant Pathology and Environmental Microbiology, The Pennsylvania State University