Dry spring weather has been keeping scab risk low up to this point, however, that may be shifting in some areas of PA who have experienced persistent moist conditions since the first of the month. While the risk map is very helpful to determine average risk across large areas, it may not always reflect precise conditions that occur in pockets of wheat production that are not well-represented by weather stations. If your wheat or barley has been experiencing high humidity for a few weeks, consider a fungicide application for scab at early flowering. 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).

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