Head scab risk is low across most of North Carolina due to the drought. The entire state is in severe or extreme drought, with no rain in the forecast. Southeastern counties such as Duplin, Onslow and Pender have higher levels of scab risk for susceptible wheat varieties. Much wheat in that area is in the heading and flowering stages, when it is vulnerable to scab infection.

For wheat planted with conventional tillage, low scab risk means a fungicide is unlikely to be profitable. If your wheat was planted no-till into corn debris, a large amount of that debris is still on the soil surface, AND your variety is rated susceptible to scab, a fungicide might be profitable even if forecasted risk is low.

To check if your variety is susceptible, visit the NC OVT site: https://ncovt.medius.re/wheat. Find your variety and scroll down to Disease Ratings.

--Christina Cowger, Small Grains Pathologist, USDA-ARS, NC State University