Welcome to the Fusarium Head Blight Prediction Center. These tools provide daily estimates of disease risk for wheat in the central and Eastern US. The focus of the disease forecasting effort shifts to some northern states this week including parts of South Dakota, Minnesota, Michigan and New York. Wheat in these parts of the country should be approaching the heading, flowering and early stages of grain development that are most vulnerable to Fusarium head blight. The risk map is showing some moderate or high levels of disease risk for some areas in SD, MI and NY. Growers in these areas should be working with local extension personnel and other advisors to evaluate the need for fungicides to suppress disease development.

Tips for using the risk maps: The tool shows the disease risk for susceptible wheat varieties for today's date. Clicking on the map will activate graphs that display a 14-day summary of weather and disease risk for the selected location. 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.

Use the menu button on the upper left to view risk maps for wheat varieties with different levels of genetic resistance to Fusarium head blight. This menu also provides options for viewing additional map features or restricting area displayed to just the major wheat production areas.

The risk model was updated for the 2026. This update better accounts for recent research observations gather across the country. Unlike in previous years, the new model no longer requires users to specify whether they are interested in spring or winter wheat. Instead, the model focuses on weather conditions that consistently favor disease development across all classes of wheat.

--Erick DeWolf, Plant Pathologist, Kansas State University