Are your wheat fields at risk for Fusarium?

Given the fact that most, if not all of our small grains have headed out, most people would assume that we are in the clear until harvest.  And, more or less we are but there are still a few problems that we could encounter.  Potential problems like hail and the recent flush of grasshopppers that I have witnessed feeding on wheat heads are more or less out of our control.  However, there is still a chance that susceptible wheat varieties could get infected with Fusarium Head Blight (or head scab as it is commonly referred to) and there is still time to take steps to prevent it.

If you planted scab resistant varieties, you are probably ok and are ahead of the game.  With that being said, though, if/when the risk of scab infection is high, it would still be a good idea to scout your fields just to make sure that your resistance is holding up.  If you did not plant scab resistant varieties though, it is imperative that you know whether or not your fields are at risk for scab, scout them, and spray if necessary.

How do you know if your fields are at risk?  The simplest way is to log onto the Fusarium Head Blight Prediction Center web site and find out.  This web site was started by the plant pathology department at Penn State University and takes several factors (most importantly crop maturity and weather) into consideration and gives a prediction for a wide range of the United States related to the potential for head scab to develop.

If you go to the Fusarium Head Blight Prediciton Center, you will notice that Montana is not one of the states that is highlighted as giving predictions.  Fortunately for those of us in Eastern Montana, North Dakota is part of the prediction center and we can use their data to predict whether or not we will potentially see head scab develop.

The prediction tool should be used as a guide.  If an area of the country is highlighted as having a high risk for scab infection, it does not mean that every susceptible field in that area will get the disease.  It is simply there to be used as a tool so that a producer will know that, if he or she has susceptible varieties planted, they should be on the lookout.  Happy scouting!