From Gary Bergstrom, Extension Plant Pathologist, Cornell University
Fusarium head blight commentary, May 29, 2014:
Winter wheat and barley in much of New York State are at the flag leaf emerged to boot stages of development and heads will emerge over the next week. The next 14 days will be critical for farmers making fungicide spray decisions for suppression of Fusarium head blight (FHB) and protection of flag leaves from foliar diseases. The triazole products Caramba and Prosaro are the most effective fungicides for suppression of FHB and deoxynivalenol (DON) toxin contamination when applied at wheat flowering (emergence of anthers on heads) or at full head emergence in barley (anthers begin to appear on barley before heads emerge from the boot). A flowering application of triazole fungicide should be based on Fusarium head blight (FHB) risk as well as the risks of powdery mildew, rust, and fungal leaf blotches in the upper canopy based on scouting of individual fields. There is an application window of approximately 5-6 days from the beginning of flowering in which reasonable FHB suppression can be expected. Fungicide products containing strobilurins should not be applied to headed wheat or barley as they may result in increased levels of DON in grain. While the current risk of FHB epidemics is low to moderate over most of the state, that risk could increase with warming temperatures and scattered storms forecast for the first half of next week. Check the Fusarium Risk Assessment Tool (http://www.wheatscab.psu.edu/) and your local weather forecast frequently as your crop approaches flowering.
Receive FHB Alerts by Cell Phone:
I will be providing weekly New York commentaries on FHB risk through mid-June. You can subscribe to receive FHB Alerts directly to your Cell Phone (http://scabusa.org/fhb_alert.php). You can select to receive alerts as 1) Text Message Alerts, 2) Email Alerts, or 3) both Text and Email Alerts. To receive alerts for New York, select the Northern Soft Winter Wheat option which provides alerts for MI, NY, WI and VT.
