headscab — Latest Posts

Much of the wheat in Kentucky is now past the stage of applying a foliar fungicide for protection against Fusarium head blight. However, some late-planted fields and some late-maturing varieties may be at the beginning flowering stage now. Based on the rainfall that has occurred over the last several days, wheat that is flowering in Kentucky is at a high risk for Fusarium head blight.

WheatJennifer ElwellMay 1, 2017headscab

Fungicides for Managing Fusarium Head Blight of Wheat: How Late is Too Late?

Much of the wheat crop in Kentucky has headed out and is flowering. Stripe rust (Figure 1) is now present in many Kentucky counties on susceptible varieties, and according to the Fusarium Head Blight Prediction Center, the current risk of Fusarium head blight (also known as “scab”) (Figure 2) is anywhere from low to high, depending on where you are in the state.

WheatJennifer ElwellApril 25, 2017headscab

Fungicide application for protection against scab – what do I do when I can’t hit the “perfect” timing?

Just like the porridge in the “Goldilocks and the Three Bears” story, there is a “just right” timing for when to apply a fungicide for protection against Fusarium head blight (a.k.a. scab) of wheat. That “just right” timing is the Feekes 10.5.1 growth stage (beginning flowering), when anthers are just beginning to extrude from the middle part of the wheat head.