If you have been following the news you may have heard about high levels of head scab and potential for vomitoxin issues in wheat. The best summary of the statewide information can be found in our Crop Observation and Recommendation Network Newsletter. Locally in the afternoons of June 17 and 18 I made scab head counts on 10 fields in Fulton(6) and western Lucas County(4). The range of head scab was 15% on the high end to 0% on the low end with an average of 3.6%. Our later flowering date coupled with a dry stretch at that time around Memorial Day gave us the right conditions to miss out on the higher infection rates that others are seeing.
Slight adjustments to the combine to blow out light weight kernels should help us avoid vomitoxin issues at the elevator.
I saw a higher incidence of wheat glume blotch than head scab in many fields. This was particularly true on our high sand areas of fields with low organic matter. While this disease may cause lighter weight kernels, it does not produce a toxin.
No comments:
Post a Comment