Conditions are favorable for disease development in wheat and barley. With the crops starting to flower and head, NDSU Extension Cereal Crops Plant Pathologist Andrew Friskop says now is the time to apply fungicide. Farmers should also look for scab, leaf spot and rust. “My gut instinct is we will see more leaf rust this year, especially on susceptible varieties,” says Friskop. “Moving forward into the growing season, bacterial leaf streak may be a problem again this year. Unfortunately, there is nothing that can be sprayed that provides consistent results.” Hear the interview with Friskop.
