Ergot is being reported in barley near the Langdon Research Extension Center in North Dakota. Ergot has a large host range, including all small grains and common weeds like smooth brome grass. With signs of ergot evident in the state, farmers are reminded to check their fields. “The best time to scout for it is in a mature crop,” said Andrew Friskop, plant pathologist, NDSU Extension. “You’ll see dark, hard fungal bodies on the head.”
