Barley blights cause headaches around Western Australia

Plant pathologist Kith Jayasena reports that widespread powdery mildew infection together with barley leaf rust has been found on self sown barley paddocks in the South Stirlings area and also in the Esperance region near Gibson and Cascades.

Levels of wheat stem rust infection has also been found on some of the barley re-growth in the South Stirlings and over widespread areas within the Esperance region.

Nathan Moyes (Moyes Agri Consulting) and Kith reported finding low levels of powdery mildew lesions on some self sown barley plants from early March in at least 3 locations between Gnowangerup and Jacup.

Farmers in south coastal and great southern areas are mostly prepared to protect their cereal crops against these diseases.

Many have sprayed out self sown cereals or heavily grazed paddocks, selected varieties with disease resistance and treating seed prior to sowing with appropriate fungicide seed dressings or are using in-furrow fungicides.