Wheat stripe rust found in South Dakota

Stripe rust was found on winter wheat in several South Dakota locations the week of May 21.

The USDA Cereal Disease Lab reports that stripe rust appeared at nearly the same time in Minnesota, North Dakota, Wisconsin, and Ontario, Canada, suggesting that there were likely one or more recent very large spore shower events. If cool, wet conditions persist, stripe rust can be expected to spread aggressively, whereas warm temperatures and dry conditions will cause it to shut down, says Bob Fanning, SDSU Extension Plant Pathology Field Specialist.

"Leaf rust has been reported in southern Nebraska, but to date, no farther north. With winter wheat rapidly progressing, much of it flowering or nearly flowering, producers will need to make fungicide decisions soon if they haven't already," Fanning said.

Fanning reminds growers to read and follow label directions and adhere to harvest intervals.

"Foliar fungicide application decisions at this stage should be based on yield potential, progression of residue borne diseases from the lower leaves, weather forecasts and risk of head scab and rust diseases," Fanning said.