Features Agronomy Diseases
Monitor fields for stripe rust

Aug. 8, 2013 - Producers are encouraged to monitor their fields for stripe rust symptoms before making management decisions to control this disease.

According to Alberta Agriculture and Rural Development (AARD), spring wheat development is advancing rapidly, ranging from grain fill to soft dough stages, so spraying to control stripe rust is no longer an option. However, it is unlikely that stripe rust will have any impact on yield and quality in spring wheat this year. The only exception may be in late seeded, stripe rust-susceptible spring wheat varieties since conducive infection conditions may continue for the next few weeks.

Winter wheat is ripening and, hence, is no longer vulnerable to stripe rust.

For producers seeding winter wheat this fall, attention should be made to select stripe rust resistant varieties. Seed of 'Moats', a new stripe rust resistant variety from the Crop Development Centre at the University of Saskatchewan, will be available this fall.

For further information, contact Mike Harding, plant pathologist with AARD, 403-362-1338.

August 8, 2013  By Top Crop Manager