To learn more, or to see more MSU alerts, visit the Montana AgAlert website.

If you find suspicious cereal fields and would like them tested for CCN, contact Dr. Michael Harding by email or by calling 403-362-1338.

Mike Harding is a plant pathologist with Alberta Agriculture and Rural Development

The post Cereal Cyst Nematode confirmed in Montana appeared first on Alberta Farmer Express.

Watch this excellent video from Wisconsin courtesy of AGGronomyTV discussing scouting and spray decisions in winter.

Mike Harding is Plant Pathologist with Alberta Agriculture and Rural Development

The post Stripe rust reported in County of Forty Mile and in Parkland Co appeared first on Alberta Farmer Express.

It appears that the stripe rust fungus may have overwintered in both southern and central Alberta because all reports are on lower leaves and no striping yet on new leaves. Additionally, Eric Amundsen reported the ability to recover viable stripe rust spores from winter wheat in southern Alberta on March 30, 2015.

Two of the five positive fields in southern Alberta had symptoms on more than one plant per square meter indicating that scouting for stripe rust in winter wheat should remain a priority.

The post Stripe rust update for southern and central Alberta appeared first on Alberta Farmer Express.

Additionally, there was a report of potential stripe rust in the Edmonton area and there is some evidence that stripe rust overwintered in Alberta again this year. Frequent scouting of winter wheat fields across the province is recommended.

For moderately resistant (MR) cultivars of CWRW such as AAC Gateway, AC Tempest, CDC Chase, Emerson and Moats, weekly scouting is recommended. All other cultivars are susceptible and scouting is recommended every 3 to 5 days in regions already reporting stripe rust symptoms.

A fungicide application may provide an economic return when approximately 1 plant per square metre has stripe rust symptoms. The ideal crop stage for fungicide application is at head emergence targeting the head, flag leaf and penultimate leaf. Susceptible varieties with symptoms on 1 or more plants per square meter will require a fungicide application. The MR varieties may not require a fungicide, but scouting is still necessary in case disease pressure overwhelms the resistance and becomes severe (severe symptoms would cover more than 5% of the leaf area in the upper canopy leaves).

For more information on stripe rust biology, diagnosis and control measures, visit the links below on the Alberta Agriculture website:

Stripe Rust, Puccinia striiformis – Frequently Asked Questions

Stripe Rust 101: What Is It, Why Do We Have It, What Can Be Done About It

The post Winter wheat stripe rust update appeared first on Alberta Farmer Express.

Among spring wheat fields surveyed, stripe rust was observed in 58 per cent with average stripe rust levels occurring at levels of trace to 2 per cent. However some local hotspots, particularly in the Coaldale region of Lethbridge County, were observed with severities ranging from 15 per cent to 60 per cent. The majority of spring wheat fields are beyond the developmental stage for risk of stripe rust although a few of late-seeded spring wheat fields surveyed were still in the seed development stage. As crop ripening progresses, the risk of yield and quality losses due to stripe rust in spring wheat decreases.

Weekly surveys for stripe rust will continue until the end of the growing season.

Producers should be considering winter wheat options for this fall. Radiant is susceptible to stripe rust and should be replaced with newer, stripe rust resistant varieties. For traditional dryland regions in western Canada, the variety Moats is a good choice. For irrigated production and in parkland regions, Flourish or  AAC Gateway are recommended. All three have stripe rust resistance and exhibit similar levels of winter hardiness.

Goss’s Bacterial Wilt and Leaf Blight – 2014

Goss’s wilt and bacterial leaf blight is a new disease on corn in Alberta. The disease was confirmed on corn in southern Alberta for the first time in 2013.

Goss’s wilt and bacterial leaf blight has again been reported on corn in southern Alberta this year (2014). Alberta Agriculture and Rural Development would like to monitor the occurrence and distribution of Goss’s Wilt. If you see any suspicious symptoms, please contact Mike Harding. See the attached Information Sheet and Sample Submission Form for more information.

The post Stripe rust spread slowing, spring wheat fields most affected appeared first on Alberta Farmer Express.

However, stripe rust development continues to progress slowly. Spraying with fungicides is widespread which is aiding in curtailing the epidemic. In general, stripe rust remains well established although patchy in winter wheat in the above counties with observed average severities of less than 5% and the highest at 35%. In spring wheat fields, average stripe rust levels remain at trace levels with the highest severity of 10%. Winter wheat and most spring wheat fields are beyond the developmental stage permissible for spraying. Unless the environmental conditions change drastically, yield and quality losses will be minor in winter wheat and negligible in spring wheat.

Weekly surveys for stripe rust will continue until the end of the growing season.

Producers should be considering winter wheat options for this fall. Radiant is susceptible to stripe rust and should be replaced with newer, stripe rust resistant varieties. For traditional dryland regions in western Canada, the variety Moats is a good choice. For irrigated production and in parkland regions, Flourish or  AAC Gateway are recommended.  All three have stripe rust resistance and exhibit similar levels of winter hardiness.

Mike Harding
Plant Pathologist, AARD
Email: michael.harding@gov.ab.ca
Phone: 403-362-1338

The post Stripe rust update: July 24, 2014 appeared first on Alberta Farmer Express.

Drs. Kequan Xi and Krishan Kumar (AARD-Lacombe) reported last week that significant levels of stripe rust were seen in a few spring-seeded wheat fields in the Lacombe/Red Deer/Olds region. They also reported some barley fields with significant and potentially damaging levels of scald disease. As well, tan spot is appearing in some wheat fields in southern Alberta. Scouting of spring cereals for stripe rust, and other leaf diseases is urgently recommended all across the cereal production areas of Alberta.

• More from the Alberta Farmer: Southern Alberta stripe rust survey

The resistance potential of a variety should be taken into consideration when making a decision to apply a fungicide for management of stripe rust. For example, susceptible varieties should be sprayed soon after stripe rust is observed, and especially if more than about 5% of plants have stripe rust symptoms on their leaves.  Resistant varieties, may show some stripe rust symptoms without experiencing any yield loss. Spraying fungicides on resistant varieties could be considered when disease levels reach 50% to 70% incidence across the field and more than 15% severity (area of flag leaf with rust symptoms). Intermediate varieties could be sprayed when levels reach 10-15% incidence and severity. Consult the Varieties of Cereal and Oilseed Crops for Alberta publication for stripe rust ratings in spring and winter wheat varieties.

Unfortunately, most winter wheat fields are nearing the end of, or are beyond, the growth stage where fungicides can be applied, but spring-seeded cereals should be urgently monitored for stripe rust other leaf diseases. Fungicide applications should be seriously considered if conditions for rust appear are reaching the threshold levels described above for susceptible, intermediate and resistant varieties. Consult the Blue Book for fungicides registered for control of stripe rust in wheat.

Mike Harding
Plant Pathologist, AARD
Email: michael.harding@gov.ab.ca
Phone: 403-362-1338

The post Stripe rust update: July 9, 2014 appeared first on Alberta Farmer Express.

Two fields in the Cardston and Welling regions  were observed with 60 per cent incidence (55 per cent severity) and 33 per cent incidence (22 per cent severity), respectively.  The remainder of the fields in Southern Alberta were reported at very low incidence and severity (trace to 1 per cent) with one field near Coaldale reporting at 8 per cent incidence (8 per cent severity).

The progression of the disease spread throughout the region remains slow. However, the situation can change rapidly. Producers are encouraged to go out and routinely monitor their winter wheat fields for the presence of the long, bright orange stripes on the upper leaves.

There is no evidence that stripe rust has moved to spring wheat so control measures are not recommended at this point. Weekly surveys for stripe rust will continue until the end of the growing season. In the meantime, producers should check with the Varieties of Cereal and Oilseed Crops for Alberta to verify the stripe rust resistance rating for their seeded spring wheat varieties.

Remember that varieties with stripe rust resistance rating of Moderate Resistance to Resistant will not need to be sprayed. Those with ratings of Intermediate to Susceptible should be monitored for stripe rust infection before spraying.

For individuals considering spraying fields with a fungicide, we recommend the following (in the context of this minor epidemic stage of stripe rust on winter wheat that is gaining slowly):

1. Spray wheat when infection levels approach or exceed an average 1 infected plant/square metre.
2. If producers choose to spray, it is important to protect the last 2 leaves that emerge (the flag and flag minus 1 leaves) because they contribute most to plant yield and quality.
3. For winter wheat, now is the optimum plant development stage to apply fungicides (between head emergence and flowering) to protect against yield and quality losses to stripe rust.

For spring wheat, if producers notice stripe rust pustules in a susceptible crop, it would be prudent to consider spraying prevent yield losses.

Mike Harding
Plant Pathologist, AARD

The post Southern Alberta stripe rust survey appeared first on Alberta Farmer Express.

In the remainder of the fields, stripe rust was not detected. Producers are encouraged to monitor their  fields for any signs of the disease. The recent heavy rains could encourage rust development. A wait-and-see approach is advised for the time being. Weekly stripe rust surveys will continue throughout the summer.

• More from the Alberta Farmer Express: Central Alberta winter wheat fields hit hard by stripe rust

The post Traces of stripe rust reported in southern Alberta appeared first on Alberta Farmer Express.

Additionally, there were some stripe rust pustules in winter wheat in the breeding plots and in one of two commercial fields surveyed in Lacombe about a week ago. Dr. Kumar observed stripe rust pustules in three of three winter wheat fields in Bentley a week ago as well. All winter wheat fields or plots surveyed displayed growth good conditions and there is no apparent winter kill. No stripe rust was observed on June 4 at the Trochu breeding site.

Drs. Kumar and Xi note that they have never observed such an early and severe development of stripe rust in winter wheat in central Alberta before. It is likely that the stripe rust pathogen was able to overwinter in parts of Alberta under the insulated conditions provided by the abundant snow cover this past winter.

Research has shown that there may be an earlier development of stripe rust in susceptible spring wheat growing in close proximity to infected winter wheat. This is especially concerning for any fields with susceptible cereal cultivars in an area where stripe rust is reported. Consequently, there is an elevated need to scout spring wheat fields and monitor for early stripe infection, especially in the areas around Olds, Lacombe and Bentley. Early and frequent scouting is recommended.

So far, Dr. Denis Gaudet’s surveillance activities have not reported any stripe rust in southern Alberta.

The post Stripe rust on winter wheat being reported near Olds, Alta. appeared first on Alberta Farmer Express.