Stripe rust update

Farm and Ranch March 22, 2011 That period of cold weather in February had some impact on stripe rust in the Pacific Northwest but not enough.

Chen: “Slowed down rust development but it did not completely eliminate it.”

That’s Xianming Chen with the Agricultural Research Service at Pullman whose latest update reports that stripe rust is actively growing in southeastern and central Washington winter wheat. He scouted fields last week in Garfield, Columbia, Walla Walla, Benton and Adams counties and found stripe rust in most checked fields. According to Chen Walla Walla county had the most rust. It had snow cover during the February cold snap that may have helped the rust survive.

Chen says his treatment recommendation is still valid. So, if you find rust in your fields.

Chen: “Spray fungicide at the time of the herbicide application.”

And use a full rate.

Chen: “The reason for that because this year rust is already there and we have a long season of rust.”

Chen says for moderately to susceptible cultivars apply a fungicide with the herbicide even if you see no rust when the herbicide application should be done. He says for spring wheat consider planting resistant varieties if possible.

One thing the cold weather in February may have done is taken care of stem rust. Chen says he could not find any stem rust in fields where it was found last November.

I’m Bob Hoff and that’s the Northwest Farm and Ranch Report on Northwest Aginfo net.

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