06/08/05 Power County stripe rust, part two

Stripe rust is attacking some Power County wheat fields. University of Idaho Extension educator Stan Gortsema says most of the cases have been in the variety Delores. GORTSEMA "One of our biggest concerns has kind of come true. We're finding it in Brundage soft white wheat. So far the Brundage we're found it in have been very close to heavily infected Delores fields." Brundage is one of the most widely grown soft white wheat varieties in the irrigated areas and there's concern for the soft white spring wheat's which have very little resistance protection. The disease attacks the flag leaf but still allows the plant to grow and fill the heads. GORTSEMA "But since the flag leaf if so damaged we'll probably see light test weights and shriveled, shrunken seed will be the best we can hope for. Where normal yields of white wheat are in the 35 to 45 bushel range some farmers were talking 60 to 70 bushels per acre this year, thanks to rains last fall and this spring GORTSEMA "I think we're going to see 60 percent plus loss in some of these heavier infected fields." (More information at this website, www.pnwpestalert.net.) Voice of Idaho Agriculture Bill Scott