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Three new posts on early season small grains issues

Three new posts on early season small grains issues

Early Season Disease Control of Small Grains

Research at both NDSU and the University of Minnesota has shown that once early season tan spot (Photo 1) in wheat is left uncontrolled, yield reductions of 4 to 5 bushels will result if conditions continue to favor the development. The greatest economic response from early season fungicide use occurs when a susceptible cultivar is planted into wheat stubble. Even fields that were in wheat two years ago may have enough remaining wheat residue at the surface to allow tan spot to start.

Early Season Yellowing in Small Grains

June 03, 2019

Reports of yellowing in small grains have started to reach me. There are several reasons why young wheat, barley, or oat plants have a pale green/yellow color. Some of the more common causes of early season yellowing are:

  • Nitrogen deficiency
  • Sulfur deficiency
  • Fungal diseases like tan spot of wheat or leaf blotch of oats caused by Pyrenophora spp.
  • Herbicide injury
  • Barley yellow dwarf virus (BYDV) infections

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Heat Canker in Wheat, Barley, and Oats

June 03, 2019

The last couple of days the weather has given us some dry sunny weather with high winds. This has been great to have fields finally dry off and make strides with planting any remaining acres. Unfortunately, this also exposed young small grain seedlings to the same conditions. The daytime heat at the soil surface has caused heat canker. The tender young tissue at the soil surface basically has been ‘cooked’ and this appears as a yellow band that is slightly constricted (Photo 1). As the leaf continues to grow, this yellow band (1/8 – 1/4″) moves upward and away from the soil surface. If the hot and dry weather lasts for several days, repeated bands can become visible. Because of the high winds, the tips of leaves may break off at the yellow band and give a field a very ragged appearance. Damage from heat canker is temporary and should not affect further growth and development.

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Source: University of Minnesota Extension: Minnesota Crop News