Wheat producers should maximize effectiveness of fungicide applications

Throw in a finite number of aerial applicators and some wheat growers may be left on the waiting list for spraying.

“To ensure that fungicides are applied in a timely fashion, some wheat producers may want to consider using ground-application equipment,” said Jeff Edwards, Oklahoma Cooperative Extension Service wheat agronomist.

Narrow tires and wide booms will help to minimize damage to wheat. Usually, not all the wheat in the tire tracks will be destroyed.

“Consider a sprayer with 12-inch tires and a 60-foot boom width,” Edwards said. “The tires will run over two feet of wheat for every 60 feet, or approximately 3.3 percent. The same rig with a 90-foot boom will run over 2.2 percent.”

Edwards said actual yield loss from tire traffic likely will be less but that these figures can be used as a worst case scenario.

Recent rains and dews provided moisture for foliar disease infection of wheat fields. Reports of leaf rust have become more frequent around Oklahoma.

“This is a concern because while the price of wheat is not as high as a month ago, it is still far higher than normal,” said Bob Hunger, a wheat pathologist with Oklahoma State University’s Division of Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources. “The yield potential in many wheat fields across Oklahoma is in excess of 40 bushels per acre.”

Leaf rust has the potential to decrease yield and is most damaging when it is severe early. A fungicide will only protect yield potential and will not restore yield once it is lost to a disease such as leaf rust.

“If a producer waits until leaves are covered with rust pustules, it’s too late for the fungicide to protect the yield potential because the damage has already been done,” Hunger said.

Producers looking for additional information on fungicide applications for control of foliar diseases in wheat should contact their local OSU Cooperative Extension county office and ask for Current Report No. 7668, “Foliar Fungicides and Wheat Production in Oklahoma.”

The OSU report is also available at http://osufacts.okstate.edu on the Internet.

###

REPORTER/MEDIA CONTACT:
Donald Stotts
News and Media Relations Manager
Agricultural Communications Services
143 Agriculture North
Oklahoma State University
Stillwater, OK 74078
Phone: 405-744-4079
Fax: 405-744-5739
E-Mail: donald.stotts@okstate.edu

Oklahoma State University, U. S. Department of Agriculture, State and Local governments cooperating.  Oklahoma State University in compliance with Title VI and VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, Executive Order 11246 as amended, Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972, Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990, and other federal and state laws and regulations, does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, gender, age, religion, disability, or status as a veteran in any of its policies, practices, or procedures, and is an equal opportunity employer.