Stripe and leaf rust found in Ontario winter wheat fields

Stripe and leaf rust have been identified in winter wheat fields in Perth and Grey counties as of May 12. Growers are encouraged to scout their fields to assess for conditions conducive for disease development or early signs of disease infection.

Joanna Follings, cereals specialist with the Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Agribusiness (OMAFA), Albert Tenuta, plant pathologist with OMAFA, and Real Agriculture agronomist Peter Johnson summarize the current risks of these diseases, how they develop and how to approach their management.

Previous early occurrences of stripe rust in winter wheat were identified in Ontario in 2016, 2017 and 2024. Though stripe and leaf rust spores do not typically overwinter in Ontario, certain circumstances — history of high disease, lush growth in the fall, mild winter temperatures and insulating snow cover – can promote overwintering of spores.