Wheat Disease Update for May 18, 2023

By Stephen Wegulo

A survey of wheat fields on May 17 in south-central and southeast Nebraska found no diseases in the fields visited (Figure 1). Dry conditions prevailed in the surveyed fields and wheat plants were only about a foot tall or shorter in the boot or early heading stages. Dry conditions during planting last fall resulted in poor emergence and vigor. As result, winter kill was severe in some fields. Inadequate soil moisture last fall and dry weather this growing season have resulted in a poor wheat crop in dryland fields.

A report from Kansas on May 9 indicated that trace levels of stripe rust had been observed in irrigated fields in the south-central region of the state. However, due to dry weather conditions, the risk of stripe rust was considered to be very low.