Wheat Watching: Disease Update

 

 

While the cold temperatures and drier conditions across much of the state have slowed the progress of wheat diseases, that doesn’t mean they’ve entirely gone away. I have been receiving reports and samples of wheat and other small grains infected with powdery mildew and leaf diseases like stagonospora leaf blotch. These seem to be frequently found in our valleys and spots where humidity tends to hang and temperatures can be milder. One thing that growers often comment on is the noticeable difference in disease severity between varieties. This is important to keep track of so that in the future you can select a variety that gives you some resistance. My counterpart in Delaware shows this in a great write up on powdery mildew that can be found here. Check out this article if you’d like to freshen up on the “dos” and “don’ts” of dealing with this disease.

 

Our friends to the south in North Carolina and Virginia are now sending us reports of rusts on wheat. While these diseases usually come in at flag leaf or later for us here in PA, be sure to scout early this year as weather systems can blow the spores up to us from the south.If you need some help identifying these diseases, look no further than this excellent identification guide.

 

If you choose to use a fungicide for these or any other diseases on wheat this year, you can refer to the updated fungicide efficacy chart.

 

Video: Independent Seed, National Impact | On The Brink: Episode 9

A survey of 200 independent seed businesses reveals what Canada's seed sector actually contributes — and what it stands to lose.

On the Brink, Justin Funk, a third-generation agri-marketer, shares the findings of a national survey conducted in early 2026. The numbers reframe the conversation: independent seed companies in Canada represent upwards of $1.7 billion in dedicated seed infrastructure, approximately 3,000 full-time equivalent jobs in rural communities, and an estimated $20 million in annual community contributions. And roughly 90% of Canada's cereals, pulses, and other small pollinated crops flow through them.

The survey also asked how dependent these businesses are on public plant breeding to survive. The answer was unambiguous. For policymakers evaluating the future of publicly funded breeding programs, Funk argues the economic case for this sector and the case for public plant breeding are the same argument.

On the Brink is a cross-country video series exploring the future of plant breeding in Canada. Each episode features voices from across the industry in an open, ongoing conversation about innovation and long-term investment in Canadian agriculture.