Wheat scab rearing its ugly “head” again in 2014
Head scab of wheat (a.k.a. Fusarium head blight) is showing up in the southern portion of Illinois. In many cases, incidence is moderate to high (over 50% of the heads affected). Affected wheat heads will appear “bleached” in color. Heads often are partially affected, with both healthy green and affected bleached areas being present in the same head. Although I have not been in all wheat production areas in the state, my general observations are that fields in southern Illinois (south of Interstate 70) range from a moderate to high incidence of scab. …