This season we will be using a new system to monitor and track southern rust in Illinois #corn. We will be operating and managing a site that clientele can access and view in real time. I will provide information pertaining to the site once it is operational in a few days.
Why do we need to monitor rusts? Because rusts are obligate fungal pathogens. This means they need a living, green host to grow and reproduce. …
Each year our team of plant pathologists collaborate to develop efficacy tables for fungicides that can be used to help manage fungal diseases in field crops. Our most recent sheets can be found by clicking the following links:
CDWG Fungicide efficacy table_2019_final
Soybean Fungicide efficacy table_2019_final
These sheets will eventually be housed for download on the Illinois field Crop Disease Page along with factsheets, applied research data and guides, scouting videos,…
This week I have had several calls and emails regarding the appearance of a minor disease of corn called Holcus spot. Click here to view my article on Holcus spot and tips to differentiate it from herbicide drift.
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A few weeks ago we wrote an article on how to assess severity of Fusarium head blight (FHB) in small grains as well as some practices to consider that can help improve potential profitability in cases where outbreaks are severe. Now that symptoms of FHB are starting to develop in the earliest flowering wheat, it is a great time to assess your fields and determine if any considerations for harvest need to be made. To access the article click here.…
Most Illinois producers are behind in getting corn and soybeans into the ground this year as a result of persistent rains and cool temperatures. Some people are wondering what this might mean for some of the diseases we encounter in our field crops.
Keep in mind, disease occurs when you have the correct host, plant pathogen, and environment together. The longer those three factors are together, the more disease will occur. Although we cannot speculate much on the long term environmental conditions we will face this year and how that will impact diseases,…
Wheat is starting to approach heading. What should producers do to determine risk for Fusarium head blight and suppress this disease? Click here to access the new article on the Illinois Field Crop Pathology website on the subject!…
Currently, most small grains are approaching jointing or just past jointing in many parts of the state. Now is the time that you most likely will start to see early season viral diseases in some fields, specifically Wheat Soilborne Mosaic Virus and Wheat Spindle Streak Virus. These diseases are transmitted by soil borne microbes that thrive in cool, wet conditions. Infected plants typically are chlorotic and may be stunted. Often affected plants occur in low lying areas of the field or areas suffering from compaction.…