Wheat Update: powdery mildew, leaf blotch & aphids

Powdery mildew, Leaf blotch and Aphids are causing problems on wheat this week.. The 80 degree days and nights around 58 degrees will really allow diseases to infect this wheat crop.

The photo above shows mildew and possible leaf blotch (Morris Henry). It is a good example of what you could see in your fields this week. Also you can see the effects of early heading caused by the extremely warm weather after enough cold hours have been acquired by the wheat crop.  Propiconazole or Tebuconazole at the low rate should cure your mildew and leaf blotch problems.  Do not spray your primary fungicide until the wheat heads, around Feekes 10.4 is best.

The aphid photo (above) is a good example of what you found last week in your fields and shows a colony growing and getting ready to fly to another area in your field spreading Barley Yellow Dwarf which can hurt your yield. A lambda insecticide will cure that problem.

Click here for the UGA charts on pesticide and fungicide sprays and rates.

Good Growing!

Information obtained from 2012(http//www.caes.uga.edu/publications) Georgia Pest Control Handbook and Intensive Wheat Management in Georgia.  As always follow label and dispose of empties properly.