Eight IPM Principles.

The 8 Integrated Pest Management (IPM) Principles.

Specific reference to Yellow Rust in Winter Wheat.

The ability of the fungus causing yellow rust to overcome race specific genes is well know and documented; an early occurrence being in 1932 with the variety Vilmorin 23.  From there you may remember Perdix in 1966, Sleipner 1985, Robigus 2000 and Warrior in 2011.  These sudden degradation’s of varietal resistances make for spectacular newspaper headlines whist causing major economic loss to individual farmers.

A “background infection” can create a farm yield loss of 35%.  A greater loss occurs with the right combinations of variety, seasonal, location and the development stage of wheat at the time the epidemic begins.

Trials carried out across Europe during 2020 and 2021 as part of the European Rustwatch project utilised products of “biological status” to affect control.  “The alternative products tested including two biological control agents (BCA) and four alternative chemistries, all gave inferior and insufficient control against rust when compared with chemical fungicides.”  The report then went on to say “ ..studies have shown that the use of Bacillus (bacteria) provides a low to moderate level of control in a highly variable manner.  None of the tested alternatives provided sufficiently effective reliable control”.

So what is to be done?

Well according to what is defined by EU legislation for sustainable, environmentally responsible crop protection the matter is quite straight forward. 

By adherence to the principles outlined under the Integrated Pest Management Principles:-

Prevention/Suppression.

    Don’t grow a variety that gets disease.

Monitoring.

    Check the field and don’t spray until you pass a stated threshold.

Decision.

    Use a computer for decision making purposes, that way your Agronomist can never be wrong.

Non-chemical methods.

    Use a BCA (see above).

Pesticide selection.

    Only use products with the lowest risk to human health, non-target organisms, and the environment. (Doesn't matter if they work or not).

Reduced pesticide use.

    Don’t apply the above (if at all possible).

Anti-resistance strategies.

    Do all of the above and you won't need to spray nasty chemicals.

Evaluation.

    Record how much of your crop is destroyed.

Great to know the EU has it all worked out.  Maybe that is why in January 2026 the EU was a major importer of wheat.