Next week there is an AHDB meeting which I believe details findings from the 2020 season regarding Yellow Rust in winter wheat.
I note that in the press there are questions and dire warnings about “another year for yellow rust?” For me the one line that stood out positively was “going back to basics.”
I appreciate that it is impossible to know with absolute certainty which variety WILL breakdown to yellow rust. There have been some “classics” over the last 100 years that I am aware of.
It is, however, possible to minimise the risk by choosing a winter wheat variety that has good resistance to start with. There are 25 varieties on the main AHDB listing of which 8 have a rating of 7 or less.
It is also possible to look at the parentage of each variety as a good indicator of how stable resistance ratings can be. It seems a little strange that Agronomists are not advising their clients accordingly. Why is that?
Another point to bear in mind. Applying a fungicide as a pre T0, at T0, then again T1.5 and a standard T2; each has a cost involved. By the end of the season you have spent your budget and not controlled the Septoria and forgotten that 15 of the 25 varieties on the main AHDB listing have a rating of 7 or less for Brown Rust which can be equally damaging to your earlier investment.
One of the good things about being an agronomist and driving around our wonderful county is that it is easy to spot yellow rust infections from the driver’s seat. Not of course whilst driving but when parked in the gate way! The yellow patches stand out well and it is easy to wander through the gate and into the field to confirm ones suspicions as witnessed last week.
Photos:
Yellow Rust makes its way onto the flag leaf
Road side farming
February 2021 and roadside farming
February 2021 well established and active infections
Missed a bit with the boom
Large booms and corners don’t go well together
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