As expected risk for Fusarium Head Blight/Head Scab has started to increase in the western part of Tennessee with wheat starting to bloom and rain in the forecast.

The Fusarium Head Blight Prediction Center website (www.wheatscab.psu.edu*) can be used to visualize Head Scab risk as wheat begins to bloom. More information on Head Scab and conditions that favor its development can be found in the previous article: Prevent Scabby Heads – Assessing Fusarium Head Blight in Wheat. Individual fields should be assessed to gauge when best to apply a triazole fungicide to manage Head Scab based on when blooming will start and forecasted rain events. Fungicide applications are most effective when applied at beginning bloom (approximately 50% of heads have started to bloom) or just after (the following 3 days).  The best products currently available for reducing Scab symptoms and DON levels are Caramba and Prosaro. A more comprehension fungicide table can be found at UTcrops.com (Wheat fungicide Table).

*A note on the forecast website – it is best viewed with the following web browsers: Chrome, Firefox, and Safari (Internet Explorer has some compatibility issues).