Cereal Report: May 18, 2012

Winter cereals are far ahead of normal development. Rye and barley are in full head, advanced wheat fields are at head emergence. Combines need to be ready to harvest two weeks earlier than ever before. Dry weather and low fusarium risk has some growers questioning the need forĀ fusarium control. Remember that the fusarium fungicides Caramba and Prosaro give foliar leaf disease control and improve straw yields and quality, along with reduced fusarium and DON concentrations in the grain. Leaf disease pressure remains low with some powdery mildew pressure. Aphid populations are building in wheat fields along the Lake Erie shoreline. Scout!

Spring cereals continue to progress with early fields at first node (GS 31). Many producers are waiting to apply herbicides to get more value from the fungicide application. Early fungicides have little yield impact in spring cereals. If weed pressure is significant, or grass weeds are an issue, this decision may cost growers in lost yield potential.