HEATHER MARIE KELLY
JACKSON, TENNESSEE
This week I’ve gotten calls asking about fungicide decisions in wheat – is an application needed or not? While the initial conversation is on Fusarium Head Blight (FHB/scab) and the forecasting models available for FHB, I also mention other diseases to be mindful of – since in Tennessee and more general the Mid-South, FHB is not an annual issue; but rusts and leaf spots can be. Here I’ve provided links to the resources I go over in a short video (~12 minutes).
Watch video found here: tiny.utk.edu/WheatResourcesDemo
Summary of video: Heather Kelly provides an update on wheat disease and fungicide management, focusing on Fusarium Head Blight (FHB) forecasting tools. She demonstrates the FHB forecasting tools on WheatScab.psu.edu and the Crop Protection Network’s (CPN) risk assessment tool, explaining how to use these tools effectively, including how to adjust wheat variety settings to account for resistance levels and how to interpret the color-coded risk maps for different time periods.
At this time the majority of Tennessee is at low risk for FHB, but this is dependent on variety susceptibility. Additionally, it is noted that other diseases should be considered when deciding if a fungicide is beneficial, such as rusts and leaf spots. Currently there are low to no reports of stripe rust due to the warm and dry conditions across the Southeast, but there is some leaf rust reports in the South, but movement seems limited due to the dry weather. It’s recommended to scout wheat fields to assess the need for fungicides and to use the CPN Wheat fungicide efficacy table to determine the best products based on variety weaknesses and disease pressure. Additional resources can be found under the Wheat-Insect&Disease section on UTcrops.com, including the foliar fungicide point system worksheet, which can help further guide fungicide decisions, with the updates mentioned in the video (minute 10:16-11:20, update to Yield Potential and Cropping History Sections) that will be forth coming to the worksheet.
A clarification about a comment I make in the video, that the best application timing for fungicide in wheat, for FHB and if no disease is present/threatening at flag leaf, is beginning bloom (Feekes 10.5.1). The comment made in the video, about being in full bloom, is in reference to that the majority of Tennessee wheat fields are in bloom.
In the video I demonstrate resources found at the following sites:
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UTcrops.com – Wheat Insects & Diseases section (https://utcrops.com/wheat/wheat-insects-disease/)
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Foliar Fungicide Point System (https://utia.tennessee.edu/publications/wp-content/uploads/sites/269/2023/10/W664.pdf)
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Fusarium Head Blight (Scab) Disease Info and Risk map tool(https://www.wheatscab.psu.edu/)
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Crop Disease Forecasting on Crop Protection Network
HEATHER MARIE KELLY
UNIVERSITY OF TENNESSEE
LINK to Original Article: https://news.utcrops.com/2026/04/resources-for-wheat-fungicide-decisions/
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