WSU: Stripe Rust Expected To Be Severe To Epidemic In 2020

Thanks to the weather we saw in the last two months of 2019, wheat growers will need to be very vigilant in 2020.  According to Washington State University’s Dr. Xianming Chen stripe rust in the 2020 wheat growing season is forecasted to be in the severe epidemic level range, which means 40% to 60% yield loss.  Yield loss of highly susceptible winter wheat varieties in the 2020 crop season is forecasted to be in the range of 29% to 56% with an average of 44%.  This number is higher than the forecast of 38% made last January for the 2019 crop season.

Chen continued that currently grown varieties are forecasted to be up to 22% yield losses depending upon the level of resistance or susceptibility. Based on the forecast, fields grown with moderate susceptible or susceptible winter wheat varieties (stripe rust ratings 5 to 9) may need the early fungicide application at the time of herbicide application.

Chen added the early prediction made in January is often close to the real situation, but is usually not better than the prediction in March based on the entire winter. WSU will make another prediction in early March.  However, stripe rust resistant or moderately resistant spring wheat varieties (stripe rust ratings 1 to 4 in the Seed Buyer’s Guide) are recommended to plant.

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