The Prairie Crop Disease Monitoring Network (PCDMN) represents the combined effort of our prairie pathologists who work together to support in-field disease management in field crops.
In 2019, the PCDMN will release a series of weekly Cereal Rust Risk Reports throughout May and June. Information related to trajectory events based on forecast and diagnostic wind fields and cereal rust risk is experimental, and is OFFERED TO THE PUBLIC FOR INFORMATIONAL PURPOSES ONLY.
Background: Agriculture and AgriFood Canada (AAFC) and Environment and Climate Change Canada (ECCC) have been working together to study the potential of trajectories for monitoring insect movements since the late 1990s. Trajectory models are used to deliver an early-warning system for the origin and destination of migratory invasive species, such as diamondback moth. In addition, plant pathologists have shown that trajectories can assist with the prediction of plant disease infestations and are also beginning to utilize these same data. An introduction will be presented of efforts to identify wind trajectory events that may bring rust urediniospores into Western Canada from epidemic areas in the central and Pacific northwest (PNW) regions of the USA. Identification of potential events as well as an assessment of epidemic severity from source locations, and prairie weather conditions, will be used to assess the need for prompt targeted crop scouting for at-risk regions of the Canadian Prairies.
This week, two documents are available from the PCDMN:
• An introduction to cereal rust risk and wind trajectories from the USA.
• WIND TRAJECTORY AND CEREAL RUST RISK REPORT for May 27, 2019
Synopsis of May 21-27, 2019, Weekly Cereal Rust Risk Report:
1. Pacific Northwest – Given limited stripe rust development in the PNW, a low number of recent wind trajectories from the PNW, cool and relatively dry Prairie weather conditions, and generally early stages of Prairie crop development, as of May 27, 2019, the risk of stripe rust appearance from the PNW is limited and scouting for this disease is not urgent.
2. Texas-Oklahoma corridor – Although leaf and stripe rust development continues in this corridor, especially Oklahoma, the disease is mainly affecting the lower canopy at generally low levels. In addition, crops are advancing towards maturity and thus will become less of a source of rust inoculum. There have been a low number of recent wind trajectories from this area, cool and relatively dry Prairie weather conditions, and generally early stages of Prairie crop development. Thus, as of May 27, 2019 the risk of leaf and stripe rust appearance from the Texas-Oklahoma corridor is low and scouting for these diseases is not urgent.
3. Kansas-Nebraska corridor – Although leaf and stripe rust development continues in Kansas, it is at low-moderate levels and mainly in the middle portions of crop canopies. There have been a low-moderate number of recent wind trajectories from this area, cool and relatively dry Prairie weather conditions, and generally early stages of Prairie crop development. Thus, as of May 27, 2019 the risk of leaf and stripe rust appearance from the Kansas-Nebraska corridor is low and scouting for these diseases is not urgent, but further development of rust in these regions may increase the risk.
4. Where farmers or consultants noticed stripe rust development on winter wheat in the fall of 2018, it is recommended to scout winter wheat fields that have resumed growth this spring. Scouting is especially critical where the variety being grown is susceptible to stripe rust. Currently, there are no early spring reports of stripe rust on winter wheat.
5. Access the full downloadable report.