In this episode, Aaron Harries speaks with Dr. Kelsey Andersen Onofre, an Assistant Professor at Kansas State University specializing in plant pathology and the impact of diseases on wheat crops. 

We discuss the significant disease pressures affecting the Kansas wheat crop in 2024, emphasizing the challenges posed by stripe rust, leaf rust, and stem rust, along with the emerging threats of viral diseases.

• Stripe rust emerged as the most destructive disease, with early detection in April and increased severity in May. 
• Effective management strategies include genetic resistance, timely fungicide applications, and controlling volunteer wheat. 
• Diseases like stripe rust and stem rust can lead to severe yield losses, historically reaching up to 25% due to common bunt. 
• Viral diseases, particularly wheat streak mosaic virus and triticum mosaic virus, are becoming more prevalent in central Kansas. 
• Producers should utilize resources like the Kansas wheat variety guide to make informed decisions on disease management. 
• Controlling volunteer wheat within two weeks of planting is crucial to prevent wheat streak mosaic.
   

Where did they say that?

(00:00) - Introduction to the Wheat's On Your Mind podcast with guest Dr. Kelsey Andersen Onofre

(00:52) - Reflecting on the 2024 wheat crop and disease pressure

(01:42) - Overview of rust diseases affecting Kansas wheat in 2024

(03:49) - Impact of weather patterns on stripe rust development

(04:27) - Leaf rust and stem rust observations in Kansas

(05:18) - Discussion on stem rust and its management challenges

(06:32) - Increased leaf rust pressure compared to recent years

(07:24) - Fungicide usage patterns for rust control in 2024

(08:34) - Unexpected prevalence of root and foot rots in Kansas wheat

(10:30) - Distinguishing between freeze damage and root/foot rots

(11:09) - Effectiveness of seed treatments for root and foot rot management

(12:31) - Brief update on Fusarium head blight situation

(13:04) - Historical perspective on common bunt (stinking smut) in wheat

(14:53) - Emergence of a "dwarf bunt doppelganger" and its implications

(17:20) - Control options for bunt diseases and seed treatment efficacy

(18:56) - Overview of viral diseases affecting Kansas wheat

(20:11) - Emergence of Triticum mosaic virus as a growing concern

(23:17) - Importance of controlling volunteer wheat to manage viral diseases

(24:44) - Best management practices for disease control in wheat

(26:40) - Disease management considerations for conventional till vs. no-till systems

(27:59) - Resources for accessing wheat disease management information

Kansas Wheat
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