Protect your Wheat from FHB

Fusarium Head Blight (FHB), or Head Scab, is caused by the fungus Fusarium graminearum and related species. Here in Ohio, it is one of the most important diseases of wheat and other small grain crops.The fungi that causes FHB overwinters and survives between crops in infected grain and grass stubble, chaff, and cornstalk residue left on the soil surface. Although severity can vary form year to year, FHB outbreaks are most frequent in humid or rainy weather during early blooming stage (Feekes 10.5.1) through early dough stage (Feekes 11.2). Under these environmental conditions, spores are produced and carried by air currents to the flowering spikelets where infections occur. When FHB is prevalent, a toxin called mycotoxin or deoxynivalenol (DON) is produced causing poor seed quality and reduced grain value. Livestock, especially swine, are sensitive to DON-contaminated grain. The USDA limits DON levels to 5 ppm for livestock consumption and 1 ppm for wheat used for human consumption. To acheive effective managemnt of head scab and to protect your yield and grain quality, apply a fungicide at Feekes 10.5.1.Apply Caramba® fungicide at 13.5 fl oz/A) at the start of flowering (Feekes 10.5.1) to increase yield and provide the best-in-class DON reduction. Timing is critical for FHB and if you are prevented from getting in the field, there is a 7-day window from start of flowring, for the fungicide to have activity on FHB and vomitoxin. Caramba is also rainfast in 15 minutes so you can worry les about the rain and focus more on healthy wheat.
Caramba also provides outstanding protection of foliar diseases like septoria, powdery mildew and rusts to help maximize yields. The high yield potential and risk of disease in this years’ wheat crop make it worth protecting.