(Adapted from: US Wheat & Barley Scab Initiative)

It’s time to start preparing for winter small-grain planting. Here are some planting tips to aid in managing Fusarium head blight (FHB), also known as head scab.

Tip #1: Plant wheat and barley varieties with some resistance
Disease management should start with variety selection, as it’s your best bet for reducing FHB. Check the NC OVT website and scroll down under Commercial Wheat Data to “2024 NC OVT Wheat Data Tables” for a table that includes FHB ratings. S = Susceptible, MS = Moderately Susceptible, and MR = Moderately Resistant. No varieties are fully resistant to FHB. Stay away from varieties rated S!

Tip #2: Practice good crop rotation with a non-host crop.
If possible, avoid planting winter wheat and barley following corn or other small grains as these are hosts for Fusarium graminearum, the main causal agent of FHB. These crop residues can increase population levels of the fungus in the field and increase the risk of disease developing.
• It is advised to rotate production with non-host crops (i.e., soybean or other legumes).
• Studies from Minnesota indicate that fields previously planted with soybean had lower Fusarium inoculum, FHB, and deoxynivalenol (DON) compared to fields previously planted with corn or wheat.

Tip #3: FHB risk is increased when planting wheat or barley into no-till corn stubble.
While tillage does bury residue that could harbor inoculum, soil conservation approaches are widely used. No-till and reduced-tillage are common in North Carolina’s Piedmont because they are good approaches to sustain soil health and reduce soil erosion. These benefits may outweigh the benefits of Fusarium inoculum reduction through tillage.
• Growers are especially encouraged to choose a resistant variety when planting in no-till or reduced-tillage production systems.

Thank you for reading!