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Watch for volunteer wheat after harvest for potential disease issues

An extension forage and wheat specialist says farmers should monitor fields after harvest to help prevent the spread of disease.

Romulo Lollato with Kansas State University says lodging has resulted in head shattering. “That volunteer wheat can act as a bridge for the wheat curl mite. If we don’t control it whenever we plant our next crop here in a couple of months or a little bit more, those with curl mites can migrate from the volunteer wheat to  the new crop within an area of probably 2 or even more miles.”

He tells Brownfield that can leave next year’s crop susceptible to wheat streak mosaic virus. “Our recommendation is two weeks before you plant your new crop, that volunteer wheat needs to be dead. It needs to be brown. Whenever we say it needs to be dead, we need to consider some herbicides like glyphosate may take some time to act. That plant may be dying for at least 10 days. That application needs to be done well before hand.”

He says farmers can also select different hybrids that have some disease resistant, but it may not be as effective.

Romulo Lollato: