Nathan Kleczewski, Extension Field Crop Plant Pathologist, University of Delaware
We are through flowering in Delaware and Maryland wheat. Growers should assess wheat for FHB severity approximately 18-24 days after flowering or fungicide application. Check one transect per 1-2 acres of field. At each transect, pick 25 heads without looking at the field. Mark the number of heads with FHB out of the total heads collected (FHB incidence). Fields with high levels of FHB incidence should be harvested with increased fan speeds to remove tombstones and grain stored separately from that harvested from cleaner fields. If possible, harvest fields early and dry to at least 15% moisture to prevent continued growth of the FHB fungus and potential mycotoxin production.
