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Wheat Stem Maggots Observed in S.D. Wheat
While scouting wheat fields throughout South Dakota, we have started noticing the presence of bleached heads scattered throughout many different fields. These discolored heads are the result of an infestation of the wheat stem maggot.

Barley yellow dwarf developing in winter wheat.
Barley yellow dwarf is starting to develop in winter wheat. Barley yellow dwarf is caused by the Barley yellow dwarf virus (BYDV). This disease usually becomes more distinct at flag leaf emergence. A typical symptom of Barley yellow dwarf is the purplish-yellow color of infected leaves, especially the flag leaf.

Consider SCN Sampling This Spring
Soybean cyst nematode management starts with a soil test to determine the presence or absence of this nematode in the soil.

Winter Wheat Breaking Dormancy Early
A threshold indicator for winter wheat emergence is to consider average temperatures over a 14-day period. When that 14-day average temperature is equal to or above 5°C, or 41°F, then hard red winter wheat can break dormancy.

Fall is a Good Time to Test Your Soil for SCN
Is your yield monitor indicating low yielding areas in your soybean field? Soybean Cyst Nematode (SCN) could be the problem. Get to the root of the problem by testing your soil for the soybean cyst nematode. SCN management starts with a soil test to determine the presence or absence of this nematode in the soil. Absence may indicate either the SCN has not established in the field or could be present in non-detectable levels.

Managing Wheat Curl Mite
Wheat curl mite is one of the more difficult pests to manage in wheat. This is in part due to the limited options available for preventing populations from infesting a field and rapidly reproducing.

Late-Season Soybean Diseases: Know what’s killing your soybeans
Late-season soybean diseases can sometimes be mistaken for natural senescence. A closer look at the stems and roots of dying plants and the pattern displayed by dead plants in the field may reveal root or stem rots going on. In order to devise effective management practices for future soybean seasons, it is important to determine the cause of early soybean plants death.

Wheat Streak Mosaic Virus Management: Plan ahead before planting this fall
Have you had a history of moderate wheat streak mosaic disease in your field? Do you plan on planting wheat into wheat stubble or wheat fallow? Have your neighbors had wheat streak mosaic disease outbreaks in the recent past? If you answered yes to any of these questions, you need to incorporate wheat streak mosaic control principles into your management plan before planting winter wheat this fall.

Soybean Diseases Update
A few soybean fields scouted had between low to moderate levels of brown spot (also known as Septoria leaf spot). Soybean planted into soybean stubble had elevated levels of brown spot.

The Small Grains Disease Forecasting System Could Save Producers Money
The South Dakota State University Small Grains Plant Pathology program has partnered with the Small Grains Plant Pathology program at North Dakota State University to deploy a small grains disease forecasting system for South Dakota. The system uses weather variables including rainfall, temperature, and relative humidity to predict the likelihood of disease development. This new tool has the potential to save growers money by helping them avoid unnecessary fungicide applications, or knowing when to apply a rescue fungicide treatment.