Tools Available for Fusarium Head Blight Prediction

Available Tools

Figure 1. Fusarium head blight risk prediction as of June 18, 2026. South Dakota risk ranges from Low in the Western and Southern regions with Medium to High risk areas in the East Central to Northeast regions. (Courtesy: Fusarium Risk Tool)

To support growers in making informed fungicide decisions, two forecasting tools are available: the Fusarium Risk Tool and the Small Grains Disease Tool, hosted by South Dakota Mesonet. 

oth tools use weather data to estimate the likelihood of FHB development, helping growers determine when the risk is high enough to justify a fungicide application or when conditions are low‑risk and a fungicide application may not be needed.

Fusarium Risk Tool

The Fusarium Risk Tool displays risk levels on a color-coded map. A yellow color indicates a low FHB risk, while orange/brown color indicates a medium risk, and the red color indicates a high risk (Figure 1). 

Small Grains Disease Tool

Figure 2. Fusarium head blight prediction for flowering winter wheat using the South Dakota Mesonet Pierre station. This chart shows moderate to high chances for scab in very susceptible wheat June 9-10. (Credit: South Dakota Mesonet, SDSU)

The Small Grains Disease Tool, hosted by the South Dakota Mesonet, provides a more localized, station‑specific assessment. Growers select:

• The nearest SD Mesonet station.
• The growth stage of the crop.
• The type of wheat (spring or winter).

The tool then displays an 11-day table showing scab risk across different cultivar susceptibility ratings (very susceptible to moderately resistant). The green color indicates that scab is unlikely, yellow indicates a moderate risk of scab, and the red color indicates scab is more likely than not to occur (Figure 2). This tool is valuable for growers who want field-specific guidance tied to local weather patterns and cultivar performance.

Why These Tools Matter

Using scab prediction tools helps growers by protecting their yield and grain quality by applying fungicides when infection risk is medium to high, avoiding dockage or rejection of grain at the elevator due to DON, and reducing unnecessary fungicide applications when risk is low, improving profitability and stewardship. By incorporating these forecasting tools into their management decisions, growers can better time fungicide applications and reduce their risk of scab.