Last year, the late freeze damaged a lot of wheat, allowing disease to do even more damage. Wheat yields ranged from 15 to 50 bu/ac. and better last year. I think manyf producers decided early there was not a good enough stand left after the freeze to apply a fungicide.

The producers that did apply a fungicide and applied it at the right time definitely reaped the rewards with better yields. At around $20.00/acre, that is only around two bushels with today’s price. There is data showing yield increase by using fungicides correctly.

The key to getting the most out of your fungicide application is to apply it at the proper time. Apply it too early, it will not be there to protect the plant when it needs the protection just prior to head emergence. Apply it too late, the damage will already be done and the fungicide will be not as affective.

The best way to decide if your wheat needs a fungicide is to scout your fields. Farmway can help you make the right decisions at the right time.

Corn yields also benefited from fungicide applications in areas that had heavy Grey Leaf Spot & Corn Rust last year.

Again proper timing is the key to getting the most benefit out of your application. There are a lot of things that can set up a corn plant for disease. Planting the right variety, not stressing the plant are a couple of things that will help fight disease later on.

Soybeans will be another crop to watch this year with the Asian Soybean Rust moving into southern Kansas last summer. Again weather will play a big factor in this disease since it cannot survive in freezing temperatures. It will have to be moved up here with winds out of the south. This is a very fast acting disease, once it enters the field, it doesn’t take long to do its damage.

There again, proper scouting & timely application will give you the best return on you money. I’m not saying we will have a problem, but it is not far away.