Grain growers are being urged to act now to start planning for the control of cereal diseases this season.

Following two good seasons disease levels on stubble are higher than normal this year and soil-borne disease levels are also on the rise.

Growers are reminded that the disease management decisions they make now can have a significant effect on disease levels later in the season.

The 2018 Cereal Disease Guide, which will be officially released at the Grains Research and Development Corporation Research Update at Bendigo next week, has been produced to help growers make informed disease management decisions.

The guide features the latest information about common cereal crop disease and updated cereal variety disease ratings.

Agriculture Victoria’s Senior Plant Pathologist, Grant Hollaway, who is one of the authors of the guide, said growers should choose their varieties and paddocks carefully to reduce the disease threat.

“Coming off two good seasons, stubble borne disease will be important,” he said.

“Soil-borne disease levels also increased during 2017, however PreDicta B® soil tests can determine the disease risks within paddocks, enabling growers to put strategies in place that will reduce the risk of any potential yield loss.”

Dr Hollaway reminded cereal growers to plan for bunt and smut control.

“Smut can increase rapidly, resulting in unsaleable grain,” he said.

“All cereal seed should be treated with an  effective seed treatments with good coverage to ensure adequate control.

“If a seed lot is infected, it should not be used.”

Source: Agriculture Victoria. The production of the annual Agriculture Victoria Cereal Disease Guide is supported by the Victorian Government and GRDC.