NSW Cereal Rusts 2012 2013 Season Outlook Andrew Milgate and Steven Simpfendorfer

Southern and Northern NSW Stripe rust Wheat Common in south but more isolated across the north, impact on yield reduced by drier spring conditions and effective management Unexpected high levels of disease in some paddocks of Spitfire and Strzelecki. Issues with susceptible contaminates in Spitfire but not in Strzelecki. BGYR - wide spread on barley grass in SNSW Several barley lines noted in nurseries with BGYR infections Leaf rust No significant reports in crops Barley Oats Leaf rust (crown rust) was an issue again in oat crops early in the season with growers and advisers concerned about any up-front options for control and compatibility of in-crop fungicide applications with grazing for management in 2013. Stem rust Wheat – No significant reports (anecdotal report in a Preston crop) Oats – No reports #In wheat stripe rust was the only rust disease evident in 2012. Generally well controlled with fungicides. Inclusion of a fungicide with herbicide application during mid-tillering is a widespread practice. Stripe rust was quite isolated across the region in 2012 with a lack of rainfall from July until into October dramatically reducing disease development in many regions. Bigger issue has been unexpectedly high levels of stripe rust in the MR varieties LongReach Spitfire and Strzelecki in some growers paddocks. Seed purity testing was done using molecular tests through USQ and largely the reaction in Spitfire appears to be due to more susceptible contaminants. However, the Strzelecki crop with bad stripe rust was pure seed. #Leaf rust (crown rust) was an issue again in oat crops early in the season with growers and advisers concerned about any up-front options for control and compatibility of in-crop fungicide applications with grazing for management in 2013.

Dry spring in NSW 2012

Forecasting rust developments for 2012 The likelihood for winter cereal rust development across the NSW winter cropping zone is moderate to low. Risk Factors Inoculum potential Parts of the northern region received significant summer rainfall events Southern regions dry summer with late rainfall events Significant areas in the north for survival of volunteers, in the south some volunteer germination in March to act as possible green bridge (likely to be sprayed out in most situations) Reports of limited areas of early sown winter cereals already in the ground or to be planted soon where moisture profile is OK. Stripe rust in wheat and triticale will remain the highest risk over much of the cropping area. Leaf rust in wheat and barley risk appears low with little inoculum survival.

2013 Summer rainfall Mixed summer rainfall across the state

2013 Forecast Drier start to 2013 predicted across the cropping region

Adoption of rust control Seed and fertiliser treatments becoming much more common in SNSW less so in the NNSW Fungicide application during mid-tillering in conjunction with a herbicide spray has become common practice in NNSW.

Wheat and Barley Nurseries Stripe rust x 2 TOS Leaf rust Yellow leaf spot Septoria tritici blotch Barley Scald Leaf rust Net form of net blotch Spot form of net blotch Please send seed on time Sowing starts Anzac day