Wheat pathologist Kelsey Andersen Onofre from Kansas State University said on April 17 that while wheat rust currently poses minimal risk to Kansas crops, the situation could change quickly with shifting weather conditions. As wheat emerges from dormancy and fields green up, Andersen Onofre urged producers to monitor their fields closely for stripe rust, leaf rust, and stem rust.
The timing is important because these diseases can impact yields if they develop under favorable conditions. “This is the time of year when we start to think about wheat rusts,” Andersen Onofre said. “We’re coming out of dormancy, and this is when we really start watching not only what’s going on in Kansas, but what’s happening in the states to our south.”
Stripe rust has been common in recent years but appears less threatening this season due to low activity reported in Texas, where it typically originates before moving northward. “That’s the rust that looks like orange Cheeto dust in stripes on our wheat leaves,” she said. However, leaf rust has shown more activity further south and could become a greater concern if wet weather develops in Kansas during April.
Andersen Onofre explained that leaf rust prefers warmer temperatures and may be a higher risk than stripe rust this year: “It seems like leaf rust will potentially be a higher risk for our crop than stripe rust this year.” She added that early detection through regular scouting is essential: “If it starts to get going again, especially if we have some wetter weather, that would be the time to think about a fungicide application.” If left unmanaged when five percent of a field shows infection, yield losses can reach up to 20 percent.
Stem rust remains rare but still warrants attention as part of disease management strategies since it primarily affects susceptible varieties later in the season. Ultimately, Andersen Onofre emphasized proactive monitoring: “Scouting and knowing your varieties are really your first line of defense. That’s what helps guide those management decisions throughout the season.”
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