ILLINOIS WHEAT NEWS

Folicur Approval

 Folicur received a full section 3 registration from U.S EPA earlier this week and is registered for use on wheat in Illinois. Results of fungicide trials sponsored by the U.S. Wheat and Barley Scab Initiative across several universities and years have shown that Folicur is effective at reducing Fusarium head blight (scab) severity and at reducing associated mycotoxins in harvested grain. Illinois wheat growers now have several fungicide options for protecting against scab which include Floicur, Proline, and Caramba fungicides. In university trials, a mixture of Folicur and Proline (3 fl. oz. of each product or 4 fl. oz. of each product) has been very effective at reducing scab severity and mycotoxin levels as well, and a section 2 (ee) recommendation for this mixture is available. To check for the risk of scab in your area, go to the Fusarium Head Blight Risk Assessment Tool at http://www.wheatscab.psu.edu/.

IWA was instrumental in supporting the process of getting this product approved.

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Watch Out for Fusarium Head Blight (scab) in 2008

Carl A. Bradley, Plant Patologist, Department of Crop Sciences, University of Illinois, Urbana

Fusarium head blight of wheat (also known as “scab”) is caused by the fungus, Fusarium graminearum. Another form of this same fungus is also able to cause Gibberella stalk and ear rot of corn. Wheat heads are most susceptible to infection by spores of the scab fungus during anthesis. Symptoms of scab on wheat appear as white heads or heads that are half-white and half-green. Scab can reduce both yield and quality of winter wheat. Infected wheat kernels may be lightweight, shriveled and “chalky” in appearance. Additionally, the fungus is able to produce toxins that may be found within infected kernels. The most common toxin produced by the scab fungus is deoxynivalenol (DON), also known as “vomitoxin”.

With the increased acreage of corn in 2007, a number of acres of wheat were seeded into corn stubble. Because the Fusarium head blight fungus causes a stalk and ear rot of corn and survives in corn stubble, wheat planted into corn stubble is at a higher risk of being affected by scab. The best Fusarium head blight management plan includes integrated strategies which include crop rotation, planting partially resistant (or tolerant) varieties, and spraying a fungicide.

A tool to help make the decision on whether to spray a fungicide for scab control is available. The Fusarium Head Blight Risk Assessment Tool was developed by a team of researchers from several universities with the help of funding from the U.S. Wheat and Barley Scab Initiative. This risk assessment tool can be accessed at the following web site: http;//www.wheatscab.psu.edu/. This risk assessment tool uses weather data to estimate the risk of scab development. While not 100% accurate, the models used to develop the risk assessment have been shown to have nearly 80% accuracy.

In the last several years, requests by the IDOA for section 18 emergency exemptions for tebuconazole fungicide (Folicur and others) have been granted by the U.S. EPA for management of scab in Illinois. In 2008, a section 18 emergency exemption for tebuconazole on wheat will NOT be available. With the full registration and availability of Proline fungicide, Illinois wheat growers now have a fully registered fungicide product available for Fusarium head blight control. Proline (a.i. prothioconazole), from Bayer CropScience, has shown good efficacy in reducing both Fusarium head blight disease levels on wheat heads and DON toxin levels in harvested grain in regional university trials over multiple years. Proline can be applied at 4.3 to 5.7 fl oz/A for suppression of scab. Seven to ten days prior to flowering, check the scab risk tool to help make a decision on fungicide application.

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Winter Wheat Seedings for Harvest in 2008

• Total U.S. winter wheat planted acreage for harvest in 2008 is estimated at 46.6 million acres, up 4% from 2007.
• Hard Red Winter (HRW) Wheat seeded acreage is about 32.5 million acres, down 1% from 2007. Acreage was reported below last year’s level in all states in the HRW growing area, except North Dakota and Montana where acreage increased 185,000 and 460,000 acres respectively.
• White Winter Wheat seeded acreage totals nearly 3.65 million acres, up 7% from 2007. Planted acreage in Washington and Oregon is up 30,000 acres each for 2008, with Idaho expecting an increase of 150,000 acres.
• Soft Red Winter (SRW) Wheat planted acreage for harvest in 2008 is estimated at 10.6 million acres, up 21% from last year. Planted acreage increases of 200,000 acres or more are recorded in each of the following states: Illinois, Michigan, Ohio and Tennessee. Illinois’ planted acreage is estimated 1.2 million acres. Record high planted acreage is expected in Wisconsin (330,000 acres), while North Carolina is expected to tie the record high set in 1985 of 800,000 acres.

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DuPont Gains Approval of New Weed Product for Wheat

DuPont Crop Protection announced that it has received registration approval from the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) for a new, broad-spectrum weed control product for wheat growers.

The herbicide, Agility™ SG, is designed to control more than 80 tough broadleaf weeds, including Russian thistle, pigweed and kochia, as well as ALS-resistant species. It includes four active ingredients and two modes of action in a single formulation utilizing two patented, proprietary technologies from DuPont, DuPont™ TotalSol® soluble granules and blends technology.

For more information, please visit:                                         http://www.dupont.com/Production_Agriculture/en_US/products_services/herbicides/ Agility_SG_herbicide_w_TotalSol.html.

There is Little Wheat Left in U.S. Grain Bins

Joe Sowers, Senior Market Analyst, USW

The quarterly stocks report released last month by the U.S. National Agriculture Statistics Service showed that wheat stocks held by farmers on March 1, 2008, have not been lower since 1937. Total stocks, including both on- and off-farm supplies, were estimated at 16.8 MMT (617.3 million bushels). that is only a record to 1975, but USDA estimates supplies will fall to 6.6 MMT by May 31, the lowest stock level since 1948.

Stocks of all classes in all on-farm locations were 2.5 MMT (91.9 million bushels). That is well under half of last year’s level, 70% below the ten-year average and nearly ten times less than the 1983 record high of 23.7 MMT. On-farm stocks currently represent just 13 percent of total stocks, tying the record low last seen in 1964 and well under the ten-year average of 28 percent.

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Grupo Altex Meets with Illinois Wheat Producers

Grupo Altex (Mexican Milling Company), hosted by the Illinois Department of Agriculture, met with a group of Illinois wheat producers to generate interest in exporting soft, red winter wheat to Mexico for use in its company’s flour mills.

Altex imports one million MT of all types of wheat to Mexico with Canada being its main supplier. The company has seven mills located at different strategic points in the Mexican Republic to serve its needs. One of the most important customers is Bimbo, which is the second largest bread company in the world. Altex also has an exporting division where they export vegetables such as broccoli, cucumbers, cauliflower, all types of berries in refrigerated trucks to the United States. The trucks return to Mexico with frozen meat, potatoes and other products.

Armoando Rosales (Logistics Director with Altex) said they would be interested in importing a 25-car train per month. Since a rail car can hold 3,3000 bushels, a 25-car shipment would equate to 82,500 bushels. He said Altex prefers to have the wheat shipped by rail, rather than by barge or freighter, because its identity is preserved from the time of shipment. Rosales added that he is looking for quality, a consistent supply and a good price.

To make this happen area growers will have to find an elevator that has a rail siding long enough to handle a 25-car train and be able to load the train within a 48-hour period, said Terry English, International Marketing Manager with the Illinois Department of Agriculture.

From left to right: Jose Luis Gutierrez, Quality Manager with Grupo Altex, Terry English, Illinois Department of Agriculture, and Gary Dodillet, wheat producer, discuss possible sales of wheat to Altex

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