OTTAWA — A serious wheat disease called wheat stripe rust has been found in Franklin County fields and could be spreading. The appearance has been confirmed in some fields, and given the disease thrives in temperatures from 60 to 70 degrees with high humidity, probably won’t disappear anytime soon, said Frontier Extension District agricultural and natural resources agent Darren Hibdon. A symptom of the disease is a stripe of yellowish blisters along the leaves of the plants. Left unchecked, wheat stripe rust can cause heavy yield losses, he said. Farmers will have to consider if it’s worth treating it. Applying special fungicides, generally sprayed by airplane, are expensive and would cost the equivalent of 5 to 6 bushels per acre, he said. Wheat is a secondary crop in east-central Kansas.
Friday, May 1, 9 a.m.
