By Scout Nelson
On June 19, 2025, wheat disease surveys were carried out across several counties in eastern Nebraska. These included Gage, Lancaster, and Saunders counties, where wheat was in various growth stages — from hard dough at the Eastern Nebraska Research, Extension and Education Center (ENREEC) near Mead to nearly mature and drying in Gage County.
Researchers observed moderate to high levels of leaf rust, advanced stages of stripe rust, and moderate cases of Fusarium head blight at the Havelock Research Farm in Lancaster County and at ENREEC.
“Leaf rust has been confirmed in two additional counties, bringing the total number of counties with confirmed leaf rust to three,” researchers noted. Stripe rust remains confirmed in 14 counties, with no new cases added.
Because these diseases appeared late in the growing season, they are not expected to severely affect wheat's yields across the region. However, a few isolated hot spots with heavier disease levels may have some minor impact.
Leaf rust and stripe rust are common fungal diseases in wheat that thrive under specific weather conditions. When these diseases develop earlier in the season, they can harm grain fill and reduce yields. However, the current timing — close to harvest — limits their overall effect on crop performance.
This situation underscores the importance of regular field scouting, especially late in the season, to monitor disease spread and severity. While fungicide treatments are usually more effective earlier, awareness of current conditions helps plan future disease management strategies.
Eastern Nebraska growers should continue watching their fields as harvest approaches, but the current outlook remains positive for most wheat producers in the region.
Photo Credit:gettyimages-ygrek
Categories: Nebraska, Crops, Wheat