If you are a wheat producer who wants to follow wheat with soybeans, it is now too late to get a DON estimate for reasons related to crop insurance. Growers in the above circumstances had to meet a June 30 deadline to get their beans into the ground.
However, N.C. State University grain specialist Randy Weisz notes growers can lower their collection of DON infested seed during harvest, and lower the risk of not being able to sell their soybeans.
Weisz says if there are any signs of head scab in unharvested fields growers can set their combines to blow small heads out the back of their machines.
"Scabby heads are small, light and have very low test weight," Weisz says. "It is relatively easy to remove them from the larger kernels. It is better to put less grain in the tank, than risk having wheat that can't be sold."
Weisz notes that larger seeds can also be infected with scab but this strategy "will get rid of the worst of the problem."
The N.C. Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services reports high levels of vomitoxin have been found in samples in central and Northeastern N.C. this year. A byproduct of a fungus, vomitoxin can cause illness in both humans and livestock.
For more information on head scab management techniques for next year's crop, Weisz says N.C. wheat producers should download his soon to be released 2009 Wheat Variety Recommendations Newsletter from his website at www.smallgrains.ncsu.edu/NCSmallGrains/Home.htm.