A June 2 Update: Wheat across Ohio is now between anthesis and early grain-fill. Barring a few late-planted fields in some parts of Northern Ohio that are now at the flowering growth stage, most of our wheat reached anthesis late last week and during the weekend. During that time, the risk for scab remained low, and will likely continue to be low this week, as indicated by the scab risk tool (http://www.wheatscab.psu.edu).
This is probably because we have had at least 4 rain-free days over the last week. Interestingly, however, relative humidity was very high on several of those days and continues to be high in some areas of the state. In spite of the low risk prediction, Prosaro was still applied to some fields over the weekend. As the wheat enters early grain-fill, the risk for scab decreases considerably, even though late infections may still occur, especially if conditions remain wet and humid, and such late infections may still lead vomitoxin contamination of the grain. However, at this point, the model seems to suggest that 2014 will likely be a low scab and vomitoxin year in Ohio.