The third weekly Prairie Crop Disease Monitoring Network (PCDMN) Prairie wind trajectory cereal rust risk report for 2025 is available at the following link: May 20-26, 2025.
General weather and crop conditions
- Prairie winter wheat crops are generally in the tillering to stem elongation growth stages, while much of the spring wheat crop has been seeded or will be shortly and are generally in the seedling stage
- Temperatures have been somewhat higher than normal for most of the Prairie region since April 1, 2025, and from May 20-26, 2025 temperatures have ranged from around 5 to 15.2oC
- These temperatures are generally not conducive to rust development, although cooler temperatures are more conducive for stripe versus leaf and stem rust
- Growing season rainfall for the Prairie region has been generally drier than normal
- Recent rainfall in some areas the Prairies could potentially have washed rust spores from the air and into wheat crops, especially winter wheat, while also resulting in canopy moisture conditions that may favour infection and further rust development
Pacific Northwest
- There were increased numbers of reverse wind trajectories that passed over the PNW region and into the prairies from May 20-26, 2025.
- Stripe rust development continues, although it is generally lower versus 2024; however, further development may occur over the next several weeks.
- Overall, as of May 26, 2025 the risk of stripe rust appearance from the PNW is generally limited and scouting for this disease in the Prairie region is generally not urgent.
- However, there were 19 locations, mainly in Alberta, the BC Peace region and in western Saskatchewan that had an elevated number of trajectories.
- Although the current stripe rust situation in the PNW is limited, Prairie farmers in these areas that are growing susceptible varieties may want to consider keeping an eye out for stripe rust symptoms as they visit fields for weed scouting and crop inspection activities.
Texas/Oklahoma
- There were a limited number of reverse wind trajectories that passed over the TX/OK region and into the prairies from May 20-26, 2025.
- Development of stripe and leaf rust of wheat are continuing, although levels are generally low.
- Overall, as of May 26, 2025 the risk of stem, leaf, stripe, and crown rust appearance from the Texas-Oklahoma corridor is limited and scouting for these diseases in the Prairie region is not urgent.
Kansas/Nebraska
- There were 30 Prairie locations that had wind trajectory events from the KS/NE region from May 20-26, 2025
- There have been limited reports of cereal rust currently.
- Overall, as of May 26, 2025 the risk of stem, leaf, stripe, and crown rust appearance from the Kansas-Nebraska corridor is limited and scouting for these diseases in the Prairies is not urgent.
- However, continuing rust (mainly stripe rust) observations and development in KS/NE will increase the risk.
- From May 20-26, 2025, there was one location in Alberta (VEGREVILLE, AB) that had an elevated number of trajectories.
- Although the current rust situation in the KS/NE region is limited, Prairie farmers in this area that are growing susceptible varieties may want to consider keeping an eye out for rust symptoms as they visit fields for weed scouting and crop inspection activities.
