The fifth weekly Prairie Crop Disease Monitoring Network (PCDMN) Prairie wind trajectory cereal rust risk report for 2025 is available for download now at the following link: June 3-9, 2025
General weather and crop conditions
- Prairie winter wheat crops are generally moving into the booting to head emergence growth stages, while much of the spring wheat crop is ranging from the seedling to 4-5 leaf stages and tillering.
- Temperatures have been somewhat higher than normal for most of the Prairie region since April 1, 2025, and from June 2-8, 2025 temperatures have ranged from around 9 to 15.8°C. These temperatures are generally not conducive to rust development, although cooler temperatures are more conducive for stripe rust 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 very low numbers of reverse wind trajectories that passed over the PNW region and into the Prairies from June 3-9, 2025.
- Although, stripe rust development continues, it is generally lower versus 2024; however, further development may occur over the next 1-2 weeks.
- Overall, as of June 12, 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.
Texas/Oklahoma
- There were no wind trajectories that passed over the TX/OK region and into the prairies from June 3-9, 2025.
- Overall, development of stripe and leaf rust of wheat is generally limited in the TX/OK region. Moreover, most of the crop is likely mature, with harvest progressing, which means this region is becoming less of a potential source of rust inoculum for the Prairie region.
- Overall, as of June 12, 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 was a very low number of wind trajectory events from the KS/NE region from June 3-9, 2025.
- Although rust levels are generally lower versus 2024, continuing rust development (mainly stripe rust), especially in Nebraska, may increase the risk.
- Overall, as of June 12, 2025 the risk of stem, leaf, stripe, and crown rust appearance from the Kansas-Nebraska corridor is generally limited and scouting for these diseases in the Prairies is not urgent.
