HGCA has updated 'The Wheat Disease Management Guide' for 2006. The guide aims to help growers in their decision-making on many aspects of disease management in wheat.

"British farmers produce high wheat yields of good quality thanks to the UK climate," said Professor Graham Jellis, HGCA's director of research. "However, diseases reduce yield and quality significantly every year and increase unit costs."

Understanding why a given level of disease results in varying yield loss will help ensure that fungicides are only used when economically justified. Higher doses are appropriate when disease is likely to lead to large losses but cost savings can be made when disease pressure is low.

"Input costs need to be balanced against output - both yield and quality - for maximum profit," said Professor Jellis. "Wheat price has little effect on optimum input levels. However, both yield and quality can be lost when fungicide use is below the optimum."

"Good levels of varietal resistance are now available to allow considerable savings to be made on fungicide costs, yet such savings are not generally made in practice," said Professor Jellis.

It is important to assess disease resistance before deciding on an appropriate dose. Understanding disease resistance and the effects of disease pressure can explain why disease levels on the same variety may vary between fields and years.

The guide covers all aspects of wheat disease management including root and stem-base diseases, foliar diseases, ear diseases, estimating disease risk, fungicides and a decision guide.

To view a copy of the guide click here.

Full guide: http://www.hgca.com/document.aspx?fn=load&media_id=2664&publicationId=1291