Early-season conditions can create favourable environments for disease development, particularly where rainfall and mild temperatures coincide with the presence of a green bridge or volunteer cereal plants.
Barley growers should remain alert for net blotch infections, especially in susceptible varieties, tight barley rotations and paddocks where volunteer plants were not adequately controlled prior to sowing. These factors can increase disease pressure early in the season and provide a source of inoculum for emerging crops.
Regular crop inspections are essential to identify disease development before it impacts yield potential. Monitoring should focus on susceptible paddocks and varieties, with attention paid to both disease incidence and severity as crops progress through their early growth stages.
When considering fungicide applications, timing remains critical. With fungicide resistance continuing to emerge in both spot form and net form net blotch populations, applications should be targeted to maximise efficacy and protect yield potential. In many situations, delaying fungicide applications until around GS30 can provide the greatest return by protecting key yield-contributing leaves. However, disease pressure, variety susceptibility and seasonal conditions should all be considered when determining the most appropriate management strategy.
The key to successful disease management is early detection and informed decision-making. Regular monitoring throughout crop establishment allows potential issues to be identified before significant yield loss occurs and ensures management decisions can be made at the right time.
For tailored advice on disease identification, fungicide strategies and resistance management, contact your local YP Ag branch to speak with one of our experienced agronomy team members.