The flowers dry on wheat that has headed, while the heads of less mature wheat may have trouble pulling away from the boot, the leaves that surround the head. Larson said wheat that has headed may be damaged by temperatures 30 degrees and lower, but before it heads may be damaged by temperatures 28 degrees and lower. The report classified 82 percent of the crop in good or excellent condition with another 16 percent listed as fair. But rains and cooler weather threaten the wheat with leaf disease. Larson recommended scouting the upper leaves on the wheat plant and identifying any diseases present.
Stripe rust is an aggressive disease that thrives in wet, cool weather.
It does not commonly occur, but some farmers in Mississippi have reported symptoms. Growers in Arkansas are having significant problems with this disease, Larson said. It can be treated, as can leaf rust and septoria, two other diseases potentially facing wheat. Even with these recent threats, the state's wheat crop still looks positive, Larson said. Acreage increased to 180,000 acres from 160,000 in 1998.