It is generally most serious under wet or humid weather conditions, such as that experienced in South Dakota and the upper Great Plains in 1993. Scab was observed in some winter wheat fields and was particularly severe in spring wheat and some barley fields. Where the rachis is infected, all portions of the head above that point will be afflicted. The disease also can move down the head and infect the upper part of the stem as well. Consider increasing the air flow on your combine during harvest to eliminate as much of this light scab-infected grain as possible.
Scabby grain can present major problems in marketing, storage, and utilization.
Grain from scab-infected fields may be less palatable to livestock than normal grain. Ruminant animals are much more tolerant to vomitoxin. This toxin apparently can remain stable in grain for several years. Fusarium spp . These fungi over-winter on crop residue such as cornstalks, wheat stubble, and grass residue.