GRAIN growers should select varieties with sufficient rust resistance to suit their own risk situation, advises Australian Cereal Rust Control Program Consultative Committee chairman Grant Hollaway.
This means choosing varieties with the highest level of rust resistance possible, taking into account the variety’s other agronomic and disease resistance traits.
“Find out if there is an alternative to S (susceptible) and VS (very susceptible) varieties that will suit your region,” Mr Hollaway says.
“It is too late when a rust outbreak has crippled your crop yields.
“While it is generally agreed S and VS varieties are best avoided, if they are selected, a rust management plan is a must.
“An effective rust management plan using fungicides applied to seed or fertiliser at sowing combined with subsequent foliar fungicides if required can provide effective rust management. Using fungicides to keep rust levels low will also reduce the chances of the rust changing and overcoming effective resistance genes.
For the full report, see the print issue of this week's YP Country Times.