Dr. Xianming Chen, USDA-ARS Research Plant Pathologist, released his first stripe rust forecast of 2025. Using a set of forecast models based on weather data from November and December 2024, he is predicting that stripe rust in the 2025 wheat growing season may be severe with anywhere from 0 to 29% yield loss in commercially grown varieties. The relatively warm weather in November and December has been conducive to the survival of the rust fungus in wheat so far. Please note that this forecast does not consider the amount of stripe rust present in fields in the fall of 2024.
Based on this forecast, fields planted to winter wheat varieties with moderate (M, rating 5) to moderately susceptible (MS, ratings 6 and 7) or susceptible (S, ratings 8 and 9) may need an early fungicide application at the time of herbicide application. Growers planning to plant spring wheat this year should consider only planting resistant (R, ratings 1 and 2) or moderately resistant (MR, ratings 3 and 4) varieties this spring. While the current long-range forecast predicts mild temperatures, favorable for stripe rust, its impact remains uncertain. Dr. Chen’s March predictions are generally more reliable due to improved knowledge of winter conditions and potential visual surveys for stripe rust presence.
Given the current prediction, growers should review spring wheat stripe rust resistance ratings in the WSU Variety Selection Tool when choosing varieties and/or fungicide programs. Prioritize resistant varieties (rated 1-4) for your area.
For more information about stripe rust, refer to the Disease Resources section of the WSU Wheat and Small Grains website.
Winter Wheat Varieties 2024
M (5): AP503 CL2, Guardian, GS Bounty, LCS Aymeric, LCS Blackbird, LCS Helix AX, LCS Kraken AX, Mary, Piranha CL+, Puma, Purl, SY107, SY Command, SY Touchstone, UI Castle CL+, UI Sparrow, WB1783
MS (6,7): AP700 CL, AP Legacy, ARS Crescent, Curiosity CL+, Devote, Irv, Keldin, LCS Fusion AX, LCS Jet, Milestone, Scorpio, TMC M-Pire, UI Palouse CL+, VI Voodoo CL+, WB1532
S (8,9): Battle AX, Brawl CL Plus, CP7010, CP7909, CPX66251, Kivari AX, LCS Dagger AX, Snowmass 2.0, UI Magic CL+, WB4303, WB4394, WB Rimrock, XF4303
Spring Wheat Varieties 2024
R (1,2): Allegiant 6765, Alum, AP Octane, AP Renegade, AP Venom, Butch CL+, CP3055, CP3066, CP3099A, CP3119A, CPX39120, Dayn, Expresso, Glee, Hale, Hedge CL+, JD, Melba, Roger, Seahawk, SY Basalt, SY Gunsight, SY Teton, TMC2021, UI Cookie, WB6121, WB7202CLP, WB9623, WB9636, WB9662, WQL008, WQL195, YSC-605
MR (3,4): Cabernet, Chet, CP3322, Diva, LCS Iron, Net CL+, Ryan, SY Coho, SY Selway, SY Steelhead, Tekoa, TMC Lochaven, UI Platinum, UI Stone, SY Saltese, WB6211CLP, WB9668, YSC-603
For questions or comments, contact Drew Lyon via email at drew.lyon@wsu.edu or phone at 509-335-2961.