Cereal disease guide
2025 in review
Disease pressure across Victorian cereal crops varied throughout 2025 due to the dry conditions.
A wet spring in some areas favoured the development of net blotches and scald in barley. Deadheads in wheat due to crown rot were reported across the Wimmera and Mallee due to moisture stress caused by a dry spring. Barley loose smut was also widely reported across the state and barley grass stripe rust (BGYR) was reported from the North-central and northern growing regions.
Even with dry conditions, fungicide resistance continues to be an issue. The detection of a barley net form net blotch (NFNB) triple mutant, resistant to Groups 3, 7 and 11, highlights the importance of good fungicide stewardship.
2026 cereal disease management
Below-average rainfall during 2025 has reduced the potential for disease carry-over into 2026 in many areas. However, growers will still need to be proactive with disease management in 2026. The widespread cultivation of susceptible varieties will increase disease risk, and if conditions become favourable, yield losses due to disease can be expected.
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