Cereal disease guide
2024 in review
Disease pressure on cereal crops during 2024 ranged from moderate to high, driven by a significant carryover of inoculum from 2023. Despite below-average rainfall for the majority of the season, grain yield losses of 10–20% were observed, particularly in susceptible varieties grown under high yield potential conditions with stored moisture.
The most prevalent and impactful diseases in Victoria were stripe rust and Septoria tritici blotch (STB) in wheat, along with net and spot forms of net blotch in barley. Avoiding highly susceptible varieties proved to be an effective strategy, even during drier seasons. Fungicide resistance was widespread during 2024, with net form net blotch (NFNB) in barley showing particularly high levels of resistance.
2025 cereal disease management
The relatively dry conditions during 2024 and over the summer have reduced the potential for disease carryover into 2025. However, despite this lower risk, proactive disease management will still be essential during 2025. The widespread cultivation of susceptible varieties will increase disease risk and if conditions become favourable, yield losses due to disease can be expected.
Soil-borne diseases are a risk to cereals. Testing prior to sowing (PREDICTA B®) allows paddocks at risk to be identified and less susceptible crop varieties sown.
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