Wheat growers in Arkansas may now use the fungicide Stratego to fight several diseases through the wheat heading stage under a Section 24C label approved recently. Stratego, a Bayer product, is a mixture of Tilt and a fungicide called Flint that is closely related to Quadris, according to Rick Cartwright, Arkansas Extension plant pathologist.

“In our tests, Stratego's effectiveness against our common wheat diseases was equal to Tilt or Quadris when used at the labeled rate,” he says.

The special, local need registration allows wheat growers to apply Stratego at a maximum season rate of 10 ounces of product per acre for the control of wheat rusts, powdery mildew, leaf blight, tan spot and glume blotch disease through the heading stage but before flowering. Growers should begin preventive treatment applications when conditions are favorable for disease development. A second application of the product, after a minimum interval of 14 days, may also be made if needed.

Label restrictions include: exceeding the application rate of 10 ounces of product per acre during the season; applying the product within 40 days of harvest; grazing or feeding livestock treated wheat, straw, forage or hay; and cutting the green crop for hay or silage. For further information, contact the Arkansas State Plant Board at 501-225-1598.