Dr. Frankie Crutcher. (Photo submitted)
Associate Professor of Plant Pathology, MSU-EARC Dr. Frankie Crutcher will discuss how to accurately identify white mold disease in irrigated soybean production fields and will provide management options including variety selection, fungicide application and rotation strategies at from 9:20-9:35 a.m.
She said white mold disease has been found in soybean fields in Richland County, raising concern among growers. Producers have been experimenting with new crops since the closure of Sidney Sugars, resulting in more soybeans being grown in the area. However, the mold she is seeing is in fields have been planted with soybeans for several years.
Crutcher will focus on providing new growers the means to identify and control the disease with quick and accurate diagnosis and the best ways to deal with it.
Crutcher will also discuss the identification and management of Fusarium head blight from 10:35-10:50 a.m.
She stated that if the wet, humid weather conditions continue, there will be a high risk of head blight for cereal producers growing spring wheat and barley. Growers will have the perfect opportunity to hear the most up to date information at the time when cereal grains will be flowering and most susceptible, making it the best time for spray application. She will discuss what fungicides and which spray tips work best to control the disease.
She will also introduce growers to the newly released head blight resistant variety of spring wheat and discuss how it has performed in the MSU-EARC nursery for the past several years.
Dr. Crutcher has been a plant pathologist at the MSU Eastern Ag Research Center in Sidney since 2016. She leads a multifaceted research program focused on developing IPM strategies for fungal pathogens of pulse crops and cereals. Her current research includes evaluating varieties for disease resistance, directing fungicide efficacy trials, improving methods of crop disease detection, and understanding how agronomic practices such as utilizing cover crops, crop rotation, and planting date contribute to disease development.
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