Stripe rust risk is low but vigilance still key for Prairie wheat growers

It’s good news, for now, when it comes to stripe rust heading into Western Canada’s 2025 growing season, according to Dr. Kelly Turkington, plant pathologist with Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada (AAFC) and long-time contributor to the Prairie Crop Disease Monitoring Network.

Compared to 2024, stripe rust and leaf rust issues in the U.S. are showing up much less so far this year, which means there’s been less risk to the Prairie region heading into the season, Turkington says. But that doesn’t mean it’s time to ignore the threat.

Stripe rust tends to blow in from the U.S., with the Pacific Northwest affecting Alberta, and the Texas–Nebraska corridor feeding disease risk into Saskatchewan and Manitoba, explains Turkington. With fewer epidemics in the south this spring the risk is lower but scouting remains essential, especially for susceptible wheat varieties.

The Prairie Crop Disease Monitoring Network offers weekly rust risk forecasts from mid-May through early July, based on U.S. outbreaks, wind trajectories, and local crop conditions. Turkington advises keeping a close eye on fields: “If it’s something that you’re not routinely out in your field scouting, you may unfortunately miss it.”

For winter wheat, the possibility of overwintered stripe rust, observed this spring in Ontario, is another reason to stay vigilant, Turkington says. Reporting sightings helps the broader network respond quickly and guide fungicide decisions.

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