Ergot spore counts have increased in artificially-infested plots at the Hermiston Agricultural Research and Extension Center and Central Oregon Agricultural Research and Extension Center. Spores have also been detected at the commercial production site near La Grande.

Protective fungicides should be applied at the onset of anthesis to protect unfertilized flowers from infection, and cultivars with prolonged flowering periods may require multiple applications. Based on field observations, some cultivars of Kentucky bluegrass and perennial ryegrass are already flowering in central Oregon and Hermiston, respectively.