A very low level of spores were detected at the Baker County site in samples collected between June 16 and June 22.

Spores were not detected at the Union County site during the same period.

Updated spore counts for Central Oregon are shown below:

Stripe rust has also been observed in experimental plots at COAREC, so scouting for this disease is recommended. There are many fungicide options available for stripe rust control – for more information please refer to the Pacific Northwest Plant Disease Management Handbook: https://pnwhandbooks.org/plantdisease/host-disease/grass-seed-stripe-rust

Updated spore counts for the Hermiston area are shown below:

Spores have been detected at the Union County spore trapping site. Spores have not yet been detected at the Baker County site.

As of June 13, no spores have been detected at either the Baker or Union County spore trap sites.

Updated spore counts for Central Oregon are shown below:

Spore trapping was initiated in Union and Baker Counties on May 31. No spores were detected in Union County for the period of May 31-June 2.

Updated spore counts for Central Oregon are below:

Honeydew has been reported in Central Oregon.

Weather conditions in Central Oregon are expected to continue to be favorable for spore production over the next week.

Updated spore counts for Central Oregon are shown below:

Honeydew has been reported in Central Oregon.

Weather conditions in Central Oregon are expected to be favorable for spore production over the next week, and some Kentucky bluegrass cultivars are flowering in the area. Protective fungicides should be applied prior to onset of flowering and throughout anthesis to protect unfertilized ovaries from infection. Cultivars with prolonged flowering periods may require more than one application.

A predictive model for ergot ascospores was developed for the Lower Columbia Basin of Oregon that uses accumulated degree-days (beginning January 1, with a base temperature of 50°F and upper threshold temperature of 77°F) to forecast when ascospores are likely to be present.

According to the model, most ascospores are produced in the Lower Columbia Basin when accumulated degree-days are between 414 and 727. Based on this model, the degree-day threshold was reached on May 27, 2022 in Hermiston, OR (accumulated degree days = 422).

At this time in 2021, accumulated degree-days were 646.