06/27/05 Stripe rust update; apples and Japan

Washington Ag June 27, 2005 Fields of susceptible varieties of spring wheat that received a fungicide application for stripe rust before mid-May may need another treatment if there is a five to ten percent infection of rust with active postules. That's the word form Xianming Chen of the Agricultural Research Service at Pullman. Chen: "In reality these fungicides are usually effective up to a month. Three weeks to a month. Therefore by this time the early applied fungicides are no longer effective." Chen says several varieties of hard red or hard white wheat such as Western Plant Breeders 926, Hank, Jefferson, Lolo, Tara and Nike, which were highly resistant up to last year, had more susceptible plants this year and may need a fungicide application. It remains to be seen if the latest WTO ruling last week against Japan and its fireblight restrictions will mean Washington apples will begin moving to Japan. But if Japan doesn't accept the decision, Chris Schlect of the Northwest Horticultural Council, says it will likely face penalties. Schlect: "I think what they would be forced to do is pay compensation in terms of tariffs and duties on other products that travel between the two countries." It's estimated the Japanese market could be worth 143 million dollars annually to U.S. apple growers. I'm Bob Hoff.