For wheat and barley producers who face challenges due to wheat stem sawfly, there is a USDA program that could help. The USDA-NRCS Conservation Stewardship Program (CSP) Enhancement targets integrated pest management (IPM) of wheat stem sawfly.
One of the foundational practices that growers must use is to plant solid stem wheat that provides a measure of resistance to this pest. In addition, an oat grain, cover, or trap crop must be included once per rotation cycle, as well as providing improved habitat for parasitoids that kill wheat stem sawfly larvae feeding in stems. There are funds currently available for FY 25 for wheat producers who face wheat stem sawfly challenges – financial assistance of $7.99 per acre. The wheat stem sawfly information is on page 3 of the attached CSP Enhancement.
There is some background behind this. Several years ago, USDA-NRCS staff member Susan Tallman recognized that the economic and environmental challenges caused by damaging populations of wheat stem sawfly, and especially many of the practices recommended to minimize losses, clearly fit the USDA-NRCS principles of soil health, while also helping to reduce wheat stem sawfly numbers.
A recent joint USDA-NRCS Agronomy Technical Note and Montana State University Extension Bulletins called “Wheat Stem Sawfly Best Management Practices” provides a comprehensive list of approaches aimed towards wheat stem sawfly suppression. This can be found at https://store.msuextension.org/Products/Wheat-Stem-Sawfly-Best-Management-Practices-EB0244__EB0244.aspx
Growers and NRCS staffers will benefit from knowing which varieties will be considered resistant (i.e., solid stem) for this NRCS CSP Enhancement. Dr. Jason Cook and Dr. Sue Mondal of Montana State University’s Department of Plant Science and Plant Pathology have provided the following provisional list:
Winter Wheat Varieties
Bobcat, Warhorse, Warcat, Loma, Judee, Meadowlark, Fortress, Fortify SF, Standcler CLP, AP Solid, WB 4483
Spring Wheat Varieties
Carlson, Dagmar, Choteau, Duclair, Corbin, Gunnison, AAC Concord, SY Longmire, WB 9879 CLP, Rocker
For more information, please contact your local USDA-NRCS Service Center
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MSU Extension – Ag Alert
