An annual threat to small grains is moving north out of the Great Plains.

University of Minnesota Extension agronomist Jochum Wiersma says the first traces of stripe rust were recently found in the southern part of his state.

“Stripe rust is a disease that has been pretty prevalent in the southern winter wheat states, and we’ve had some southerly wind events bring this up.”

Stripe rust is also referred to as yellow rust even though the striping is more orange in color. 

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