The 2025 wheat growing season in Kansas will go down as one of the most challenging in recent memory, with widespread viral disease pressure affecting crops statewide.
In the latest episode of Wheat’s On Your Mind, host Aaron Harries is joined by Kansas State University experts Dr. Kelsey Andersen Onofre and Dr. Romulo Lollato to explain why and how this viral outbreak took hold.
From the biological intricacies of the wheat curl mite to the nuances of symptom onset and misdiagnosis, they break down what really happened and why traditional solutions like fungicides didn’t work.
Farmers are encouraged to act early—well before planting—to mitigate these viruses.
This means aggressively managing volunteer wheat, being mindful of green bridge hosts, and choosing wheat varieties with known resistance genes.
Listeners will also learn how to send samples to the K-State Diagnostic Lab for accurate identification, which will help prevent another viral outbreak in 2026.
This episode is a must-hear for producers and ag professionals looking to prepare effectively for the upcoming planting season.
