One sample from Dunedoo was from Marombi wheat was infected with leaf rust, and a sample of stripe rust was taken from Tobruk triticale at Young.

Two other samples of stripe rust have been received, one from Lake George and the other from a crop of Ford wheat at Grenfell.

These samples represent a very early occurrence of cereal rust for 2008, and this will raise industry wide concern for the potential for epidemic development and the need to consider and plan for control strategies, according to scientists at the Plant Breeding Institute at Camden.

There was clearly significant over summer survival of these pathogens following favourable summer rains in regions of eastern Australia. Depending on favourable seasonal conditions for crop growth in 2008, it can be expected that the rusts will be widespread and potentially damaging.

Crops now well established from early seeding will need to be inspected immediately. Foliar fungicides combined with strategic grazing should be considered, with due attention paid to withholding periods.

Varieties known to be vulnerable to rust will need to be monitored carefully throughout the season by growers.