Wheat disease calm urged

Press, 28 February 1981, Page 2

Wheat disease calm urged

PA Wellington The new strain of wheat disease, yellow-striped rust, discovered in New Zealand late last year, is unlikely to affect wheat yields drastically, according to the Ministry of Agriculture. Mr J. Currie, the Ministry’s chief advisory officer (plant health) said that the disease, which had been present in Britain and Europe for some time, i. .d which was discovered in Australia in October, 1979, had been expected to reach New Zealand eventually. The prevailing winds made it inevitable that the disease would be carried over from Australia, he said. The disease was widespread in the southern part of the South Island,

but had not been identified north of Timaru. Mr Currie said that as soon as the disease was reported, advice was given on a spraying programme that had been found effective in Britain. He said that provided the spraying had been done by farmers at the appropriate time, the disease was unlikely to have a substantial effect on the national wheat crop. • “Now that we have the disease in New Zealand we cannot get rid of it,” Mr Currie said. “It is just another problem.” ■The estimated wheat yield for this year is 584.000 tonnes, up from last year’s total of 324,000 tonnes. The yield per acre is expected to be 4.23 tonnes, up from last year’s 3.8 tonnes. New Zealand is almost self-sufficient in wheat.