UMN Needs Wheat Fields for Scouting

By Scout Nelson

The University of Minnesota Extension is seeking wheat fields in western Minnesota for its 2025 small grains pest and disease survey. This annual initiative, launched in 2011 in collaboration with North Dakota State University (NDSU), monitors pest activity and disease presence in small grains.

Funded by the Minnesota Wheat Research and Promotion Council, the program depends on volunteered fields to supply critical data and support pest alert systems.

Volunteering a wheat field allows UMN Extension scouts to track pests and diseases regularly during the growing season. Scouts typically operate around Crookston, Moorhead, and Morris, visiting fields within about a 1.5-hour radius.

Participants who provide email addresses will receive weekly updates from late May through early July, detailing insect and disease findings specific to their field. Submitted coordinates remain confidential and are used to generate weekly pest maps in collaboration with NDSU.

Rather than randomly selecting fields, the 2025 program will focus only on fields with written permission. This approach ensures efficient data collection and more accurate tracking. Those interested in contributing can register their field, even if not yet planted, at https://z.umn.edu/wheatipm2025. Fields in underrepresented counties such as Otter Tail, Stearns, and areas south of Grant County are especially needed.

The scouting program has identified growing threats from pests like the cereal leaf beetle. First-time detections in northwestern counties such as Clay, Norman, and Red Lake indicate that the pest may be spreading rapidly. Accurate mapping helps researchers understand movement patterns and develop effective management strategies.

Scouts will also check soybean fields later in the season with support from the Minnesota Soybean Research & Promotion Council. All scouting efforts contribute to producing timely updates, improving pest awareness and response across the region.

To view past joint pest maps or learn more, visit https://z.umn.edu/mn-ndsu-wheatipm.

Photo Credits gettyimages-ygrek