COMBATTING YELLOW rust will be one of the key topics under discussion at the National Institute for Agricultural Botany (NIAB) stand at this year’s Cereals Event.

With the disease threatening to be a problem in many areas this year, the UK Cereal Pathogen Virulence Survey (UKCPVS), which monitors changes in cereal diseases, will be highlighting the importance of variety diversification.

“This year yellow rust has been reported quite widely in the wheat growing areas of the UK,” said NIAB’s wheat and yellow rust expert, Rosemary Bayles.

“We will be happy to advise farmers on ways of reducing the risk of yellow rust in their crops, including disease resistant varieties and diversification.”

There are also five key areas farmers and breeders will be particularly interested in, said NIAB:

• Plant pathology – organic cereal seed diseases
• Declining genetic diversity
• Improving malting barley quality
• Latest GM research
• Improving productivity of pulses

“There are some real breakthrough varieties of pulses this year, particularly Cooper in peas and Fuego in beans,” added NIAB’s Simon Kightley.

“This will be most growers’ first chance to see them and get genuinely independent advice on all their pros and cons.”