This year has been ideal for disease issues in the wheat field. Agronomists across the state have reported widespread rust disease, as well as wheat streak mosaic in many areas. Now, there have been reports of wheat flag smut detected in Kansas as well. It has not been confirmed in Barton County, but be on the lookout in your fields for it. This is a manageable issue, but bears keeping a close eye on. The following column gives you some more information about Flag Smut from the Kansas Department of Agriculture. Check www.agriculture.ks.gov and search for Wheat Flag Smut for more updates and information.
During the week of May 6, wheat flag smut (Urocystis tritici) was initially detected in a field demonstration plot in Rooks County and confirmed by laboratory result during regular and on-going disease survey work.  
Since that initial detection, additional survey teams were deployed to scout for the disease.  Those efforts found the disease present in fields in Edwards, Ellis, Logan, Ness, Phillips, Pratt, Rooks and Wallace counties.  Kansas Department of Agriculture is working closely with K-State Plant Pathology, K-State Research and Extension and USDA APHIS PPQ to conduct additional surveillance.
KSU and KDA have jointly conducted field surveys since 1976. It was during routine disease survey work that wheat flag smut was observed.  Flag smut spores can live in the soil and survive in wheat relative plant species allowing the disease to potentially maintain a low-level, undetected presence in the state. Weather conditions during the growing season for this year’s wheat crop have been ideal for the spread of flag smut, particularly in the more arid regions of the state.
At the confirmed sites, KDA is working cooperatively with the local extension agents and farmers affected. There have been notices of regulatory action issued surrounding these infected plots. Access to the fields has been restricted to prevent any movement of people or equipment in and out of the field. The restriction includes a 30 feet border around the perimeter of the field.
Flag smut presents no human or animal health concern and has no impact on grain quality. It can have a negative impact on wheat yield, the severity of which is determined by the infestation level of the field.  
Flag smut (Urocystis tritici) was first identified in arid regions of Australia in the late 1800s. It was known to be in Kansas in 1920-30s. A sizeable research plot in Leavenworth County by the Kansas State Research and Extension focused on smuts and bunts of small grain crops in Kansas. Following the establishment of the KDA/KSU plant pathology disease surveys in 1976, flag smut has not been seen in Kansas.
Flag smut is a fungus carried by spores that can be borne on the seed, blown by wind short distances or moved with machinery. The fungal spores produced near flowering of the crop have the possibility of surviving up to four years in the soil. The spores infect the seed prior to emergence from the soil. Symptoms include dark streaks on the leaves of the infected wheat plant and a twisted flag leaf. Flag smut tends to stunt growth and reduce tillering but has generally low impact on yield when compared with other wheat diseases.
Research has shown that the use of fungicide seed treatment, which is very economical, is highly effective in preventing the presence of flag smut and is important tool in successful mitigation of the disease.
Primarily, flag smut is an export issue with 17 countries listing it as a harmful organism. It is present in other states in the U.S., including Washington and Oregon. The goal is to re-main flag smut free, allowing exports of grain or seed to move out of Kansas.
Alicia Boor is the Agriculture and Natural Resources agent for Barton County K-state Research and Extension. One can contact her by email at aboor@ksu.edu or calling 620-793-1910