Growers have previously been warned of the potential for cereal rust in southern regions this year through PestFax, a Department of Agriculture and Food WA initiative supported by the Grains Research and Development Corporation (GRDC).

Growers are urged to monitor their crops for early disease presence, especially early sown advanced crops and untreated susceptible varieties.

While early use of fungicide at the first onset of disease in some crop varieties in high risk localities is essential to preserving full yield potential, GRDC Manager, Crop Protection, Dr Rohan Rainbow, said the ideal was planting resistant varieties up-front.