Estimated yield reductions and economic losses on wheat caused by disease from 2018 through 2021

Authors: FRISKOP, ANDREW - North Dakota State University; SISSON, ADAM - Iowa State University; ALLEN, TOM - Mississippi State University; ANDERSON-ONOFRE, KELSEY - Kansas State University; AOUN, MERIEM - Oklahoma State University; BERGSTROM, GARY - Cornell University; BISSONNETTE, KAITLYN - University Of Missouri; BOWEN, KIRA - Auburn University; BRADLEY, CARL - University Of Kentucky; BURROWS, MARY - Montana State University; BYAMUKAMA, EMMANUEL - South Dakota State University; CHILVERS, MARTIN - Michigan State University; COLLINS, ALYSSA - Pennsylvania State University; Cowger, Christina; DE WOLF, ERIK - Kansas State University; DILL-MACKY, RUTH - University Of Minnesota; ESKER, PAUL - Pennsylvania State University; FASKE, TRAVIS - University Of Arkansas; HUNGER, ROBERT - Oklahoma State University; KELLY, HEATHER - University Of Tennessee; KLECZEWSKI, NATHAN - University Of Illinois; KOEHLER, ALYSSA - University Of Delaware; LANGSTON, DAVID - Virginia Tech; MARSHALL, JULIET - University Of Idaho; MARTINEZ-ESPINOZA, ALFREDO - University Of Georgia; MCKELVEY, UTA - Montana State University; MEHL, HILLARY - Virginia Tech; MEYER, RON - Colorado State University; OBASA, KEN - Texas A&M Agrilife; PADGETT, G. BOYD - Louisiana State University; PAUL, PIERCE - The Ohio State University; PRICE III, PAUL - LSU Agcenter; SMITH, DAMON - University Of Wisconsin; TELENKO, DARCY E. - Purdue University; TENUTA, ALBERT - Omafra (ONTARIO MINISTRY OF AGRICULTURE & FOOD/RURAL AFFAIRS); WEGULO, STEPHEN - University Of Nebraska; WIERSMA, JOCHUM - University Of Minnesota

Submitted to: Plant Health Progress
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 3/1/2025
Publication Date: 3/16/2025
Citation: Friskop, A.J., Sisson, A.J., Allen, T.W., Anderson-Onofre, K.F., Aoun, M., Bergstrom, G.C., Bissonnette, K.M., Bowen, K.L., Bradley, C.A., Burrows, M.E., Byamukama, E., Chilvers, M.I., Collins, A.A., Cowger, C., De Wolf, E.D., Dill-Macky, R., Esker, P.D., Faske, T.R., Hunger, R.M., Kelly, H.M., Kleczewski, N.M., Koehler, A.M., Langston, D.B., Marshall, J.M., Martinez-Espinoza, A.D., Mckelvey, U., Mehl, H.L., Meyer, R.F., Obasa, K., Padgett, G., Paul, P.A., Price Iii, P., Smith, D.L., Telenko, D.P., Tenuta, A.U., Wegulo, S.N., Wiersma, J.J. 2025. Estimated yield reductions and economic losses on wheat caused by disease from 2018 through 2021. Plant Health Progress. https://doi.org/10.1094/PHP-09-24-0087-RS.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1094/PHP-09-24-0087-RS

Interpretive Summary: Plant pathologists responded to an online survey in 29 states and Ontario, Canada, to estimate wheat yield and economic losses caused by pathogens each year from 2018 to 2021. During this period, pathogens caused an estimated reduction of 560 million bushels, or 7.8% of total wheat production across the surveyed states and the province of Ontario. The value of losses was $2.9 billion. Annual losses ranged from 111 million bushels in 2018 to 188 million bushels in 2019. Based on the number of acres planted, the estimated loss per acre caused by plant pathogens was $18.10 when averaging across years and locations. Fusarium head blight, a disease caused by various Fusarium spp., was responsible for the greatest overall reduction in yield, followed by stripe rust (caused by Puccinia striiformis) and leaf rust (caused by P. triticina). Although important disease management costs such as pesticide application were not considered, results show the importance of continued plant disease education and research. Tallying losses caused by plant pathogens in wheat could help with assigning limited research funding, directing Extension and scientific efforts, and informing industry and on-farm disease management.

Technical Abstract: Wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) yield and economic losses caused by pathogens were estimated by plant pathologists annually using an online survey from 29 U.S. states and Ontario, Canada from 2018 through 2021. During this four-year period, pathogens caused an estimated reduction of 560 million bushels, or 7.8% of total wheat production across the surveyed states and province. The value of losses was 2.9 billion USD. Annual losses ranged from 111 million bushels in 2018 to 188 million bushels in 2019. Based on the number of acres planted, the average per acre loss caused by plant pathogens was $18.10 USD across years and locations. Fusarium head blight (caused by Fusarium spp.) was responsible for the greatest overall reduction in yield, followed by stripe rust (caused by Puccinia striiformis) and leaf rust (caused by P. triticina). Although important disease management costs such as pesticide application were not considered, results show the importance of continued plant disease education and research. The quantification of losses caused by plant pathogens in wheat may be useful for assigning limited research funding, directing Extension and scientific efforts, and informing industry and on-farm disease management efforts.