Fungicide Use and Other Disease Management Practices. Apron-treated seed was reportedly used on 9% of KS, 56% of MN, 51% of ND and 19% of SD respondents' acres (Table 62). Since much seed is sold pre-treated, it is possible that some respondents did not know if the seed had been treated. The differences reported between SD and MN and ND are noteworthy in that no seed plants are located in SD, and most seed for SD is processed in MN or ND.

Folicur was available under a specific exemption (section 18) in KS and ND for rust control. Only one response was received from each state on its use. It was reported to provide excellent control by a KS respondent (Table 63). The ND respondent who reported using Folicur reported only 1 acre, suggesting that it may have been used to protect seed increase plots.

Non-chemical disease management practices used by respondents included crop rotation, tillage and use of resistant hybrids. Crop rotation was reported as a disease management practice on 44% of KS, 82% of MN, 61% of ND and 79% of SD respondents' acres. Tillage was reportedly used as a disease management practice on 12% of KS, 33% of MN, 26% of ND and 43% of SD respondents' acres. Use of resistant hybrids was reported as a disease management practice on 1% of KS, 21% of MN, 14% of ND and 25% of SD respondents' acres (Table 64).

Respondents were asked which hybrids were affected by Sclerotinia in 1997. A long list of hybrids was cited by respondents (Table 65). It is not clear from the data whether some hybrids were more susceptible or whether they were more frequently cited because they were more frequently planted. Thus, these data must be examined cautiously.