Alva Review-Courier -

TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — Last week, Hamilton County farmer Jason Ochs was already out in his sprayer, doing what he hopes others in the region are doing this time of year.

He was taking care of his volunteer wheat.

The Kansas wheat industry is estimating the wheat streak mosaic virus caused a conservative $76.8 million in direct losses to wheat farmers this year — about 19.2 million bushels of wheat.

And the cause, experts say, could have been largely prevented if more farmers were doing what Ochs does each August - killing the volunteer wheat, which is the greatest risk for the spread of the virus...