Yellow Dwarf Virus is a disease that attacks many different types of grain including barley, oats, and rye. This virus is characteristic of yellowing or reddening of the leaves of the plant, stunted growth, and smaller seed size. Unfortunately, it is very hard to control its spread since feeding aphids carry it. It is because of this it is possible to control it by spraying for aphids but there is the possibility that infected aphids will come back to your field from other, untreated, fields.

Photo provided by Gary Munkvold from the
Iowa State University Entomology Department