Ontario Agriculture

The network for agriculture in Ontario, Canada

C&M Seeds Wheat School: Trying to Understand Fusarium.

Fusarium is an ugly monster that continues to rear its ugly head across North America. Some areas are definitely worse than other but the impact is real. With more tolerant wheat genetics coming every year, farmers are desperate to try and manage this disease in the most proactive ways that they can. Some of the management strategies include; timing of irrigation application, crop rotation, fungicide application and variety selection. This is a disease that many areas of the world live with and are forced to manage instead of trying to eradicate. Due to the disease’s reliance on the right environmental conditions, farmers are faced with trying to minimize the impacts.

See the definition of Fusarium on wikipedia

Fusarium not only affects the farmers bottom line but also the millers and bakers. Fusarium has even been used as a form of biological warfare in the 30’s and 40’s in Russia.

With all the talk about fusarium I thought it would be pertinent to talk to Peter Johnson from OMAFRA about fusarium and the impact that it is having in Ontario. I encourage you to watch this video even if you are not in Ontario because the same message applies whether you live in Ontario, Manitoba, Alberta or Montana. Peter provides his discussion around how Ontario farmers try and live side by side with this disease. I hope that this helps you to better understand the possible ways to live side by side with fusarium.

See other episodes of the WheatSchool

Find out more about wheat genetics at C&M Seeds

Views: 139

Comment

You need to be a member of Ontario Agriculture to add comments!

Join Ontario Agriculture

Comment by Avia Eek on April 14, 2010 at 1:14am
Wheat and other such crops aren't the only ones affected by Fusarium. It occurs in carrots as well, Fusarium Dry Rot. Currently, there seems to be no way to combat it in our organic based soil except through crop rotation, and fumigation. We also have a problem with sclerotia, however, we're testing a small area in one of our fields with a new biological fungus which will attack the sclerotia before it attacks the carrot root! Having said this though, as will all tools we use, timing is everything and temperature plays a big role in the success of this new product.

Agriculture Headlines from Farms.com Canada East News - click on title for full story

CFIA Proposes Changes to Expand Interprovincial Meat Movement

Canada is proposing temporary regulatory changes to support interprovincial meat trade, improve food security, reduce costs for producers, and strengthen rural and remote communities.

American Lentil, Pea Acres Slide from March, Last Year

U.S. farmers planted fewer lentils and dry peas than they indicated in March, with both crops also posting declines from last year, according to the USDA’s June Acreage report released Tuesday. American lentil area was estimated at 747,000 acres, down 85,000 acres from March intentions of 832,000 acres and down 30% from 1.072 million in 2025. Area expected to be harvested was forecast at 701,000 acres, down from 949,000 last year. Montana, the largest lentil-producing state, accounted for most of the decline. Farmers planted 560,000 acres, below the March projection of 620,000 acres and down 270,000 acres from 2025. North Dakota acreage fell to 130,000 acres, compared with the March estimate of 155,000 acres and 185,000 acres last year. Washington acreage was unchanged at 57,000 acres. Dry pea plantings were estimated at 1.047 million acres, down from the March projection of 1.17 million and down 11% from last year. Harvested area was forecast at 1.001 million acres, compared wit

ICE Close: Canola Higher on Return from Canada Day Holiday

Canola futures finished slightly higher on Thursday as the market returned from the Canada Day holiday a day earlier. Modest gains in crude oil provided some support for vegetable oils and helped lift canola, while mixed movement in Chicago soybeans and soyoil kept the advance restrained. Crude oil settled marginally higher Thursday on short covering ahead of the U.S. holiday weekend. Trading was relatively cautious, however, as market participants adjusted positions ahead of another holiday interruption. U.S. markets will be closed Friday for the Independence Day holiday, reducing direction from Chicago until trading resumes next week. Prairie weather also remained a background influence, with excessive moisture in some areas supporting crop concerns, although generally favourable conditions elsewhere and Canada’s larger projected canola acreage limited the upside. November was up 41.20 at $736.50, and January added $1.50 to $745.40.

Manitoba Crops Holding Up Amid Wet Conditions

Manitoba crops remain in generally good condition, even as isolated thunderstorms brought hail, strong winds, intense rain to portions of the province this past week. According to Tuesday’s weekly crop report, weekly rainfall totals ranged from just 2 mm to more than 123 mm, with the heaviest amounts reported near San Clara, Roblin, Waskada, Minnedosa, Manitou and the southern Interlake. Parts of the Northwest have now received more than 150% of normal precipitation since May 1, while the Stonewall area is approaching 250% of normal. Even so, winter wheat and fall rye are flowering and showing strong yield potential, the report said, while spring cereals range from tillering to the flag-leaf stage. Canola development varies widely from the two-leaf stage to early flowering, and soybeans are mostly between the first and fourth trifoliate stages. Excess moisture remains the main concern, particularly in the Northwest, Interlake and low-lying parts of the Southwest. Standing water,

Fireworks, Flavor, and a 250th Birthday: How to Keep Cookout Favorites Food Safe All Holiday Weekend

In preparation for America’s 250th Anniversary on the Fourth of July, the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) provides tips for practicing safe food handling when grilling and hosting outdoor gatherings. “The summer heat increases food safety risks, but simple steps can prevent foodborne illness from outdoor gatherings,” advises Under Secretary for Food Safety Dr. Mindy Brashears. “Keeping perishables in coolers or insulated containers, following a two-hour rule (or one hour when temperatures are above 90 F), and grilling meats to safe internal temperatures are easy ways to protect friends and family from harmful bacteria as we all celebrate America’s 250th birthday.” Here are some recommendations for safe outdoor food preparation and serving: Marinating Always marinate meat in the refrigerator, never on the counter or at room temperature. Marinade used on raw meat or poultry must be boiled for a few minutes to destroy any harmful bacte

© 2026   Created by Darren Marsland.   Powered by

Badges  |  Report an Issue  |  Terms of Service