Farmers may face tougher fusarium damage standards, the Canadian Grain Commission says.
A more toxic form of fusarium graminearum has been spreading across the Prairies and replacing the older form. In Manitoba, 68 percent of fusarium samples examined by the commission in 2007 contained the new type of fusarium.
Fusarium graminearum damages the head of cereal crops such as wheat and barley and can infect oats. The fungus produces a poisonous substance known as vomitoxin, which can be harmful in humans and hurt cattle at high levels. Hogs are extremely sensitive to it.
Commission spokesperson Randy Clear said his organization is considering reducing fusarium damage tolerances in its grading system because the new type of fusarium causes more vomitoxin production from the same amount of visible damage.
“We’re going to have to see about the tolerances being lowered for some of the wheats,” Clear said.
Keystone Agricultural Producers vice-president Rob Brunel said the tougher standards will worry farmers with fusarium problems.
However, he said farmers know the commission needs to have standards that buyers around the world can trust, and KAP would not oppose the move if it appears necessary.
