After several days of thunderstorms, showers and drizzle, the risk of fusarium head blight is now high to extremely high in much of Manitoba.
In its most recent fusarium risk map, released today, Manitoba Agriculture estimated fusarium risk as extremely high in the Interlake and in pockets around Birtle, Virden, Boissevain, Ste. Rose du Lac and Morris. The majority of Manitoba cropland is at high risk to develop fusarium, with a few areas of moderate risk.
The risk has increased substantially from early June in Manitoba, when the possibility of fusarium was low.
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After 25 to 75 millimetres of rain fell on much of Manitoba June 8-10, the fusarium risk may remain high for several weeks, said Holly Derksen, Manitoba Agriculture plant pathologist.
“The soil is so wet now, even if we don’t get rain for awhile … there will be lots of humidity in the crop canopy.”
Winter wheat crops are flowering in Manitoba or about to flower, so growers must decide whether to spray for fusarium. Most producers are choosing to spray, said Rick Rutherford, who farms near Grosse Isle, Man.
“With the potential crop out there, everybody is looking at doing it,” said Rutherford, who has 400 acres of winter wheat in the ground. “It’s a lush, thick crop. A lot of people around here are coming off a very poor crop last year so they’re trying to protect what they have this year.”
Rutherford is planning to apply fungicide to his winter wheat sometime this week, weather permitting.
