Fusarium risk maps available
New Prairie-wide fusarium head blight risk maps are now available to producers.
The tool provides assessment of fusarium head blight index, fusarium damaged kernels and deoxynivalenol (DON) risk levels in spring wheat, winter wheat, barley and durum based on weather conditions.
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These maps were created as part of a three-year research project led by the University of Manitoba’s Paul Bullock with collaborators from Alberta Agriculture, Saskatchewan Agriculture, Manitoba Agriculture, the Manitoba Crop Alliance, the Saskatchewan Wheat Development Commission, the Saskatchewan Barley Development Commission and Alberta Grains.
Weather-based risk is calculated using real-time weather data from more than 500 stations operated by Environment Canada, the Manitoba AgWeather Program, Saskatchewan Public Safety, the Alberta Climate Information System and Metos Canada.
The risk algorithms are “home-grown” based on research data collected from 600 plot sites across 15 locations in Western Canada each year from 2019 through 2021 and tested in more than 300 producer fields on the Prairies during the same period.
Previous risk maps used imported fusarium risk algorithms with limited accuracy testing and could not assess risk in barley or durum, nor for either FDK or DON.
The tool is available at prairiefhb.ca and accessible using a smartphone, tablet or desktop computer.
Ag in the Classroom winner named
The Grade 8 class at Wawota Parkland School in Wawota, Sask., won Agriculture in the Classroom Canada’s Mission Explorium competition.
The program, which launched in February and wrapped up in late April, challenged students to build a sustainable community after landing on a deserted island.
Four weeks of cross-curricular activities engaged classes to work together to complete a quest each week that included work in science, math, language arts, visual arts and careers.
Provincial winners took on one further challenge in the quest to become the national champion.
A panel of agriculture industry judges awarded top honours and a $750 cash prize to the Saskatchewan class.
Agriculture Canada provided funding for the competition.
