Alberta’s proposal to clamp down on fusarium represents an important
step in the attempt to control the spread of what has potential to
become a devastating disease in many parts of the Prairies.
As one member of Alberta’s fusarium task force aptly put it, fusarium
is the foot-and-mouth disease of the plant world. When compared to what
would happen if a case of foot and mouth was found on the Prairies,
Alberta’s proposal to keep fusarium infected grain out of the province
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pales.
Still, in the battle to control fusarium, Alberta must be cautious to
not bring undue harm to its cattle industry, which has become a vital
economic engine for the entire province.
Last week, Alberta proposed that all grain shipments entering the
province be certified fusarium free. Government officials mentioned
zero-tolerance, yet have also talked about allowing in some
fusarium-infected grain with restrictions.
That kind of flexibility appears wise. Without it, Alberta cattle
feeders could find themselves desperately short of feed supplies. There
is not enough barley grown in Alberta to supply the industry.
As well, feeders could find that the grain they do find is priced too
high.
Meanwhile, feedlots in Manitoba and Saskatchewan could suddenly find
themselves with plenty of available, affordable feedgrain if grain
growers there are unable to ship to Alberta.
While Alberta’s plan now states that all grain entering Alberta must be
certified fusarium free, there is a good case for allowing in some
infected feed grain, under proper restrictions.
For example, the shipments must carry with them the appropriate permits
and certifications, and be allowed only to go from origin to the source
where it will be fed to livestock.
At the destination, feedlots must keep detailed records and be subject
to audits to ensure the infected grain was properly handled and fed.
To bolster this case, feedlots in Alberta got some good news last week
when a Manitoba study reported fusarium does not survive through cattle
in the manure. This removes a pivotal manure management problem for
feedlots that choose to buy fusarium-infected grain to feed in blended
rations to cattle.
Of course there is no other option but for Alberta to declare zero
tolerance for fusarium infection in grain to be used as seed.
Logistical problems of whether there are enough labs to handle the
flood of certification tests that would be required, and storage
problems will also have to be studied. As well, the costs of the tests
run about $20 per sample and would create an added cost on already
cash-strapped farmers.
One other item appears missing from Alberta’s proposal. There is no
mention of a co-ordinated approach to fusarium control, one that
involves all three prairie provinces.
For only if Alberta, Saskatchewan and Manitoba co-operate on an overall
plan to hold back this encroaching threat to farmers’ livelihoods, will
we have our best chance at keeping fusarium in check.
