Red smudge hurts durum
Red or pink smudge reduces seed and seedling vigor, crop stands and grain yield of durum wheat. An incidence of 0.27 percent to one percent of red smudge will cause a drop from grade No. 1 to No. 2 Canada Western amber durum, with a five percent decrease in price.
This discoloration of wheat kernels is caused by the same pathogenic fungus that causes tan spot on leaves. All cultivars grown in Western Canada are susceptible to both tan spot and red smudge.
In southwestern Saskatchewan, incidence of red smudge depends on weather conditions at the time of seed development. There were higher levels of red smudge in 1992 and 1993 than in the drier years of 1990, 1991 or 1994.
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Until now, there has been no information available on the effect of red smudge on the quality of durum wheat and the health of the following crop.
A study, partly funded by Canadian Seed Growers’ Association, has recently been conducted at the Agriculture Canada Swift Current research centre to determine the effect of red smudge infection of durum wheat seed on germination, emergence of seedlings, development of the crop and grain yield.
During 1993 and 1994, a 50-percent and 100-percent red smudge infection of Medora, Sceptre, Plenty and Wakooma durum seed both reduced total emergence and rate of emergence of plant seedlings, number of heads, grain yield and dry weight per unit area. The number of kernels per head, thousand kernel weight and height were not affected by red smudge.
The reduction in emergence and rate of emergence of seedlings was also confirmed by controlled-environment studies using the same cultivars.
The negative effect of red smudge infection on emergence of durum wheat seedlings was greater the deeper the seed was planted. Germination studies showed seed naturally infected with red smudge had a lower germination rate and slower development of seminal roots and coleoptile than healthy seed.
Planting seed with a high level of red smudge should be avoided.
A copy of the complete study can be obtained from the Swift Current Research Centre, Box 1030, Swift Current, Sask., S9H 3X2.
– Agriculture Canada
Cost of calving difficulty
Research conducted by the Beef and Dairy Group at Alberta Agriculture showed calving difficulties cost Alberta’s cow-calf industry $36.2 million in 1993 or $19.28 for every cow and heifer that calved.
Annual losses amounted to $71.8 million in Western Canada and $86.9 million throughout Canada.
A survey of 6,249 beef herds in Alberta from 1987 to 1991 revealed calving difficulty was the number one reason for losing calves from birth to weaning.
However, other factors rank ahead of calving difficulty – assessed at $19.28 per cow – in terms of greater economic loss. They are: improper use of the grazing at $25-$30 per cow, a higher-than-necessary open cow rate (four percent vs 6.5 percent) at $20-$25 per cow and a long calving season (107 days) at $20-$25 per cow.
These values imply there is still a large opportunity for improvement – as much as $100 per cow – to reduce unit cost of production and improve the sector’s competitiveness.
– Ruminations newsletter
