Fusarium head blight (FHB) is a complex and potentially devastating disease for Manitoba farmers. Identifying field areas with high levels of FHB infection and Fusarium-damaged kernels (FDK) is important when making harvest management decisions. Recognizing FHB symptoms is key to identifying infected wheat heads, but first, we need to identify the parts of a wheat head to properly make disease assessments (Figure 1).
Figure 1. Wheat head parts during flowering. Photo credit: University of Wisconsin (used with permission).
FHB diagnostic symptoms can be found below and in Figure 2:
Premature bleaching of wheat heads and spikelets.
Orange-pink sporulation or white/orange superficial fungal growth on the seams of glumes and spikelets.
Dark purple-brown discolouration of the stem right below the wheat head (peduncle).
White, chalky and shrivelled kernels (i.e., FDK).
Figure 2. Examples of FHB-infected wheat heads (left), spikelet (middle left) and peduncles (middle right), and Fusarium-damaged kernels (right). Photo credit: David Kaminski.
There are many diseases and abiotic stresses that can be confused with FHB infection and we saw an excellent example of this in 2024. Farmers and agronomists were finding wheat heads that had a salmon-pink colour on spikelets and glumes (Figure 3). The affected wheat heads were empty or had only a few shrivelled kernels (Figure 3).
Although these sound like FHB symptoms, in these cases the problem was a little more complicated. The pink colouration of the wheat heads was most likely due to a saprophytic microorganism that grows on dead plant tissue, which means these wheat heads prematurely died. In several cases, the cause of plant death was probably hot, dry conditions in combination with a common root rot infection.
Common root rot typically impacts the whole plant when symptoms are found in mature plants. Symptoms include premature plant death, with bleached or very light green stems and heads. As well, symptoms include sudden death, reduced root growth, and root and crown decay. The sub-crown internode will decay and turn a dark/reddish brown. The whole plant can be removed from the soil with a moderate pull.
Figure 3. Wheat head colonized with saprophytic microorganism.
We are seeking a permanent, full-time Field Research Specialist to join our dynamic team and serve our farmer members who grow wheat, winter wheat, barley, corn, sunflower and flax in Manitoba.
The Field Research Specialist is responsible for the execution and management of MCA’s sunflower variety performance trials and the Manitoba Corn Committee trials. This individual will also collaborate with MCA’s sunflower breeder to manage Manitoba-based activities of MCA’s confection sunflower breeding program and will work alongside the research and extension team to support MCA’s Research on the Farm program. This position will report to the Research Program Manager – Special Crops.
This role requires an enthusiastic and motivated individual with a passion for agriculture, strong communication skills and a positive, team-oriented attitude. For the right individual, this position will provide unique opportunities to further develop MCA’s field research initiatives.
Click here to view the full job posting, including duties and responsibilities, desired qualifications and experience, and working conditions of the position.
To apply, please forward a resume and letter of interest by email to katherine@mbcropalliance.ca. Application deadline for this position is 4:30 p.m. CST on Feb. 14, 2025.
We thank all applicants. Only those selected for an interview will be contacted.
We are seeking a full-time, permanent Administrative Assistant to join our dynamic team to execute MCA’s levy administration and the delivery of the Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada Advance Payments Program (APP).
The individual who joins the MCA team must have a passion to deliver high-level administrative support to MCA, the senior leadership team and the APP. This position is instrumental in enhancing the organization’s effectiveness and ensuring smooth operations across multiple functions.
Click here to view the full job posting – including duties and responsibilities, desired qualifications and experience, and working conditions of the position.
To apply, please forward a resume and letter of interest by email to darcelle@mbcropalliance.ca. Application deadline for this position is 4:30 p.m. CST on Jan. 24, 2025.
We thank all applicants. Only those selected for an interview will be contacted.
The 2024 nomination period for delegates positions on our four crop committees took place from July 2 – Oct. 1, 2024.
In total, 16 farmer members were nominated for 17 available delegate positions across the four crop committees and were thereby elected by acclamation. Among those 16 delegates, eight are new to their respective committees.
Read on to learn more about the newest additions to our crop committees:
Corn
Craig Riese (St. Andrews, MB)
Craig Riese farms in the St. Andrews and Selkirk area with his wife Crystal and two sons. Together they operate Westphalia Farms Ltd., where they grow corn, soybeans, wheat and canola. They added corn to the rotation in 2016 and currently grow about 800 acres.
Riese’s past and current industry involvement has included serving as a delegate and director with Keystone Agricultural Producers, as well as a delegate with Manitoba Pork. He has found corn to be a great addition to his farm and continues to learn and adapt to the challenges that come with its nature as a late-season crop.
Patrick Gamache (Laurier, MB)
Patrick Gamache is a sixth-generation farmer who farms in Laurier with the help of his parents, grandfather and employees. Currently, their main crops are wheat, canola, soybeans, edible beans and corn, but they have also grown rye, barley, oats and meadow fescue. Apart from grain farming, Gamache was also a seed grower and co-owner in an ag retail business for several years, in addition to working with cattle. He is passionate about agriculture and aims for perfection on his farm.
Gamache attended the University of Manitoba, where he received is agriculture diploma. He has volunteered with Agriculture in the Classroom – Manitoba, does community work in his hometown and has been a volunteer firefighter for 11-plus years. He is looking forward to being more involved with Manitoba Crop Alliance.
Flax
Myles Kubinec (Holland, MB)
Myles Kubinec farms with his wife Anastasia and his father-in-law in Holland, growing both commercial and pedigreed seed. He is originally from a mixed operation in Alberta and received a degree in mechanical engineering from the University of Alberta. Kubinec and his wife have three sons that are also involved in the operation, when they’re not keeping their parents running to sports.
Amanda Ellis (Wawanesa, MB)
Amanda Ellis is co-owner/operator with her husband Simon of Black Creek Farm Ltd. and Ellis Seeds, a third-generation, 1,500-acre seed farm and retail. They grow flax, wheat, oats, peas, soybeans and canola, as well as the occasional “project” crop, such as hemp or millet.
Ellis has a diploma in business-finance from Assiniboine College and previously worked in finance at a Credit Union. She is interested in being involved in the agriculture industry, often volunteering for pilot projects and research studies. These have included participating as a panellist for University of Manitoba agriculture presentations and co-hosting farm tours for students and the public.
Ellis believes there is great market potential for flax, with growing demand in health food and pet food, as well as opportunity for research and the development of new, higher-yielding varieties. She is enthusiastic and curious to see what she can learn from and share with the flax crop committee.
Sunflower
Andrew Saramaga (Hazelridge, MB)
Andrew Saramaga is a fourth-generation farmer who works with his dad and a few employees in the Hazelridge area. Together they grow a variety of crop types, including corn, soybeans, spring and winter wheat, canola, sunflowers and various forage seeds.
Saramaga received his degree from the University of Manitoba. From there, he got involved in the early days of soybean production and marketing. This led to an opportunity to get involved with the former Manitoba Pulse Growers Association (now Manitoba Pulse & Soybean Growers), where he chaired the association for two years.
Saramaga’s farm has been growing sunflowers for about 15 years, starting with confection types and moving to black oil types in the last few years. He is excited to bring his experience to the sunflower crop committee and help further the sunflower industry in Manitoba.
Wheat and Barley
Carly Chatham (Killarney, MB)
Carly Chatham farms with her husband Cody at his family farm, Chatham Seeds, in Killarney. The Chathams are seed growers and continue to produce top-of-the-market wheat varieties. Chatham was born and raised in Carman and has been involved in the agriculture industry since she was a student.
Chatham obtained her agriculture diploma and bachelor of science in agriculture at the University of Manitoba. She has had job roles in research as a technician in small-plot work and breeding, worked at Paterson Grain as a sales agronomist and spent the last seven years as an independent agronomist at Field 2 Field Agronomy. She also holds a designation in the Prairies as a Certified Crop Advisor.
When she’s not working, Chatham enjoys golfing and a little bit of curling in the winter. She believes Canada is a top wheat-producing nation and would like to see us continue to grow the best wheat in the world.
Marcus Loeppky (Niverville, MB)
Marcus Loeppky farms in the Niverville area, where he grows wheat, oats, canola, soybeans and corn on approximately 4,800 acres with his cousin Paul. He has been married for 20 years to his wife Candice and they have two girls, Taylor (14) and Morgan (11).
Ty Ballard (Bield, MB)
Ty Ballard has been a dedicated grain farmer growing wheat, peas and canola for many years on his family farm, Rockin’ Cattle Company Inc., in Bield. He believes the increasing global demand for wheat and barley is a good opportunity for Manitoba farmers to heavily contribute to the industry and grow the market for the crop. He also believes wheat and barley are excellent choices to have in any crop rotation for a high-yielding crop.
Malcolm Morrison is a crop physiologist at Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada’s (AAFC) Ottawa Research and Development Centre. He holds a bachelor’s degree in agronomy from Macdonald College (part of McGill University), a master’s in plant breeding from the University of Saskatchewan and a PhD in canola physiology from the University of Manitoba (U of M). His career has focused on finding traits for resistance to abiotic stresses such as cold, heat and moisture stress.
Morrison lives in Ottawa, ON, with his wife and their Australian Shepard. Their two adult children live nearby and visit weekly.
Where did you work before AAFC?
Before joining AAFC, I had different summer jobs, including working in southern Ontario for King Grain. After completing my master’s, I applied for a position with AAFC and was hired as a biologist. I did a PhD at U of M in canola physiology with Peter McVetty and began working as a research scientist in Ottawa in 1988.
What got you interested in this area of work?
I have always been interested in how crops grow, become efficient and handle stress – factors that affect the transition from one seed to many. In my first-year botany class, the professor described a seed as “a baby plant carrying its lunch,” and that idea stuck with me.
My work has been focused on increasing the number of “baby plants” and analyzing or improving their “lunch,” whether oil, protein or nutritional and antinutritional compounds. We studied soybean protein across Western Canada, for example, examining how efficiently crops take up nitrogen and store it in their seeds. Understanding and improving the way a crop collects, utilizes and stores things such as solar radiation, moisture and nutrients has been a major focus throughout my career.
Tell us a bit about what you’re working on at AAFC.
Currently, I work with two great technicians, Claire and Tom, and we start each day with a brief meeting to plan out the day or week. I work on emails and focus on reports and analyzing data from projects. We have experiments on the go year-round at various stages from start to finish, either in fields or growth cabinets.
One example is the “Getting the jump on spring corn growth” project, funded partially by Manitoba Crop Alliance. This project began in 2023 and builds on years of work we’ve done since 2014 on improving early growth cold tolerance in corn. There are three main objectives of this research: to validate our previous results with a new set of hybrids, to broaden our understanding of plant performance beyond initial emergence and to conduct field tests in Manitoba and Ontario to determine whether early germination leads to faster seedling and plant growth.
Initial findings demonstrate a connection between faster emergence and enhanced root development in colder temperatures. Some hybrid corn lines emerged up to five days earlier than the checks, with improved root growth at lower temperatures, too. In warm temperatures, differences between hybrids disappeared. Initial field trials in Ottawa in 2024 indicate that hybrids seeded early on May 6 reached maturity by Sept. 18.
What can you say about the value of farmers providing funding and support to your work?
I’m a big proponent of check-off funds going towards research objectives established by farmers. These funds enable researchers to address specific challenges identified by grower organizations. Farmer-driven priorities ensure our research solves real-world problems.
How does farmer funding and support directly benefit farmers?
I hope farmers use our research findings to spark questions or give them the information they need to make decisions on their operations. Our soybean research in moisture stress has led to at least six registered varieties over the past 10 years, and corn inbred lines with improved cold tolerance are on the horizon. This is how our work is getting into the hands of farmers.
How do you spend your time outside of work?
I enjoy building things in my workshop, and I’m a moderately OK woodworker. I have kept tropical fish for most of my life, knit toques (which I make everybody wear), and stay active with our dog. I also enjoy riding my bike to work.
What is the best part of your job?
My job has two key aspects. First, the concrete science: selecting for better cold tolerance in soybean and corn, as well as looking at moisture stress tolerance in soybean, to help plant breeders and farmers. Then there is the abstract side, where I explore how plants grow and how environmental factors influence crop development.
A fun experiment we do is the 50 Years of Soybeans, which I’ve been a part of since 1992. It involves growing a collection of soybean varieties – two per decade, starting as far back as the 1930s – to study how plant breeding has improved yields (genetic gain) and how it was accomplished. For example, we discovered that breeders have developed varieties with smaller leaf area, but that leaf area was more efficient with improved photosynthesis per area and better water-use efficiency.
This ongoing experiment, which I grow every year with all the inputs and methods being held constant, is now nearly 30 years old. This allows us to study the impact changes in the environment on crop yield. For example, when we started the experiment in 1992 the atmospheric carbon dioxide concentration was ~360 ppm and today it is over 415 ppm.
What gets you most excited about your work?
I am a frustrated engineer at heart. What gets me excited is making a new instrument or tools for fieldwork and seeing them in action. For example, working with one of our mechanical technologists we built a drip tape application device that hooks behind my seeder, so we could seed and put the drip tape into the ground at the same time. When it left trenches in the soil, we developed a device to cover up the trenches and roll the soil. I really enjoy turning ideas into functional tools with our workshop team.
Over my career I have had over 120 students, some of whom have gone on to careers in science – that is rewarding.
I have spent a year (spread out over three visits) living and working in Australia, which was a childhood dream of mine ever since watching Skippy the Bush Kangaroo. Australia is a hot and dry Canada – the people enjoyable and the scenery ancient, vast and spectacular.
What is the best piece of advice you have received?
My father, who inspired me, said, “Listen to everyone. Don’t get so wed to one idea that you can’t be convinced that you’re wrong and somebody else is right.” Taking input from everybody allows you to develop a more rounded approach to your research and your life.
Nov. 27, 2024 (Carman, MB)– Manitoba Crop Alliance (MCA) has received approval to start issuing cash advances on winter wheat and fall rye planted in fall 2024 through Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada’s Advance Payments Program (APP).
The APP is a federal loan program administered by MCA. It offers Canadian farmers marketing flexibility through interest-free and low-interest cash advances. Under the program, eligible farmers are eligible to receive up to $1,000,000, with the Government of Canada paying the interest on the first $100,000 of the advance for the 2025 program year.
Funds can be issued in three to five business days once the application process is complete. MCA’s interest rate on interest-bearing cash advances is competitive with major banks and credit unions.
“Our friendly and knowledgeable APP staff understand the complex financial needs of farmers,” says MCA chair Robert Misko. “The friendly and personalized service they provide to clients keeps them coming back to us year after year for their cash advance needs.”
To apply for an advance under the 2025 program year on winter wheat and fall rye planted in fall 2024, farmers can phone MCA’s office at 1-204-745-6661 or toll-free at 1-877-598-5685 to request an application form.
MCA also continues to process applications for the 2024 program year on more than 35 crop kinds and honey.
If farmers would like to be notified regarding APP-specific information, please email hello@mbcropalliance.ca to be added to the subscriber list. More information on the APP can be found at mbcropalliance.ca.
About Manitoba Crop Alliance: Manitoba Crop Alliance is a non-profit organization established Aug. 1, 2020, representing more than 7,700 farmer members. Manitoba Crop Alliance puts their farmer members first and strives to continuously improve the competitiveness and profitability of all crops represented by the organization by focusing on four main areas: research, agronomy, market access and development, and communications. It is through investment in these key areas that Manitoba Crop Alliance can ensure wheat, barley, corn, sunflower and flax are sustainable production choices for Manitoba farmers. For more information, visit mbcropalliance.ca.
Born and raised in southern Manitoba, Curtis Cavers is an agronomist with Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada (AAFC) based in Portage la Prairie. He earned his bachelor of science in agriculture, majoring in soil science, and later completed his master’s degree at the University of Manitoba (U of M). Curtis lives on an acreage near Elm Creek with his wife’s family.
Where did you work before AAFC?
I started working with AAFC in 2007. Before that, I worked for Manitoba Agriculture for just over 10 years and have been a Certified Crop Advisor (CCA) for many years. It is a great program to be part of, providing ongoing training and practical knowledge sharing for industry agronomists and participants.
What got you interested in this area of work?
Who might be a better question! One person in particular, Dr. Tee Boon Goh, sparked my interest. I met him in my intro to soils class, and he was just a ball of energy. If you ask anyone else in agriculture about Dr. Goh, they’ll say the same thing. He is an enthusiastic, fantastic lecturer and the reason that I switched majors to soil science. Afterward, I met many other great people in the soil science department at the U of M, many of whom I still connect with today.
Tell us a bit about what you’re working on at AAFC.
I focus mainly on soil science from an agronomic perspective. In the past, we’ve had projects on tillage and pertaining to soil compaction, salinity and, more recently, soil erosion. These are the three areas we are investigating in terms of soil health research.
One project, Genetic selection-assessment of genetic resilience and excess moisture from a subset of MCVET crop varieties, was part of the extremes of moisture initiative and was conducted from 2019-22. This initiative came together in 2016 after a prolonged wet spell, when farmers were having issues dealing with excess moisture.
Several projects came out of that, including this one, where we tested various crop varieties for differences in tolerance to either excess moisture or drought-like conditions. We wanted to push these limits without breaking the system, stressing crops beyond normal expectations.
The takeaway was that resilience to extreme moisture wasn’t as variable as we expected. Most high-yielding crop varieties maintained their performance under both average and extreme conditions. For example, if variety X has consistently performed well in variety trials, it’s likely to perform best in times of both excess moisture and drought.
This work led to our current research looking at variable landscapes and extremes of moisture. Eroded hilltops are often dry, while lower areas like wetlands or potholes are persistently wet. As we get into precision farming or managing on a landscape basis, we are examining how farmers can manage this variability to increase their productivity and efficiency. I am focusing on these landscape extremes to see if adjustments can make them more productive or, at the very least, more consistent over time.
What can you say about the value of farmers providing funding and support to your organization?
Farmers know what challenges they are facing every day on the farm. It is encouraging to work with farmers who are curious, inquisitive and open-minded to new ideas and asking questions. Sketching out back-of-the-envelope ideas together is exciting. Farmers bring invaluable insights to the table that, combined with our research, can create powerful solutions.
I think of it as a roundtable – everyone shares what they see, which gives us a fuller picture. Working with farmers to tackle practical issues and potentially find solutions is what makes this work so rewarding, even if it’s not always simple or quick.
How does that farmer funding and support directly benefit farmers?
It helps direct us to the issues that are most pressing for farmers. If farmers identify specific areas of focus, that helps us prioritize research where it is needed most. I always make sure to ask, “Is this something that would benefit farmers?” and then check if it resonates with them.
How do you spend your time outside of work?
I’m doing extra studies right now, so I don’t have a lot of free time. There’s always work to do on the acreage, which keeps our family busy.
What’s the best part about your job?
Working with farmers and producer groups. I’ve been fortunate to collaborate with Manitoba Crop Alliance and others over the last few years. It’s rewarding to brainstorm ideas that have a clear purpose and a real potential to benefit farmers. Identifying problems and working on solutions for farmers is the meat and potatoes of what we do, and that is what I am here for.
How do you celebrate agriculture?
I try to share positive aspects of agriculture any chance I get, by participating in events, supporting Agriculture in the Classroom and sharing information about the CCA program. These activities not only celebrate agriculture but also offer training opportunities to learn about other aspects of agriculture. They are great ways to both share knowledge and learn.
What is a good piece of advice that has stuck with you?
A former boss once said, “Go do your job, Curtis. It’s like driving a car – just put your foot to the floor and go. I’ve got your back.” That supportive management style has meant a lot to me. Dr. Scott Wright, that was good advice!
Nov. 19, 2024 (Carman, MB) – Manitoba Crop Alliance (MCA) and Manitoba Pulse and Soybean Growers (MPSG) have committed $691,591 in funding to Manitoba Diversification Centres to increase research capacity in the province.
MCA recently commissioned a study evaluating research capacity in the province. The resulting report highlighted four main challenges to maintaining and expanding research capacity: equipment, infrastructure and land, funding programs, and human resources.
This investment is enabling the diversification centres to purchase new or specialized equipment, such as tractors and seeders. The equipment will help the centres enhance the efficiency of their current operations and expand the types of research they conduct to provide impactful results to farmers across the province.
“We identified inadequate equipment as one of the primary challenges holding back research capacity in Manitoba and this investment will help bridge that gap,” says Katherine Stanley, research program manager for special crops with MCA.
“The diversification centres conduct crucial, applied research on behalf of our farmer members, and their locations across the province ensure that regional differences in soil and climate can be studied.”
Manitoba Diversification Centres are non-profit, farmer- and industry-directed organizations that are integral to keeping the flow of applied research information to farmers alive. They host a wide range of research activities that MPSG and MCA are invested in, such as AgriScience Program cluster projects, regional variety evaluation trials, and product evaluation and comparison trials.
“Each diversification centre has a capable team that we believe in and rely on each year to carry out mainstay projects and to be agile in accommodating new research,” says Cassandra Tkachuk, research project manager with MPSG. “We are pleased to collaborate with MCA in supporting the expansion of field research capacity at the centres to continue sending value back to farmers.”
The four diversification centres in the province are at Carberry, Roblin, Arborg and Melita, covering a variety of agro-climate conditions and soil types to highlight the response of crops to different growing conditions. By accounting for unique growing conditions at each location, the centres can conduct more robust and meaningful research, while testing novel ideas such as alternative crops and agronomic practices.
The investments from MCA and MPSG will be distributed among the four diversification centres as follows:
Manitoba Crop Diversification Centre (MCDC)
$198,697 from MCA
Parkland Crop Diversification Foundation (PCDF)
$64,237 from MCA
$64,237 from MPSG
Prairies East Sustainable Agriculture Initiative (PESAI)
“On behalf of the WADO board, we are excited to partner with MCA and MPSG on the capital investments grant,” says WADO chair Gary Barker. “Purchases will help WADO with building capacity efficiencies, reduce risk from wildlife losses, and assist with monitoring greenhouse gases in future projects.”
About Manitoba Crop Alliance: Manitoba Crop Alliance is a non-profit organization established Aug. 1, 2020, representing more than 7,700 farmer members. Manitoba Crop Alliance puts their farmer members first and strives to continuously improve the competitiveness and profitability of all crops represented by the organization by focusing on four main areas: research, agronomy, market access and development, and communications. It is through investment in these key areas that Manitoba Crop Alliance can ensure wheat, barley, corn, sunflower and flax are sustainable production choices for Manitoba farmers. For more information, visit mbcropalliance.ca.
About Manitoba Pulse and Soybean Growers: Manitoba Pulse and Soybean Growers (MPSG) was founded in 1984 and represents over 3,500 producers in Manitoba who grow soybeans, edible beans, peas, lentils, chickpeas and faba beans. MPSG’s mission is to provide farmer members with production knowledge and market development support, through focused research, advocacy and linkages with industry partners. MPSG is funded by a 0.5% check off levy and is governed by a board of directors, including elected active producers and appointed industry representatives. For more information, visit manitobapulse.ca.
Last month, Canada hosted researchers, industry stakeholders and commodity organizations from across the world for the sixth International Symposium on Fusarium Head Blight (FHB). This conference showcased the latest research from around the world, illustrated the progress made over the last decade in understanding and combating FHB, and highlighted the challenges we still face.
There were four main takeaways from the conference:
Breeding works
Researchers have come a long way in understanding the disease
Canada is a leader in FHB research and training the next generation of FHB scientists
MCA-funded research has a direct impact on combating FHB
Understanding the disease
Fusarium is a complex fungus that can survive on multiple plant species and plant parts. Understanding the species population, mechanism of plant infection, disease spread and plant response is crucial to combating FHB. Conference presentations and posters provided new insights, such as the role of mycotoxin (e.g., deoxynivalenol) in the Fusarium head blight infection, understanding the effectors critical for FHB infection and unraveling plant-microbe interactions. MCA-funded researcher Matthew Bakker was one of the researchers that presented his work in this space.
Matthew Bakker presenting his research at the sixth International Symposium on Fusarium Head Blight.
Breeding and food safety
Canada has an impressive and long-standing expertise in cereal breeding and food safety. This was on full display at the conference, with presentations from breeders, including Curtis Pozniak from the University of Saskatchewan (U of S) and Richard Cuthbert from Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada (AAFC). The moral of the story is that breeding works. Newly released spring wheat and durum varieties have improved FHB resistance ratings, which is important for an integrated disease management plan. MCA is a core-breeding funder and provides resources for this important work to get elite wheat (e.g., AAC Brandon) and barley varieties that carry great agronomic traits along with strong disease-resistance packages into farmers’ hands.
A presentation by Sean Walkowiak also demonstrated the robustness of Canada’s grain handling and monitoring system. Walkowiak presented on the Canadian Grain Commission’s Harvest Sample Program results from past years, showing the extent of FHB impact across the Canadian Prairies, but also highlighted the effectiveness of the safety system in Canada, where everyone works together to deliver safe, healthy cereal ingredients to consumers. Canadian grain safety programs achieved technical equivalence against the Global Food Safety Initiative benchmarking requirements in September 2022.
Training the next generation
The skill among the next generation of FHB researchers in Canada was on display at the conference, with many posters and talks presented by graduate students and early career researchers. Specifically, many of these researchers and students are from Western Canada, which puts Canada in a great position to continue to be a global leader in FHB research. MCA is a key part of ensuring that strong and impactful FHB research continues in Canada by providing funding to important projects and sponsoring the student awards at this conference. MCA specifically chose this sponsorship, as we believe in training and investing in the next generation of leaders in the agriculture industry.
Examples of project posters that have received MCA funding.
Final thoughts
FHB is one of the most devastating cereal diseases in the world. Financial losses to farmers in epidemic years can be extensive in Western Canada through yield loss and quality downgrading. In the last epidemic year (2016), there was an estimated $1 billion lost because of FHB infections. We have come a long way with stronger resistance built into available varieties, fungicides that can suppress the disease and a better understanding of agronomic approaches for the integration of these tools. However, we continue to experience challenges, including increased incidence during the 2024 growing season. Continued investment in FHB research is paramount to understand the disease and find innovative breeding and management solutions to reduce its impact on farmers.
