4
/ grainews.ca
MARCH 19, 2012
Cover Stories Seed » CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1
Guidelines for seed treatment fusarium head blight from neighbouring fields.
Seed treatments for pulse crops Pulse crops may need some special attention when it comes to seed treatments. 1. Apply treatments carefully. Because of the large size of some seeds, they can be easily damaged during treatment. 2. Fungicide first. Many farmers will also be applying rhizobium inoculants to pulse seed as well as a seed treatment. In this case, experts recommend applying the fungicide first, letting it dry, and then applying the inoculant as close to the time of seeding as you can. 3. Check compatibility. Make sure your inoculant is compatible with the seed treatment you’re planning to use.
SEED TREATMENT THRESHOLD GUIDES FOR PULSE CROPS Disease (Pathogen)
Seed rot & damping off (Pythium and/or Phytophthora )
Seed rot & seedling blight (Botrytis + Sclerotinia + Fusarium)
Action if Over Threshold
N/A (soil-borne)
Use seed treatment IF: history of disease; seeding under cool-moist conditions; kabuli chickpeas, low-tannin lentils, damaged or cracked peas.
>10%
Use seed treatment
Ascochyta complex (pea)
Associate Publisher/ Editorial director
John Morriss
Editor
Lyndsey Smith (on leave) Leeann Minogue
> 5%
Use seed treatment
>10%
Do not use as seed
Machinery EDITOR
>0.3%
Do not use as seed
Pr oduction Director
Cattleman’s Corner Editor
Lee Hart
Ascochyta lentis (lentil)
Ascochyta rabiei (chickpea)
Fusarium graminearum
Fusarium spp. Ergot
Action if Over Threshold
2-3% or higher
Use seed treatment
Lynda Tityk
Do not use as seed
>5%
Use seed treatment
>10%
Do not use as seed
≥0.01% weight
Downgrading, clean seed, ergot viability decreases
Heather Anderson H e ad Off i c e 1666 Dublin Avenue, Winnipeg, Man. R3H 0H1 Phone: (204) 944-5567 Fax: (204) 944-5562 Advertising Sales
Cory Bourdeaud’hui Phone: (204) 954-1414 Fax: (204) 944-5562 E-mail: cory@fbcpublishing.com
wand. Seed treatments won’t help a seed lot that has a high level of dead, damaged or infected seed.
Advertising Services Co-ordinator
More information
In 2008, the Alberta Winter Wheat Producers resolved to study the viability of an allwheat commission in Alberta. For all wheat’s prominence in Alberta, only two small classes (winter wheat and soft white wheat, which account for just five per cent of the province’s entire wheat production) have been represented by a producerrun commission. After market research found considerable support for the notion of a new all-wheat commission for all nine classes of Western Canadian wheat (Red Spring, Red Winter, Extra Strong, CPS Red, CPS White, Amber Durum, Soft White Spring, Hard White Spring and General Purpose), a producer-led steering committee was formed. For the past year, we’ve been part of working to form the Alberta Wheat Commission. The commission would have one pri-
MARKETING/CI RCULATION Director Circulation ma nager
>5%
Leeann Minogue is the acting editor of Grainews
Shawna Gibson Steven Cote
Threshold on Seed
For more detailed information about the guidelines shown in these tables see www.agriculture. gov.sk.ca. There are two very helpful documents: “Guidelines for SeedBorne Diseases of Pulse Crops” and “Guidelines for Seed-Borne Diseases of Cereal Crops.” The easiest way to find these is to type “seed-borne disease” in the search box. †
Scott Garvey
Designer
SEED TREATMENT THRESHOLD GUIDES FOR CEREAL CROPS Disease (Pathogen)
Farmlife Editor
Sue Armstrong
Arlene Bomback Phone: (204) 944-5765 Fax: (204) 944-5562 E-mail: ads@fbcpublishing.com Printed in Canada by Transcontinental LGM-Coronet Winnipeg, Man.
These fusarium-damaged Canada Western Red Spring wheat kernels have a white or pinkish fibrous growth that can only be seen under magnification. When wheat is damaged by fusarium, kernels will appear thin or shrunken.
A group of Alberta farmers are working to organize an Alberta Wheat Commission to improve farm returns on wheat
I
Bob Willcox
Use seed treatment
A voice for Alberta’s wheat producers
n the past 150 years, wheat has played a significant role in the settlement of the Canadian Prairies and the development of Western Canadian agriculture. Canada became the “bread basket of the world” because of the quality and quantity of wheat it supplied to countries around the globe. In more recent years, western Canadian wheat producers have struggled to compete with other crops and wheat-producing countries. Although wheat remains one of Canada’s most important cereal crops, new varieties and traits are needed to make it a sustainable and profitable crop option for Prairie producers. In Alberta, we’ve felt for some time that wheat producers need to have a stronger voice and more concerted industry focus.
PUBLISHER
>10%
Research funding
by Kent Erickson and Lynn Jacobson
1 6 6 6 Dubl in Ave n ue , W in n ipe g, MB R3 H 0 H1 www. g ra in e ws . c a
acting Editor
Winter weather This has been a warm winter across most of the Prairies. It would seem that these higher temperatures might be giving disease pathogens a chance to thrive in the ground, but that’s not necessarily so, said Dokken-Bouchard. “To us it feels like a warm winter, but not to a pathogen,” she said. A general lack of snow has given many fields less insulation than in a “typical” winter. For pathogens, this winter may have actually been quite chilly, so problems may not be any worse than usual. Experts are always careful to warn that, although seed treatments can help get your crop off to a good start, they aren’t a magic
Threshold on Seed
mary objective: to improve farm gate returns on wheat. It would also be committed to working collaboratively with all participants in wheat’s value chain. Our steering committee has developed a strategic plan to realize these goals. The plan currently calls for the new commission to begin operating on Aug. 1, 2012, and to generate the majority of its revenue through a checkoff fee (service charge) of $0.70 per tonne on all classes of wheat produced in Alberta. Checkoff dollars will be deducted from producer payments at the point of sale. Of the estimated $3.5 million that would be raised through checkoff dollars each year, a direct investment of $3 million would be made annually into research and market development and pursuing partnerships that leverage this investment into projects worth millions of dollars more.
In March, our steering committee will wrap up the many meetings and consultations we’ve been having with Alberta wheat producers about the commission’s plans. To date, the response has been very supportive, with more than 80 per cent of producers saying they favour forming the commission. This support is crucial for two reasons: to gain legislative approval from the Province of Alberta to form the commission; and to demonstrate that farmers are willing to invest in their industry. With so many changes on the horizon for Western Canadian wheat, we see the Alberta Wheat Commission as one way for our province’s wheat producers to be better able to respond to the opportunities and demands of domestic and international markets and users. † Kent Erickson and Lynn Jacobson are co-chairs of the Alberta All-Wheat Commission Steering Committee
At Farm Business Communications we have a firm commitment to protecting your privacy and security as our customer. Farm Business Communications will only collect personal information if it is required for the proper functioning of our business. As part of our commitment to enhance customer service, we may share this personal information with other strategic business partners. For more information regarding our Customer Information Privacy Policy, write to: Information Protection Officer, Farm Business Communications, 1666 Dublin Ave., Winnipeg, MB R3H 0H1 Occasionally we make our list of subscribers available to other reputable firms whose products and services might be of interest to you. If you would prefer not to receive such offers, please contact us at the address in the preceding paragraph, or call 1-800-665-0502.
Grainews is published by Farm Business Communications, 1666 Dublin Avenue, Winnipeg, Manitoba R3H 0H1. Publications Mail Agreement No. 40069240. We acknowledge the financial support of the Government of Canada through the Canada Periodical Fund of the Department of Canadian Heritage.
Subscription prices: For Canadian farmers, $46.20 per year or $72.45 for 2 years (includes GST). Man. residents add 7% PST to above prices. U.S: $43.00 per year (U.S. Funds). Outside Canada & U.S.: $79 per year. ISSN 0229-8090. Call 1-800-665-0502 for subscriptions. Fax (204) 954-1422. Canadian Postmaster: Send address changes and undeliverable copies (covers only) to PO Box 9800, Winnipeg, Man. R3C 3K7. U.S. Postmaster: Send address changes and undeliverable copies (covers only) to 1666 Dublin Avenue, Winnipeg, Man. R3H 0H1. Grainews is printed on recyclable paper with linseed oil-based inks. Published 18 times a year. Subscription inquiries: Cal l tol l free 1-800-665-0502 U.S. subscribers call 1-204-944-5568 o r email: subscription@fbcpublishing.com
Your next issue! You can expect your next issue in your mailbox about April 2, 2012
The editors and journalists who write, contribute and provide opinions to Grainews and Farm Business Communications attempt to provide accurate and useful opinions, information and analysis. However, the editors, journalists and Grainews and Farm Business Communications, cannot and do not guarantee the accuracy of the information contained in this publication and the editors as well as Grainews and Farm Business Communications assume no responsibility for any actions or decisions taken by any reader for this publication based on any and all information provided.