Tip 3: Manage Disease Pressures
Grain diseases don’t just reduce yield and quality, they can also create export risk for Canadian canola, cereals and pulses. Diseases like fusarium head blight (FHB) and ergot in cereals may also create a market risk because they can affect food safety, grain grading and phytosanitary compliance. Effective disease management on farm helps protect market access and Canada’s reputation as a reliable exporter.
Best practices for integrated disease management
Protect your investment and reduce export risk by applying an integrated disease management approach across all crops:
- Grow disease‑resistant varieties when available to reduce infection pressure and reliance on crop protection products.
- Apply appropriately timed fungicide when there is an elevated risk of disease.
- Plan diverse crop rotations to break disease cycles and reduce pathogen buildup in fields.
- Plant clean seed and consider seed treatments under high‑risk conditions to improve early plant stand and crop competitiveness.
- Control volunteer plants, weeds and other susceptible hosts that can harbour disease between growing seasons.
- Use an integrated pest management approach that combines genetics, agronomy, monitoring and targeted inputs.
FAQs
How do crop diseases affect export markets?
Crop diseases can impact export markets by reducing grain quality, increasing food safety risks or failing to meet importing country phytosanitary requirements. In some cases, elevated disease levels can lead to rejected shipments or restricted market access.
Which diseases can cause market disruptions in grain?
Some importing countries have strict maximum limits for mycotoxins produced by fusarium head blight or ergot. If a shipment exceeds these levels, it can be delayed or rejected, at a high cost to the exporter as well as the producer.
Why do export markets monitor diseases like fusarium and ergot?
Export markets monitor these diseases because they can affect human and animal health, grain grading, and processing factors due to the production of mycotoxins. Some countries apply strict limits, or zero tolerance, making disease management critical.
Additional Resources
Managing Blackleg in Canola
Blackleg in canola can cause yield and quality losses, impact profitability and may create a market risk.
Managing Fusarium in Cereals
Fusarium head blight (FHB) reduces yields, decreases grain quality and may limit crop marketing opportunities.
Ergot Management in Cereals
Ergot is a fungal disease that affects many cereals and grasses in Canada.
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