Crop Advisory on Milling Wheat

Spring wheat growers are reminded that the crop is most susceptible to fusarium head blight, in the week following head emergence.

The weather conditions in the next few days will have a large effect on the amount of damaged kernels being harvested. Preventative fungicides will reduce, but not control the amount of infection in the crop.

Fusarium head blight in wheat is best recognized by the premature bleaching of part of the head. This maybe accompanied by the development of an orange or pink mould on the kernel. Factsheets with photographs are available on the Department of Agriculture website http://www.gov.pe.ca/agriculture/index.php3?number=70743&lang=E.

The growth of this fungus is promoted by wet weather and warm temperatures when the crop is at a susceptible stage of growth.