Crop Advisory on Milling Wheat

Because of recent wet weather conditions, the Department of Agriculture is advising those who grow milling wheat to take extra precautions to reduce the levels of fusarium damaged kernels. Will Proctor, field development innovation officer with the department, advises growers to increase the fan setting on their combines which will allow small kernels to be blown out with the straw, which will result in fewer damaged kernels being harvested.

Fusarium head blight in wheat is best recognized by the premature bleaching of part of the head. This may be accompanied by the development of a pink or orange mould on the kernel.

One percent is the maximum of fusarium damaged kernels allowed in a sample of Eastern Canada #1 grade wheat.