How To Manage Fusarium in Wheat
As reported on the OMAFRA website fieldcropnews.com, Ontario wheat farmers face growing concerns over fusarium head blight (FHB) and harvest timing this season.
Frequent rains in many areas – with more to come - are increasing fusarium risk, threatening yield and grain quality.
FHB symptoms appear soon after flowering, marked by prematurely bleached spikelets. The fungus may affect part or the entire wheat head, spreading under warm, humid conditions. Infected kernels turn shriveled, light, and scabby.
The disease risk is highest when wheat flowers during wet weather, especially in fields following corn or wheat, or where susceptible varieties were planted. Lodged wheat increases risk further, making early assessment critical.
Farmers are urged to check fields before harvest by sampling 10 heads randomly and calculating FHB incidence and severity to get a Fusarium Head Blight (FHB) Index. If the index exceeds 2, those fields should be prioritized for harvest. Delayed harvest may double DON toxin levels, so combining at higher moisture levels may be necessary.
Pre-harvest sprouting is another key concern due to prolonged wet conditions. Sprouting lowers the falling number—a measure of wheat’s suitability for milling—causing quality loss.
Delays in harvest can increase sprouting and reduce yield by up to 4 bushels per acre. Red wheat resists sprouting better than soft white varieties. Farmers should harvest early, dry the grain, and avoid mixing sprouted wheat with sound grain.
If sprouted seed is saved for planting, germination tests are vital, especially if sprout levels exceed 5%. Lower vigor seeds should be planted shallower and with higher seeding rates.
With Ontario wheat facing wet conditions, timely harvest and careful field assessment remain the best defenses against FHB and sprouting damage.
For more information about the fusarium head blight, please visit the Farms.com Field Guide Pest pages.