Talking Gibberella ear rot in Ontario at the London Farm Show

Mar 09, 2017

Presentation made by Peter Horevaj

By Diego Flammini
Assistant Editor, North American Content
Farms.com

As farmers gear up for planting season they’ll be faced with disease management challenges.

One disease in particular, Gibberella ear rot, was the focus of a presentation made by Peter Horevaj, DuPont Pioneer research scientist.

“(It’s) a very common disease in (Ontario),” Horevaj said. “It’s been here for years and every year it’s around. It depends on the environment to which degree (the disease is) going to be a problem.”

Gibberella ear rot is caused by fungus which can overwinter in crop debris. The disease can be identified by a red or pink mold beginning at the ear tip. Early and severe infections could rot ears completely.

Since the disease could impact yield, Horevaj said DuPont Pioneer is conducting breeding experiments to determine tolerant hybrids.

“We have a breeding program in this area and conduct intensive disease scoring,” he said.

Horevaj offered a few tips to help farmers manage Gibberella ear rot in their fields.

“Number one is hybrid selection,” he said. “That’s one of the easiest ways (to manage the disease) that farmers have in their control. Based on ratings that DuPont Pioneer provides for its hybrids, (farmers) can see which hybrids have higher tolerance."

Gibberella ear rot
Photo: DuPont Pioneer

Because the pathogen can survive in residue, Horevaj said crop rotation is another important strategy.

And spraying proper triazole fungicides can also help farmers fight Gibberella ear rot.

“It’s another tool farmers can invest in,” Horevaj said.

Follow the London Farm Show on social media using the hashtag #LdnFarmShow. The show wraps up March 10.

Video: Will the 2025 USDA December Crop Report Be a Market Mover/Surprise?

Historically, the USDA December crop report is a non-event or another dud report as the USDA reserves any final supply changes to the final report in January of the following year in this case 2026. But after the longest U.S. government shutdown in history at 43 days and no October crop report will they provide more data/surprise and make an exception?
Our China U.S. soybean purchase tracker is now at 26.6% or a total of 3.2 mmt but for traders it’s taking too long to unfold.
The final Stats Canada production report was bearish canola and wheat projection a record crop in both (it adds to the global glut of supplies) and bullish local corn and soybean prices in Ontario/Quebec thanks to a drought. It will not help the fund flow short-term, the USDA may need to offset it?
A U.S. Fed interest rate cut of another 25-basis point next Wednesday (probability 87.1%) could help fund flow and sentiment in stock and ag commodities into year end.
More inflows into Bitcoin this past week saw prices rebound back above 90,000 with support at 82,000 and resistance at 96,000.
A V-shaped bottom in cattle suggest the lows are in after Mexico reported another new world screwworm case. Lower weights, seasonal demand and higher U.S. beef select/choice values with a continued closure of the Mexican border to cattle will result in a resumption of higher cattle futures into yearend.
Australia is expected to produce its 3rd largest wheat crop ever at 36 mmt adding to the global glut of supplies.
Reports of ASF in hogs in Spain the largest pork exporter in Europe could see the U.S. win more pork export business long-term.
If the rains verify into next week of 3-5 inches for Brazil it would go a long way to fixing the dry regions from the last 2-months, but the European weather model has been wrong for the past 2-months!
Natural gas futures are surging to the 3rd price count as frigid hold temps set in.
CDN $ is also surging to end the week on a very resilient economy and better employment numbers suggesting no interest rate cuts next week.
Finally, the CFTC report showed funds were net buyers of soybeans but sellers of corn, canola and wheat. In real time the funds have gone back to selling as they take some profits.