GUELPH — Ontario corn growers will soon have better tools and data to help them manage two of the crop’s most significant risks, DON mycotoxin contamination and tar spot.
A new, five-year project will allow the continuation of annual assessments of DON across corn hybrids through the Ontario Corn Committee (OCC). It will also fund University of Guelph DON and Tar Spot research to improve disease modeling accuracy and hybrid resistance screening tools.
By developing and refining these disease prediction tools and hybrid screening resources, growers will have improved knowledge to select the best corn hybrids for their specific needs and better manage the two diseases, ultimately improving crop yields and profitability.
“Our government is proud to support the Grain Farmers of Ontario as they develop innovative tools that will help protect corn crop production and help farmers across the province be more profitable,” said Trevor Jones, Minister of Agriculture, Food and Agribusiness. “This predictive and risk-mitigating tool is enabled by the research infrastructure, collaboration and world class innovation that exists right here in Ontario.”
Project Details
Led through a partnership with OCC and Professors Dr. Dave Hooker and Dr. Gursahib Singh at the Ridgetown Campus of the University of Guelph, the project is supported by the Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food, and Agri-Business (OMAFA) with additional funding for the OCC DON trials coming from the Ontario Agri-Business Association, Greenfield Ethanol, Ingredion, Ontario Pork, Suncor, Alco Energy Canada and participating seed companies. It will involve field trials at the University of Guelph’s Ridgetown Campus and the Huron Research Centre in Exeter.
“This initiative is an important investment in the future of Ontario’s corn production,” said Dr. Josh Cowan, director, research, Grain Farmers of Ontario. “By leveraging cutting-edge research and data, we’re empowering Ontario’s farmers to make more informed decisions, reduce risks, and ultimately increase the sustainability and profitability of their operations.”
Acknowledgments and Funding:
We gratefully acknowledge the Government of Ontario, Alco Energy Canada, Greenfield Ethanol, Ontario Pork, Suncor, Ingredion, participating seed corn companies, the Ontario Agribusiness Association (OABA), and Agricultural Research and Innovation Ontario (ARIO) for their financial support and for providing research station infrastructure essential to the completion of this work.
Source : GFO