Invited Presenter

Phil Needham ¹
1. Needham Ag Technologies, Calhoun, KY
Corresponding Author: Phil Needham, phil@needhamag.com

Needham, Phil

phil@needhamag.com

Fusarium head blight (FHB, or head scab as it is also termed) is a disease often with the greatest impact on agriculture and agricultural related industries (including the milling and baking industry and the distilleries). FHB-related losses to farmers, food processors and brewers run in the hundreds of millions of dollars (scabusa.org, 2022). The disease, caused by the fungal pathogen Fusarium graminearum, has often reached epidemic proportions in the United States and Canada, causing significant yield losses and price discounts in spring and winter cereals. The pathogen poses a two-fold threat: first, infested cereals show significant reduction in grain quality and yield due to discolored, shriveled "tombstone" kernels, and secondly, scabby grain is often contaminated with trichothecene and estrogenic mycotoxins (McMullen, et al., 1998), making it unsuitable for food or feed. The aim of this presentations is to outline at least 8 management steps to help suppress fusarium and help protect grain quality, grain yields and farm profitability. 1.) Variety selection (for good fusarium tolerance and standability). 2.) Field selection (avoid no-tilling wheat after corn, IF you have that option). 3.) Seed treatment fungicides (uniformly applied). 4.) Uniformity of emergence (well maintained and adjusted seeding equipment). 5.) Fusarium fungicide selection (look at current research). 6.) Fusarium fungicide application technology (aggressive forward/backward nozzles in the medium droplet range - with plenty of water and correct nozzle height above the crop). 7.) Fusarium fungicide timing (use the fusarium risk tool and weather forecasts, together with growth stage monitoring). 8.) Timely harvest (harvest when ready, DO NOT DELAY!).

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