Because of the disease, most of the feed grain harvested within a 30 to 50 kilometre radius of Landmark was unsuited for processing into hog and broiler feed. For Landmark Feeds, that meant looking further afield. I would say it was the worst in our area. Fusarium has been around for years. It poses its greatest threat if there's excess moisture as cereal crops are flowering or in the early heading stage.
Excess moisture exacerbates the situation.
The Western Grains Research Foundation has made it a priority to find ways to combat fusarium, said executive director Lorence Peterson. While the disease's effects are most acute in Manitoba, it is an issue that strikes a nerve across the Prairies. Saskatchewan doesn't want to see it expand any more, and Alberta wants it stopped before it gets in there. Most feed barley varieties are susceptible to fusarium. Research continues, but it will be at least five years before varieties with greater tolerance are available to growers, said Mario Therrien, a barley breeder at Agriculture Canada's Brandon research centre.