The 2023 Fusarium Seed Infection Surveillance for Alberta has found low levels of fusarium infected seed in the province, the interim report released on April 3 by the Alberta Seed Processors (ASP) said.
Seed was tested between Sept. 1, 2022, and Dec. 31, 2022, with the assumption the seed was produced in the 2022 crop year and is destined for seed purposes in 2023, the report said. Data was collected from three Alberta-based seed testing labs and amalgamated into one database, with data coming from seed testing results for both farm-saved and pedigreed seed.
“This project directly aligns with ASP’s goals of supporting agriculture in Alberta by constantly improving the services and capacity of our seed and grain processors so we can ensure the agricultural value chain has an opportunity for the best outcomes possible through identifying possible limiting factors,” Monica Klaas, ASP’s general manager, said in the report.
Fusarium infection levels are relatively low for all cereal seeds, the report said. Higher infection intensity was found in areas with increased historic infection levels, high corn acreage, irrigated acres and regions with higher moisture conditions during flowering. For wheat seed samples, even though wheat samples tested had the presence of fusarium, infection levels were relatively low. The report noted higher infection rates were also found in regions with high corn acreage, irrigated acres and regions with higher moisture conditions during flowering.
ASP worked with three Alberta seed labs, including SGS Canada, Seed Check Technologies and 20/20 Seed Labs, to gather data. The data was then reviewed by Michael Harding, research scientist for plant and bee health surveillance with Alberta Agriculture and Irrigation, and then compiled into maps. Alberta Wheat and Barley Commissions supplied further agronomic and management input to the project, the report noted.
While funding was previously supplied by the Canadian Agricultural Partnership, funding has now expired and the project is fully being funded by ASP, the report said.
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