b'Fusarium head blight in wheat, identified by the salmon pink sporulation and brownish discolouration. PHOTO: KELLY TURKINGTON, AAFCProper identification is critical onBe cognisant and vigilant. You should(Peace region) and in the Grande Prairie all disease fronts. In 2020, there was abe testing, especially if you havent had(Peace region) and Wheatland (east of low to moderate outbreak of bacterialissues with FHB caused by FusariumCalgary) counties.leaf streak in wheat across the Prairies.graminearum before, explainsBlackleg is widely spread and Farmers who assumed the problemTurkington. If youve had downgradingcontinues to shift in virulence. was fungal were frustrated when theirdue to FHB, have testing done to find outBlackleg is a ubiquitous thing. fungicide application(s) made nowhat species of Fusarium is causing theWhether its an issue that starts to harm difference.issue, as its sometimes due to speciesyield depends on the specific race of the Traditionally, (bacterial leaf streak)other than Fusarium graminearum andpathogen. Over the last few years, weve is more of a curiosity than an actualthe impact can be lower. In addition,seen disease development in canola production impact, says Mike Harding,Septoria glume blotch can mimicfields at levels much higher than weve provincial plant pathologist withsymptoms of fusarium. seen in the past, says Turkington.Alberta Agriculture and Forestry (AAF)Both clubroot and blackleg continuedCombatting both blackleg and in Brooks, Alta. In 2020, there werespreading in 2020 and should be scoutedclubroot will required continued more issues to the point that somefor in 2021.vigilance, the use of resistant varieties fields in Saskatchewan, Manitoba andClubroot was initially in theand widening the rotation interval certainly here in Alberta were probablyEdmonton/St. Albert region, then thebetween canola crops where possible.experiencing low to moderate levels ofbroader Edmonton region. Now itsSclerotinia will be highly dependent yield loss.continued its ugly march outside of thoseon moisture levels next June and July. Turkington expects low incidenceareas, says Turkington. Fields which suffered high infection in of root rots, except in fields whichStephen Strelkov and colleagues at therecent years will harbour large numbers are being planted barley-on-barley orUniversity of Alberta are just finishing upof sclerotia, increasing risk next year and wheat-on-wheat, although take-all cantheir analyses of clubroot survey results.beyond in all adjacent fields. be elevated for wheat planted into barleyTheir survey, along with monitoring byIn pulses, Mycosphaerella (ascochyta) residue.Harding and agricultural field personsblight will be back in 2021, says Robyne Fusarium levels skyrocketed inacross the province, resulted in theBowness Davidson, a pulse research 2016, steadied in 2017 and 2018, andidentification of 379 confirmed clubrootscientist with AAF. Though its virulence then climbed again in 2019. Fusariuminfestations in 2020. Strelkov says inwill depend on weather conditions, it scouting and management should be a2020, Alberta saw its first confirmedcan be managed with proper scouting top priority for all farmers in 2021. clubroot cases in the MD of Smoky Riverand timely fungicide application. 56seed.ab.ca'