Developing a series of protocols for the practical surveillance of field crop diseases

The Prairie Crop Development Network (PCDMN) is developing a series of recommended protocols for the practical surveillance of field crop diseases.   

During June and July, crop scouting for various Prairie field crop diseases is critical for assessing risk and gauging the need for and timing of an in-crop fungicide application.  However, late season crop scouting is also important as it can be used to assess the prevalence, severity and impact of these disease issues.  Where unsprayed check strips or areas have been left in the field late season assessments can be used to assess the impact and benefit of spraying in relation to leaf spot management and crop productivity.  

Recommended protocols for cereal leaf spot assessment are now available at the PCDMN Blog using the following link: Cereal Leaf Spot Assessment Protocols

Another critical aspect of in-field surveillance activities is the need to use caution to avoid inadvertently spreading crop pests into or from the fields being surveyed.  See the Biosecurity Protocols section for key information outline protocols and standards for limiting the risk of crop pest spread while conducting plant disease surveillance activities.  

Wind trajectories and regional rust development in relation to Prairie cereal rust risk (Jul 14-20)

Here is a mini update regarding wind trajectories and regional rust development in relation to Prairie cereal rust risk.  

The full report can be found at: July 14-20, 2020 cereal rust risk update

Given the state of maturity and harvest in the USA on winter wheat, these regions no longer represent a significant source of rust inoculum for the Prairie region and the weekly full PCDMN updates for 2020 have finished for these areas.  However, spring cereals in these regions may still represent a source of rust inoculum although the acreage of spring wheat is typically lower than that of winter wheat, depending on the State.

With the appearance of stripe rust in ten southern Alberta municipalities, at Beaverlodge in the Country of Grande Prairie, in the Fort St. John/Dawson Creek region of BC, and at four locations in Saskatchewan, farmers in these regions should be on the look out for stripe rust in wheat.  In addition, farmers in regions north and east to northeast of southern Alberta should be on alert as southerly winds may transport stripe rust spores.  Moreover, trajectory analysis from July 14-20, 2020 has indicated a total of 13 of 29 locations where wind trajectories previously passed over the stripe rust area of southern AB.  Special focus should be on wheat fields seeded to varieties rated as susceptible or moderately susceptible.  Also, given the appearance of crown rust in the Mannville region of Alberta, as well as at Carman, Manitoba, oat growers in this area need to be on the look out for crown rust.

Growers with very late seeded fields of wheat or perhaps barley for swath grazing may want to be especially diligent in terms of scouting for stripe rust.  Over the years some of the most severe stripe rust epidemics have occurred in wheat fields seeded late (e.g. June) for swath grazing, especially where the variety was susceptible.  

Weekly Cereal Rust Risk Report (Jul 7-13)

The 10th wind trajectory/cereal rust risk report is available for July 7-13, 2020.  Overall the risk of stripe rust movement from the Pacific Northwest (PNW) is low-moderate.  Although, winter wheat is approaching maturity in the PNW and is being harvested in some regions, the spring wheat crop has just headed out and is still at a stage where further stripe rust could develop in the next week to two weeks.  However, the acreage of spring wheat is about a 1/3 of the acreage of winter wheat (520,000 acres versus 1,700,000 acres) and growers are being encouraged to spray with a fungicide to limit further rust development (https://quickstats.nass.usda.gov/results/E8A8F30A-19BD-341C-A8DF-B2FD3A78ACBB).

Given the appearance of stripe rust in seven southern Alberta municipalities, at Beaverlodge in the Country of Grande Prairie, and at three locations in Saskatchewan, farmers in these regions should be on the look out for stripe rust in wheat.  In addition, farmers in regions north and east to northeast of southern Alberta should be on alert as southerly winds may transport stripe rust spores.  Special focus should be on wheat fields seeded to varieties rated as susceptible or moderately susceptible.  Also, given the appearance of crown rust in the Mannville region of Alberta, as well as at Carman, Manitoba, oat growers in this area need to be on the look out for crown rust.

Link: Full report for July 7-13, 2020

Stripe Rust Reportings in Alberta

On July 15, 2020, Mike Harding, Plant Pathologist, Alberta Agriculture and Forestry, Brooks, AB, reported the observation of stripe rust in two more Alberta municipalities.  Stripe rust of wheat was noted in the MD of Willow Creek, AB, and the MD of Pincher Creek, AB.

Updated report as of 2:00 pm, July 15, 2020

Growers in areas where stripe rust has been found are encouraged to scout wheat fields, especially those seeded to susceptible (S) or moderately susceptible varieties (MS).  Late seeded fields may still be at a stage when fungicide can be applied.  Stripe rust resistance/susceptibility ratings can be found in the provincial variety guides:

Alberta variety guide

Saskatchewan variety guide

Manitoba variety guide

Mike Harding also put together a graphic outlining wheat reactions to stripe rust and it is attached.  It is based on the 2020 Alberta Seed Guide.  Thanks Mike!

Stripe and Leaf Rust of Wheat and Crown Rust of Oat for Canadian Prairies

The next wind trajectory cereal rust risk report (July 7-13, 2020) for the Prairie region of Canada is being prepared.  The main focus will be on stripe rust movement from the Pacific Northwest as winter wheat crops in the Texas to Nebraska corridor are either approaching maturity or have been harvested.  

However, here is an updated map on the reported observations of stripe and leaf rust of wheat and crown rust of oat in the Prairie region as of noon on July 14, 2020.  Updated maps will be posted as reports are received.  

July 14, 2020 map indicating where stripe and leaf rust of wheat, and crown rust of oat have been reported


Updated map with crown rust observation at Carman, MB by D. Kaminski, Agriculture and Resource Development, Manitoba, July 14, 2020

Welcome to the new Prairie Crop Disease Monitoring Network Blog!

The Prairie Crop Disease Monitoring Network (PCDMN) is a coordinated field crop disease monitoring program for the prairies. The PCDMN’s main focus is to provide timely information about crop diseases on the Prairies and to highlight effective disease management approaches.  The Blog is designed to help the PCDMN share disease information with the Canadian agricultural industry as it becomes available.  

The PCDMN first took shape under the Integrated Crop Agronomy Cluster (2018-2023) and is funded through the Canadian Agricultural Partnership. The Cluster is led by the Western Grains Research Foundation in partnership with the Saskatchewan Canola Development Commission, Alberta Wheat Commission, Saskatchewan Wheat Development Commission, Alberta Pulse Growers, Saskatchewan Pulse Growers, Manitoba Pulse and Soybean Growers, Manitoba Wheat and Barley Growers Association, and Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada.  Read more on our "About Us" page.

This week:

• We update the 2020 Weekly Cereal Rust Risk Reports by releasing Report 9 for June 30-July 6, 2020.
• We ask users to please use these instructions to subscribe to the PCDMN Blog in order to receive all our disease updates in your Inbox! 

2020 Cereal Rust Risk Report (Jun 30-Jul 06)

Since 2019, the Prairie Crop Disease Monitoring Network (PCDMN) has released a series of weekly Cereal Rust Risk Reports throughout May and June.  Read the OVERVIEW describing the collaborative nature of this effort and the methods employed.  Information related to trajectory events based on forecast and diagnostic wind fields and cereal rust risk is experimental, and is offered to the public for informational purposes only.


The latest wind trajectory cereal rust risk report is available for download now at the following link: June 30-July 6, 2020 report.  

As of July 6, 2020 the risk of stripe rust appearance from the Pacific Northwest (PNW) or from regional sources is low to moderate.  However, some Prairie locations may be at an increased stripe rust risk, especially where there were 3-6 reverse wind trajectory events from the PNW.  In addition, regional development of stripe rust continues to occur, especially in southern Alberta.  See this link for the latest map of Alberta locations where stripe rust has been observed as of July 9, 2020: July 9, 2020 AB stripe rust map.   

Given the appearance of stripe rust in four counties in southern Alberta, at Beaverlodge in the Country of Grande Prairie, and the first observations in the Saskatoon area of Saskatchewan, farmers in these regions should be on the look out for stripe rust in wheat.  Special focus should be on wheat fields seeded to varieties rated as susceptible or moderately susceptible. 


Access the ALL the full reports as downloadable PDF files by clicking the Cereal Rust Risk page.

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Stripe rust in 2020

As of July 2, 2020, there have been five reports of the initial appearance of stripe rust on Alberta winter wheat on June 5, 16, 19, and 30, 2020 in the Counties of Lethbridge, Cardston, and Forty-Mile in southern Alberta and in the County of Grande Prairie in the Peace Region of Alberta (except of Figure 2 taken from Cereal Rust Report Week 8).  On July 2, 2020 there was also an initial report of stripe rust in the Saskatoon region (R. Kutcher, personal communication).  Given the appearance of stripe rust, farmers in these regions should be on the look out for stripe rust in wheat.  Special focus should be on wheat fields seeded to varieties rated as susceptible or moderately susceptible.

Figure 2. Reported observations of stripe rust in Alberta as of June 30, 2020 (indicated by yellow highlighted areas). Reports are courtesy of: 1) Lethbridge County, Dr. Reem Aboukhaddour, AAFC Lethbridge, June 5, 2020 (https://twitter.com/ReemWheat/status/1269109731337142274); 2) Lethbridge County, Agronomist Lyle Jensen from June 16, 2020 (https://twitter.com/LyleJensen6/status/1272925759183577088); 3) County of Grande Prairie, personal communications on June 19, 2020 from Jeremy Hodges and Henry Klein-Gebbinck, AAFC Beaverlodge, Beaverlodge, Alberta; 4) Cardston County, personal communication, June 30, 2020, Mike Harding, AAF Brooks; and 5) Foremost area of the County of Forty-Mile, personal communication from Joal McCordick, Syngenta, southern Alberta, via M. Harding, AAF Brooks, June 30, 2020.

Read the full Cereal Rust Report for Week 8 (June 22-29, 2020).
Follow @PCDMN for updates.