About Us

Please note the PCDMN Blog is no longer active and has been transitioned to our new PCDMN website 

Please now refer to our new PCDMN website for timely field crop disease updates and associated information


Why we exist
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 PCDMN is modelled after the very successful Prairie Pest Monitoring Network (PPMN) for insect pest and beneficial species.

The PCDMN is involved in developing standard recommended monitoring protocols focused on in-crop risk assessments and end-of-season final disease evaluations. These protocols are key components to developing a coordinated and common approach to field crop disease monitoring and reporting across the Prairie region.

The distribution and abundance of field crop diseases are primarily correlated with climate, weather and agronomic practices. An understanding of how these factors interact to result in damaging levels of plant disease can be utilized to 1) forecast potential plant disease issues; 2) improve understanding where and when crops may be affected; and 3) identify and promote key management strategies.

Who we are
The PCDMN is made up of field crop pathologists who conduct research and actively monitor to support field crop disease awareness and management on the Canadian Prairies. It includes researchers from Agriculture and Agri-Food CanadaManitoba Agriculture and Resource DevelopmentSaskatchewan AgricultureAlberta Agriculture & Forestry as well as from Prairie-based universities. Producer and industry stakeholders are the main recipients of the efforts of the PCDMN, and they also provide input and valuable insight during several knowledge transfer events including the annual meeting of the Western Committee on Plant Disease.

Dr. Kelly Turkington (Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, Lacombe Research and Development Centre) is the current PCDMN project lead and works with AAFC colleagues from Saskatoon and Swift Current. In addition, the three Prairie provincial plant pathologists are key collaborators.


Disclaimer
All posted information represents Network participants’ and the Blog Editors’ best attempts to synthesize available information related to plant disease monitoring, identification, and management strategies used to protect field crops grown on the Canadian Prairies. The Blog’s content is for informational and educational purposes only. Any pest management decision or action based, in whole or in part, on the content of this Blog is the sole responsibility of the reader. The Blog Editors reserve the right to correct, revise, and update all content without obligation to notify any person of changes. This Blog is used for non-commercial purposes only.

Acknowledgements
The PCDMN has evolved thanks to the ongoing commitment and effort of the many Prairie-based plant pathologists who continue to work collaboratively in an effort to protect Canada’s field crop production systems. Numerous staff contributed to the development of the Blog and its content since 2020. Special recognition goes to Jennifer Otani, PPMN Blog Editor for her assistance with the PCDMN Blog setup and ongoing support. The PCDMN Blog is modelled after the PPMN Blog that was created by Jennifer Otani, with input from Owen Olfert, Jennifer Otani, Meghan Vankosky, David Giffen, Ross Weiss, Erl Svendsen, Shelby Dufton and Amanda Jorgensen. Ongoing information on the PCDMN Blog is provided by Ross Weiss, David Giffen, Meghan Vankosky, Mike Harding, Barb Ziesman, David Kaminski, Syama Chatterton, Michelle Hubbard, Robyne Davidson and Erl Svendsen.

The funding support of the following agencies and commissions is gratefully acknowledged:



Use of Materials
TEXT
Permission is granted to users to download content (including PDF files) from this World Wide Web site for personal use or to reproduce them for educational purposes, but credit and copyright notices within pages must not be removed or modified. Distribution for commercial purposes is not permitted. Links to posted content is permitted but no endorsement of linking sites is intended.

PHOTOGRAPHS
Prohibited uses
Photographs on this site are not to be used in connection with the promotion, endorsement or sale of other web sites. Photographs may not be used or distributed in software, photo sets or other electronic media, or printed publication, without prior permission from the PCDMN and contributing plant pathologists.

Web sites
For educational purposes, any web site can link directly to a photo file or pdf on the Blog web site. Kindly notify us if you link to us.

Printed publications
To use photos in printed publications, permission must be requested in writing. Contact the Blog editor by e-mail.

LOGOS
PCDMN and partner logos are not to be used in connection with the promotion, endorsement or sale of other web sites. The PCDMN logo may not be used or distributed in software, photo sets or other electronic media, or printed publication without written consent. Contact the Blog editor by e-mail.
For partner logos, permission must be obtained directly from each of the partner organizations.

FIGURES
Unless copyrighted by another source or used by the Blog Editors with permission, figures or drawings may be used if the source is properly credited. Contact the Blog Editor to request permission to use photos or drawings.

TRADE NAMES
Posted information may include trade names of products. In the event trade names are listed, no endorsement is intended, nor is criticism implied by the omission of similar products.