Please note the PCDMN Blog is no longer active and has been transitioned to our new PCDMN website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 Canada, Manitoba Agriculture and Resource Development, Saskatchewan Agriculture, Alberta
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.
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 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.
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
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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
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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.
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publications
To use photos in printed
publications, permission must be requested in writing. Contact the Blog
editor by e-mail.
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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
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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
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NAMES
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names of products. In the event trade names are listed, no endorsement is
intended, nor is criticism implied by the omission of similar products.
