Fusarium monitoring : Infection risk update
By the end of June , most of the GB winter crop area had reached or passed midflowering , with most of this crop area at moderate to high risk of fusarium infection ,
according to monitoring work funded by AHDB Cereals & Oilseeds . |
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usarium head blight ( FHB ), which can lower both yield and quality of the harvested crop , |
published on cereals . ahdb . org . uk / monitoring throughout the main flowering period , included a regional breakdown of the proportion of winter wheat crops flowering and |
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can be caused by fungal Fusarium and Microdochium species . In wheat , F . graminearum and F . culmorum dominate , producing DON and ZON mycotoxins .
The AHDB fusarium monitoring service , which is led by ADAS , has been running since 2014 to provide the industry with a preharvest indication of regional mycotoxin risk .
The fusarium infection risk levels are determined using a simple model , which was developed and piloted as part of earlier AHDB-funded research .
The model uses flowering information , as well as daily rainfall data , to provide regional estimates of fusarium infection risk .
Crop growth stage information , used in the monitoring reports , is gathered by an established network of independent agronomists covering 30 counties in England and Scotland .
The weekly risk reports ,
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estimates of whether they are at ‘ very high ’, ‘ high ’, ‘ medium ’ or ‘ low risk ’ of fusarium infection .
Dhan Bhandari , who manages grain quality research at AHDB , said : “ So much of fusarium mycotoxin risk is driven by rainfall during the crucial GS59 – 69 and GS87 – harvest periods .
“ Last year , the main flowering period in England and Wales in mid-June was largely dry , so infection risk was low for many crops .
“ So far , this summer has been far wetter and it has driven up the risk of winter wheat crops becoming infected by fusarium .”
Although the fusarium monitoring work provides a reasonable estimate of the fusarium infection risk across the country , actual field-level infection risk can deviate from the regional averages significantly .
Field-level risk is driven by many factors and growers are
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Launch of new fully portable weighbridge
Griffith Elder are pleased to announce that at the Cereals 2016 Exhibition they launched a new and innovative design of weighbridge that is fully portable .
U nlike conventional truck scales which need to be bolted down in one position , the Griffith Elder Portable Weighbridge can be moved from one site to another without re-calibration and with the minimum of fuss . Conventional weighbridges go out of calibration when moved , however the Griffith Elder portable weighbridge is digitally calibrated in the factory and does not need to be recalibrated each time it is moved . Made to sit on a flat concrete surface the Griffith Elder Portable Weighbridge can be assembled on site within an hour . It is disassembled even more quickly when moving to a new site .
Each component of the portable digital weighbridge weighs less than 2.2 tonnes , so a typical farm telehandler can easily pick up and place each part . The weigh-beams just plug into each other with a single cable going back to the indicator and printer . David Elder says “ We call it ‘ plug-and-weigh ’ because that ’ s what it is .”
The Portable Weighbridge can be run from mains electricity , or , if required can be powered from a 12 volt battery or solar panel battery charger . So , no electricity is needed at the site for the weighbridge . advised to read AHDB guidance to put them in the strongest position to manage fusarium infection risks and mycotoxins as part of an industry-wide effort .
Dr Bhandari continued : “ Due to the local nature of summer downpours , it is important that growers include rainfall figures from each field on the mycotoxin risk assessment .
“ As always , we also advise that growers combine and store weathered or lodged crop areas separately and take grain samples to be in a strong position to market the crop and get the best return .” How to sample grain
In 2013 , AHDB Cereals & Oilseeds issued its grain sampling guide , covering the essentials of when to sample and how to do it .
Four key periods for sampling exist . The first period is at harvest to establish the quality and direct grain storage and marketing decisions . The second is during storage to protect quality , by flagging up early signs of spoilage or infestation . The third is as grain leaves the farm to provide a record of what has been sold . The fourth is at commercial intake , where
There are a number of different widths and lengths to choose from . Most common are 3 or 3.5 metres wide and 15.3 or 18.3 metres long , though 21.3 metres long truck scales are becoming more popular as the lengths of lorries grow .
A range of software which is compatible with the Griffith Elder Portable Weighbridge is available to suit most farming businesses . Griffith Elder provide grain storage software which does everything from automatically taking in moisture and other parameters from a meter such as the Dickey John or the Infratec Grain Analyser to providing full costs on the drying and storage of grain . A different software package for silage making stores all information on the intake of whole crop , including dry matter calculations and the amount in each clamp ; and yet another specialist software is used for straw bale storage , again including dry matter and costs per tonne for storage .
Griffith Elder have weighbridges sold in the 1980s still working today . No messing , straight forward engineering from a British company . For further information contact : 01284
719619 or visit www . griffith-elder . com
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Dhan Bhandari
buyers confirm that grain quality meets expectations .
If you would like to know more about sampling , including the difference between an ‘ incremental ’, ‘ aggregate ’ and ‘ representative ’ sample and how sampling can help you reduce waste and minimise charges , claims and rejections , visit cereals . ahdb . org . uk / harvesttoolkit
The AHDB Harvest Toolkit web page also includes links to the latest mycotoxin information , as well as useful guidance to help growers avoid the most common problems associated with cereals and oilseed sales contracts .
www . farmingmonthly . co . uk July 2016 | Farming Monthly | 17