2003 U of M Research Progress Report"

1993-2003: Through Hell and High Water

Richard Magnusson’s farm might be described as a microcosm of grain farms in northwest Minnesota, indicative of the weather and disease challenges and subsequent production changes that have taken place over the past decade.

Magnusson, like other grain farmers in northwest Minnesota, was broadsided by Fusarium head blight (FHB, commonly called scab, or “tombstone” in Canada) in 1993.  His 3,000 acres of wheat early that growing season, nearly 10 years ago, appeared to have excellent yield potential. However, weather conditions conducive to the formation of scab at grain heading resulted in a severe epidemic of the fungal disease, the likes of which grain farmers, plant pathologists and agronomists from South Dakota to Canada had never seen before.

The little wheat that Magnusson attempted to harvest that year yielded less than five bushels per acre.  He ended up burning most of his standing wheat, as it had little market value with more than 50% kernel damage and over 10 parts per million vomitoxin (deoxynivalenol or DON, which is a “mycotoxin” or contaminating byproduct of FHB that makes wheat unsuitable for milling and barley unsuitable for malting).  The barley that Magnusson harvested yielded somewhat better than the wheat, but with DON levels at 10 ppm or higher, none of it sold for malting. He ended up selling the barley he harvested in 1993 as feed the following summer.

In 1994, Magnusson’s wheat and barley crops were again affected by FHB, although the fungal disease wasn’t as widespread or severe throughout the Northern Plains as in 1993.  As well, the marketing system had a better handle on selling the damaged grain. Still, there were production losses. Federal crop insurance and disaster payments helped, but not enough to fully cover farm and family living expenses.

The effects of FHB and DON on Magnusson’s farm have been variable in subsequent growing seasons.  It was severe again in 1997.  FHB didn’t affect Magnusson’s wheat and barley fields in 2002— over a foot of rain on June 11 wiped out his growing season entirely.

Almost every year since 1993, the presence of DON has prevented some of Magnusson’s barley from making malting.  The price of malting barley in 2003 promises to be the highest in years, yet this year will be the first that Richard Magnusson will not grow malting barley on his farm.  “Contracts call for zero DON, and we’re not confident we can achieve that,” he says.

FHB prompted major changes to Magnusson’s cropping system. In 1993, about half of his wheat and barley was grown on acreage that was wheat and barley the year before.  Now, Magnusson has done away with continuous cropping and includes more broadleaves in his crop rotation to help manage FHB.

Norm, Gus, Vance, and Grandin were the spring wheat varieties Magnusson grew in 1993—all were susceptible to FHB.  Now, Magnusson grows spring wheat varieties that are less susceptible to the disease.   In 2003, Magnusson’s experience with fungicides was limited to experimental test strips, primarily to suppress leaf diseases, not FHB.  Now, not only does Magnusson use fungicides to suppress both leaf diseases and FHB, but is well-versed on application practices to improve treatment success. “We look at fungicide applications now the same way we do herbicides,” he says.  “It’s become regular practice.”

 Still, even the most effective fungicide on the market won’t eliminate DON entirely.  That’s why Magnusson, like many other crop producers in areas where FHB has been a problem, have given up on growing barley for malting. And although spring wheat varieties available today are more tolerant of FHB, no variety can yet be described as resistant.

Thus, despite the advancements in research and knowledge in managing FHB over the past 10 years, the disease remains an Achilles Heel to many wheat and barley growers, including Magnusson. He estimates that his production costs have risen 20% because of FHB.  In an age when grain growers across the world compete for marketshare to be least cost producers, that’s a huge disadvantage.

He also points out that without small grains in a cropping system, the disease pendulum can swing the other way, creating problems such as Sclerotinia (white mold) in broadleaf crops. “We need better fungicides, better varieties that are more resistant to scab, and more accurate and repeatable methods for testing DON at the farm and country elevator level,” he says.