Cypress County Agricultural Services  Pest & Disease Control

A Very Real Risk of Spreading Fusarium Graminearum into Alberta Through Imported Straw and Hay

September 18, 2002

James Calpas, Provincial Integrated Pest Management Specialist

Pest Risk Management Unit, Alberta Agriculture, Food and Rural Development

Alberta cattle producers facing local shortages of feed and bedding are bringing in large volumes of straw and hay from outside of the province. With the concern focused on obtaining adequate feed and bedding for Alberta cattle herds, it is important to realize that this imported straw and hay can be infected with Fusarium graminearum.

Fusarium graminearum is the fungus that causes fusarium head blight in cereals. The fungus causes direct yield loss in cereals and also produces mycotoxins in the infected grain. The most common mycotoxin produced by Fusarium graminearum is deoxynivalenol (DON). The presence of DON in grain reduces the marketability of the grain and has negative effects on the health of livestock.

In areas where Fusarium graminearum is well established, such as Manitoba and south Eastern Saskatchewan, the fungus overwinters primarily in cereal straw and stubble. This means that straw from these areas is very likely to contain Fusarium graminearum. The fact is that Fusarium graminearum infected straw is being brought into Alberta. Tests for Fusarium graminearum carried out on some straw shipments have demonstrated infection levels of 40 to 50%. Samples from grass hay have also been submitted for testing. The test results have not yet been received, but it is likely that there will be some Fusarium graminearum present.

Farmers are encouraged not to buy straw or hay that has not been tested and found free of Fusarium graminearum. When the hay and straw is handled, do not spread the material in or near tilled fields. Infected straw represents a very high risk for introducing Fusarium graminearum into a field. Use only one bedding area. All waste straw should be composted in manure piles so that the temperature of the piles reach 60 to 70 ^oC for at least 14 days. This will ensure that any Fusarium graminearum in the composted straw is killed. Burning the waste straw is also an option.

Hay must be handled in the same manner as outlined in the best management practices for feed grain.

Ensure that all loads of straw and hay transported within the province are covered.

The drought has placed considerable hardship on Alberta producers and it is understandable that farmers are looking for ways to sustain themselves to the next year. Fusarium graminearum represents a very serious long term threat to our agriculture industry and if we focus completely on the short term, Fusarium graminearum will become established in our province. Fusarium graminearum will cause hardship to all sectors of the industry and will cause the greatest damage when moisture and growing conditions improve. With Fusarium graminearum it is important to realize that we really have no effective control measures beyond prevention, and we'll only get one shot at prevention.