Fusarium Head Blight risk mapping tool

The FHB risk mapping tool is a free, publicly-accessible information product that shows the level of risk for Fusarium head blight disease in wheat, durum and barley crops across Alberta, Saskatchewan and Manitoba (see below). The risk is calculated based on weather conditions (air temperature, relative humidity, rainfall) preceding the time of flowering for these crops. Currently, the tool uses weather data from public weather networks available across the prairies. If the mapping tool can access data from a greater number of weather stations, the maps will be able to show a finer level of detail about the variation in disease risk.

The mapping tool provides a broad-scale view of FHB risk with a maximum resolution of 10 km x 10 km grid cells. In each grid cell, the tool provides FHB risk level information only. The weather data used in the risk calculations is not shared nor accessible to anyone. Neither is any information shared about the station owners nor the exact location of the weather stations.

If you will authorize Metos to share your weather data for use in the FHB risk mapping tool, you will be contributing to providing farmers with a more accurate depiction of the spatial variation in FHB disease risk. The research to develop the FHB risk maps was partially funded by prairie farmers through grants provided by prairie cereal commodity organizations. Additional weather data will improve the value of this new tool for farmers by showing more accurately those regions where diligent scouting and potential spraying are needed.

We ask that you consider contributing your weather data, from May 1 through August 31, to the FHB risk mapping tool. For ques;ons or further informa;on contact Dr. Paul Bullock, Department of Soil Science, University of Manitoba, Paul.Bullock@umanitoba.ca.