S3.E5 – The War On Fusarium Head Blight Continues

Fusarium Head Blight (FHB) remains one of the biggest disease threats facing barley growers in Canada. In this episode of The BarleyBin, Mitchell Japp follows up on the podcast’s earlier FHB coverage with three leading researchers: Dr. Kelly Turkington (AAFC), Dr. Randy Kutcher (CDC), and Dr. Gurcharn Brar (U of A).

If you missed the earlier episodes of the season, catch up on Spotify our YouTube.

Together, they break down the fundamentals of Fusarium Head Blight risk, explain how spray timing can influence disease management, discuss why lesser-known mycotoxins are drawing more attention, and explore how researchers are uncovering fungicide resistance and new insights that could shape future barley production on the Prairies.

Key takeaways:

• Weather, variety, and rotation remain the core drivers of Fusarium Head Blight (FHB) risk
• Spray timing continues to be one of the most important management decisions
• Lesser-known mycotoxins may have growing importance for grain quality and markets
• Fungicide resistance is a real concern that growers and agronomists need to watch
• Ongoing barley research is helping improve disease management and long-term resilience

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