Farmers now have access to a new disease monitoring website specific to issues on the Prairies.
The Prairie Crop Disease Monitoring Network (PCDMN) launched its new website at "prairiecropdisease.blogdpot.com.".
The PCDMN is a coordinated field crop disease monitoring program for the Prairies, focusing on providing timely information about crop diseases and highlighting effective disease management strategies.
Project Lead Dr. Kelly Turkington, a Plant Pathologist at Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, Lacombe Research and Development Centre says the goal of the network has always been to provide important and timely information to growers and agronomists.
"By enhancing the functionality of our PCDMN Blog, this new website will greatly improve our communication and engagement, ensuring that stakeholders have access to the latest research and disease management strategies."
Wayne Thompson, Executive Director of the Western Grains Research Foundation says they are pleased to have helped co-fund the site.
"It's meant to provide information so farmers and agronomists can stay up to date on what to expect. Scientists and researchers are following and monitoring what wind trajectories look like and where disease is starting to show up across the prairies. Then add that into the website so that its accessible and easy for everyone to find and be thinking about what they should be scouting for."
He notes with this launch WGRF has successfully developed websites for the three major pest monitoring networks in Western Canada - Insects, Weeds, and Disease.
The network includes researchers from Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, Manitoba Agriculture, Saskatchewan Ministry of Agriculture, Alberta Agriculture & Irrigation, and Prairie-based universities.
Other organizations that have been involved as funders for 2023-2028 include Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, WGRF, Alberta Canola, Alberta Grains, Alberta Innovates, Manitoba Crop Alliance, Manitoba Pulse and Soybean Growers, Manitoba Canola Growers, Prairie Oat Growers Association, RDAR, Sask Canola, Saskatchewan Ministry of Agriculture, Saskatchewan Pulse Growers, and the Saskatchewan Wheat Development Commission.
The Prairie Crop Disease Monitoring network will provide weekly updates via email during the growing season updating subscribers to crop disease risks and management.
To view the new site and to sign up for weekly updates please visit prairiecropdisease.blogspot.com.