Straight cutting linked to canola disease spread

Last year, verticillium stripe was found in 40 percent of canola fields in Manitoba.

That’s a huge number, considering the first detected case in Canada was found in 2014 at a farm south of Winnipeg.

The fungal disease has also moved into eastern Saskatchewan and is becoming a common problem in that region.

Verticillium is obviously spreading at a rapid rate, and a former Canola Council of Canada agronomist believes that straight cutting of canola is partly responsible.

“We cut through the inoculum source at harvest. So, we are cutting right through all the micro-sclerotia and they are going everywhere,” said Justine Cornelsen, the agronomic and regulatory services manager with BrettYoung Seeds.