Fusarium infection risk forecasting for winter wheat will continue this season, with weekly regional analysis published on the AHDB Cereals & Oilseeds website.

The forecasting information, produced by the ADAS-led service, can assist growers with the timing of T3 sprays and the completion of the mycotoxin risk assessment. The service also provides the industry with an early indication of regional mycotoxin risk.

Running since 2014, fusarium infection risk levels are determined using a simple model, which was developed and piloted as part of earlier AHDB Cereals & Oilseeds-funded research.

The weekly risk reports, which are published on cereals.ahdb.org.uk/monitoring throughout the main flowering period, include a regional breakdown of the proportion of winter wheat crops flowering and estimates of whether they are at ‘very high’, ‘high’, ‘medium’ or ‘low risk’ of fusarium infection.

Crop growth stage information, used in the reports, is gathered by an established network of independent agronomists covering 30 counties in England and Scotland.

Dhan Bhandari, who manages grain quality research at AHDB, said: “The model uses flowering information, as well as daily rainfall data, to provide regional estimates of fusarium infection risk.

“As field-level risk is driven by many factors, we advise that growers read our publications to put them in the strongest position to manage fusarium infection risks and mycotoxins as part of an industry-wide effort.”

The updated mycotoxin risk assessment and mycotoxin management guidelines can be downloaded from cereals.ahdb.org.uk/mycotoxins

People interested in receiving timely and topical disease monitoring information, including the fusarium infection risk reports, are asked to sign up to the alerts by emailing cereals.subscriptions@ahdb.org.uk