Showing posts with label Wheat. Show all posts
Wheat Disease Threatens Global Food Supplies
Posted by Unknown in Plant Diseases, Research and Studies, Wheat on Sunday, 12 May 2013
By Miriam Hall
An
international team of researchers has warned that a destructive wheat
disease could threaten global food security and is calling for a
doubling in funding to develop disease-resistant varieties.
Wheat stem rust - also known as UG99 - is an aggressive fungus and one of the most destructive wheat diseases.
It was first found in Uganda, but has spread through the Middle East, destroying wheat crops.
CSIRO scientist Darren Kriticos
- who authored a report about how to keep ahead of the disease - says
the wheat industry has been protected so far by developing resistant
varieties.
He says wheat
stem rust is a global problem and unless there is a long-term plan,
wheat-producing countries - including Australia - will be at risk.
"It's headed for Australia. It's not a matter of if it gets to Australia, it's a matter of when," he said.
"So it's
imperative for Australia's wheat production and wheat production
security to ensure that we have varieties of wheat that are resistant."
Mr Kriticos
wants wheat-producing countries around the world to collectively invest
$50 million a year to research new ways to protect crops.
"If that investment isn't made we're going to run into problems," he said.
"There will be outbreaks of new emerging strands so this isn't a problem that we can fix with a one-off investment."
Professor of Applied Economics at the University of Minnesota Phil Pardey agrees that a long-term approach is needed.
"It's not just getting the investments right today; it's keeping them right that's the problem," he said.
"It's trying to
get that policy message across that whilst Australia might be carrying
its fair share globally, we certainly indicate that research in this
area needs to double.
"And if you don't, the natural consequences are you expose yourself to a much higher risk of crop failures."
He says agricultural research and development is not often in the spotlight.
"They're not probably particularly sexy to most people in thinking about [research and development]," he said.
"But when you
start paying more for your food at the supermarket, you start to notice.
We've seen a major increase in food commodity prices in the last five
to 10 years.
"What happens
in terms of your food bill on a week-to-week basis at a supermarket
directly relates back to the amounts and types of investments in
[research and development]."
Farmer Bruce Schwartz - who has grown wheat for decades - has seen first-hand how damaging crop diseases can be.
"The disease problems that we do have change with the seasons," he said.
"They can be really bad one year and not so bad the next."
He keeps a close watch on new varieties as a way of protecting his wheat.
"A lot of money goes into research and development," he said.
"They're trying
really hard to find remedies for all these diseases but every time they
think they've nearly got there, something else pops up."
The paper warning about the threat of wheat stem rust was published in the journal Science today.
Dry Spells in Agriculture Plains: Farmers Advised to Irrigate Wheat Crops Sown Early
Posted by Unknown in Advise and Tips, Pakistan, Wheat on Friday, 25 January 2013
The
farmers should irrigate the early sown wheat crops as per need keeping
in view the dry spell in the country's most agricultural plains, the Met
office advised.
It
says in its ten-day farmer advisory that the wheat crop is developing
in the country and urged the growers to remove weeds from the standing
crops to scale down losses in the yield.
It says, "weeds consume considerable moisture and food from the field.
As a result considerable loss in yield occurs every year".
It advises the farmers to use either weedicides or remove the weeds manually.
It forecast mainly dry whether in most parts of the country and Gilgit-Baltistan and Kashmir from January 1 to January 10.
However,
mostly cloudy conditions with isolated light to moderate rain/light
snowfall over the hills in Kashmir, Gilgit-Baltistan are expected from
January 4 to January 7 January, 2012.
Moderate
to dense fog in the morning hours is likely to remain in the plain
areas of Khyber Pukhtunkhwa including Peshawar, Charsada and Sawabi, it
says.
"Mostly
cloudy conditions with isolated light to moderate rain/light snowfall
over the hills expected in Malakand, Hazara divisions during the period
January 4 to January 7, 2012," it forecasts.
It
says isolated light to moderate rain/light snowfall over the hills is
expected in Quetta, Kalat and Zhob divisions from January 4 to January
5, 2012.
The
plains of Punjab including Lahore, Gujranwala, Sargodha, Faisalabad,
Multan and Bahawalpur are likely to experience moderate to dense fog in
the morning hours during the period.
"Mostly
cloudy conditions with isolated light to moderate rain/light snowfall
over the hills expected in Islamabad/ Rawalpindi, Gujranwala divisions
from January 4to January 7, 2012Whether in Sindh is expected to remain
dry Sindh, it says.
Weed Management Tips for Wheat Crop
Posted by Unknown in Advise and Tips, Urdu, Weed Control, Wheat
(Khanewal)
Weed Management is important part especially in wheat cultivation.
These weeds can reduce the produce 14 to 42%. There are several ways to
curb the problem.
- Use specific approved herbicides for wide and pointed leaves.
- Don't use hero spray after herbicide spray.
- Don't use sprayed weeds as fodder for cattle.
- Don't spray in rain or in fog.
- For standard spray use special T-nozzle or flat fan.
- Use herbicide with 100 to 120 liter per acre.
