Wet weather drives widespread fusarium infection in Estonian grain

Wet and rainy conditions during the critical flowering period have caused widespread fusarium infection in Estonian grain, with feed producers rejecting thousands of tonnes, ERR reported.

Mart Toomsalu, a plant production adviser at the Maaelu Teadmuskeskus agricultural knowledge centre, said fusarium had spread more extensively than usual this year because grain was especially vulnerable during flowering, when there was a great deal of rain and damp weather.

Many fusarium species produce mycotoxins, which can cause poisoning if they enter food or animal feed in excessive amounts. Grain purchases are therefore halted when three percent of a shipment consists of fusarium-infected kernels.

The Kantküla feed factory has already returned thousands of tonnes of infected grain. Each incoming shipment is tested at the company’s laboratory to prevent the most toxic compounds, DON and ZEA, from entering animal feed.

“We have returned about 50 percent of the barley, or around 5,000 to 6,000 tonnes according to our calculations. This year is completely exceptional. I do not remember anything like it during the company’s 10-year history,” said Ronald Blumenau, head of the Kantküla feed factory.

All storage bins at the Mäo terminal of Kevili, a farmers’ cooperative, are full. Kevili chief executive Hannes Priks said fusarium infection occurred every year but was more widespread this year. He added that it was not a mass problem among Kevili’s members, who receive training and may use better-than-average agricultural practices.

Toomsalu said crop rotation and soil cultivation were particularly important in preventing fusarium. The fungi survive on plant residue, making it easier for them to spread the following year if the residue is not removed from the soil.

There are few good options for grain that has become toxic. Toomsalu said an emergency solution could be to sort out damaged or shrunken kernels, treat the seed properly and use it as seed grain.