British cereal growers can do much to guard against damaging mycotoxin contamination of their grain this summer by careful harvest management, advises Agrovista technical manager, Mark Hemmant.

"Fusarium ear infections responsible for producing two of the most prevalent mycotoxins - nivalenol (NIV) and deoxynivalenol (DON) - can be controlled by appropriate late-season fungicide programmes," he explained. "But good management prior to and immediately after harvest is at least as important in preventing contamination from these toxins, as well as others produced by Aspergillus and Penicillium fungi.

"Prompt, efficient harvesting is an excellent defence against Fusarium-based mycotoxin development. The longer the ripe crop stands around in the field the greater the opportunity for fungal ear infections to develop; especially in the variable and wet conditions we seem to be experiencing all too often at harvest these days.

"It's also important to do everything possible to limit the condensation effect from relatively high moisture content straw and trash on the grain within the combine," he pointed out. "This can create ideal conditions for the development and spread of grain infections."

In both contexts Mark Hemmant suggests the best approach is to manage the harvest with a single 1.2 l/ha spray of Roundup Ultra as soon as possible after the grain reaches 30% moisture.

"Extensive studies across the UK show pre-harvest Roundup gives marked improvements in the timeliness and efficiency of cereal harvesting as well as reductions in straw and trash moisture contents and resultant moisture transfers to the grain in the combine," he noted.

"The fact that it reduces the moisture content of the harvested grain also gives users a head start in preventing harmful contaminants like Ochratoxin A being produced from fungal infections in store.

"Good harvest management can make all the difference in preventing the development of harmful mycotoxins as well as cutting combining and drying costs " he insisted.