About Us

Why we exist

The Prairie Crop Disease Monitoring Network (PCDMN) is a coordinated field crop disease monitoring program for the Prairies. The PCDMN’s main focus is to provide timely information about crop diseases on the Prairies and to highlight effective disease management approaches. The PCDMN is modelled after the very successful Prairie Pest Monitoring Network (PPMN) for insect pest and beneficial species.

The PCDMN is involved in developing standard recommended monitoring protocols focused on in-crop risk assessments and end-of-season final disease evaluations. These protocols are key components to developing a coordinated and common approach to field crop disease monitoring and reporting across the Prairie region.

The distribution and abundance of field crop diseases are primarily correlated with climate, weather and agronomic practices. An understanding of how these factors interact to result in damaging levels of plant disease can be utilized to 1) forecast potential plant disease issues; 2) improve understanding where and when crops may be affected; and 3) identify and promote key management strategies.

Who we are

The PCDMN is made up of field crop pathologists who conduct research and actively monitor to support field crop disease awareness and management on the Canadian Prairies. It includes researchers from Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, Manitoba Agriculture and Resource Development, Saskatchewan Agriculture, Alberta Agriculture & Forestry as well as from Prairie-based universities. Producer and industry stakeholders are the main recipients of the efforts of the PCDMN, and they also provide input and valuable insight during several knowledge transfer events including the annual meeting of the Western Committee on Plant Disease.

Dr. Kelly Turkington (Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, Lacombe Research and Development Centre) is the current PCDMN project lead and worked with AAFC colleagues from Saskatoon and Swift Current under Phase 1 of the PCDMN (2018-2023). In addition, the three Prairie provincial plant pathologists are key collaborators.

The PCDMN first took shape under the Integrated Crop Agronomy Cluster (2018-2023) and was funded through the Canadian Agricultural Partnership. The Cluster was led by Western Grains Research Foundation in partnership with the Saskatchewan Canola Development Commission, Alberta Grains, Saskatchewan Wheat Development Commission, Alberta Pulse Growers, Saskatchewan Pulse Growers, Manitoba Pulse and Soybean Growers, Manitoba Crop Alliance, and Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada.  

The PCDMN is now in Phase 2 (2023-2028) and will emphasize the further development and refinement of the PCDMN, including developing new methods and improving existing protocols for disease/pathogen monitoring, enhancing information dissemination online, and strengthening coordination of annual biovigilance efforts primarily via in-person meetings. In addition, funding is being provided to a larger group of plant pathologists covering a wider range of field crop species and disease issues. This will address the more limited nature of Phase 1 of the PCDMN.  Moreover, it will enhance monitoring protocols, and awareness regarding disease biology, identification and risk assessment, and key management strategies. An improved suite of awareness and risk assessment tools will be part of Phase 2 of the PCDMN project and represents an advancement, while also providing additional value over Phase 1 of the PCDMN.

We have funding for Phase 2 of the PCDMN through Western Grains Research Foundation in partnership with the Agriculture Development Fund of the Saskatchewan Ministry of Agriculture and associated Sustainable Canadian Agricultural Partnership, the Alberta Results Driven Agricultural Research (RDAR)organization and Alberta Innovates.  The project has funding via partner producer group organizations including Alberta Canola, Alberta Grains, Alberta Pulse Growers, SaskBarley, SaskCanola, Saskatchewan Pulse Growers, SaskWheat, Manitoba Canola Growers, theManitoba Crop Alliance, and the Prairie Oat Growers Association.

Acknowledgements

The PCDMN has evolved thanks to the ongoing commitment and effort of the many Prairie-based plant pathologists who continue to work collaboratively in an effort to protect Canada’s field crop production systems. Numerous staff contributed to the development of the Blog and its content since 2020. Special recognition goes to Jennifer Otani, PPMN Blog Editor for her assistance with the PCDMN Blog setup and ongoing support. The PCDMN Blog was modelled after the PPMN Blog that was created by Jennifer Otani, with input from Owen Olfert, Jennifer Otani, Meghan Vankosky, David Giffen, Ross Weiss, Erl Svendsen, Shelby Dufton and Amanda Jorgensen. Information on the PCDMN Blog (Phase 1) was provided by Ross Weiss, David Giffen, Meghan Vankosky, Mike Harding, Barb Ziesman, David Kaminski, Syama Chatterton, Michelle Hubbard, Robyne Davidson and Erl Svendsen.

The PCDMN has phased out its stand-alone blog and with the support of Western Grains Research Foundation and Monolith has developed the new PCDMN website as part of Phase 2 (2023-2028).

The funding support of the following agencies and commissions for the PCDMN Phase 1 (2018-2023) is gratefully acknowledged:

The funding support of the following agencies and commissions for the PCDMN Phase 2 (2023-2028) is gratefully acknowledged: