New forecasting tool
Agronomic information from Ontario's crop specialists
Ontario Ministry of Agriculture and Food and
Ministry of Rural Affairs
Managing crop diseases effectively is key to protecting yield and maximizing profitability. The Crop Protection Network (CPN), which Grain Farmers of Ontario has previously supported, has launched a powerful new resource, “The Crop Disease Forecasting Tool,” to help farmers do just that! It’s a free, web- based platform designed to assess the risk of major foliar diseases in corn and soybeans, as well as some horticultural crops.
FORECASTING DON, TAR SPOT, AND MORE
The Forecasting Tool replaces older apps like Tarspotter and Sporecaster as well as many other models all into one convenient, easy to use platform. This tool integrates years of university/ extension-led research (including Ontario) and modeling to provide daily updates and 7-day forecasts using local weather data. You can even go back to previous years. It currently supports forecasting for tar spot and gray leaf spot in corn, and white mould and frogeye leaf spot in soybeans—all diseases that can cause significant yield losses if not managed proactively. It also supports some horticultural crops.
A major new feature is the DON risk assessment model, which helps predict the likelihood of Gibberella ear rot and associated mycotoxins like deoxynivalenol (DON). Developed using logistic equations by researchers Paul and Nesi (Ohio State), the model calculates the probability of DON levels one part per million at harvest, based on weather conditions during the corn silking stage.
By providing field-specific, timely insights, the CPN Forecasting Tool empowers growers to make informed fungicide decisions, reduce unnecessary applications, and target treatments when they’re most effective. This not only helps minimize disease- related losses, but also supports sustainable production and better return on investment.
Growers can access the tool and other resources at cropprotectionnetwork.org. With disease pressure varying year to year, tools like this are essential for staying ahead of threats and protecting crop health, quality and yields. •
