ergot and cultivating land

[bbrindle]

The following message was posted in the Commodity Marketing room. Can anyone here provide an answer? We have Ergot in AC Taber wheat--this was the only grain that was affected. I am wandering what I have to do to the affected land next year? We min till and I am planning to grow canola on this land. Do I need to disc or cultivate before I plant the canola? What happens the year after canola?

[mhartman]

Don't worry about deep cultivating or discing the ergot infested stubble before planting canola. Canola is NOT susceptible to ergot -- only grasses are. Are you planting a cereal in an adjacent field? If yes, then consider deep tilling/discing to bury the ergot bodies more than 2 inches. And keep the fenceline and ditch grasses mowed/hayed shortly after heading if possible to keep the ergot down in those areas.