Disease management and control in cereal crops

Disease management and control in cereal crops CP13 Farmers, agronomists, trials operators and others within agriculture involved in practical decision making on disease management strategies who want to learn about the principles of IPM and are working towards a professional qualification in crop protection and agronomy. An entry level to intermediate course, best suited to those who are able to demonstrate some practical experience and knowledge of cereal pathology and/or crop disease management. A half day online course TBC Aoife O'Driscoll, Crop Protection and Agronomy Specialist, Niab

Classroom module:

•    An in-depth look at pathogen life cycles, their epidemiology and how they infect plants.
•    How to diagnose disease within and across cropped areas.
•    Chemical and non-chemical control options including use of crop rotation, cultivation and resistant varieties.
•    The main groups of cereal fungicides and how they differ in performance, persistence and efficacy.
•    An introduction to emerging pathogens and biological control methods.

At the end of this course, you will be able to:

•    Identify economically important diseases of cereals and understand their life cycles.
•    Diagnose diseases or stress symptoms based on visual and laboratory assessments.
•    Understand how common agronomic practices influence disease development and severity.
•    Match fungicides and application timings to specific diseases.
•    Show a working knowledge of IPM and be able to explain the benefits of IPM strategies.