Manitoba Agriculture, Food and Rural Development (MAFRD) has released its first fusarium head blight risk map of the season.

The June 11th map shows that areas at high risk include the Winkler/Altona area, along with the area surrounding Portage la Prairie.

Most of the other regions of southern Manitoba are at moderate risk, while the risk in the northwest is low.

"The optimal timing for Fusarium Head Blight Control in wheat is at the early flowering stage," said Field Crop Pathologist Holly Derksen in an email. "It is important to scout individual fields as local conditions can vary greatly and the map may not reflect the risk in your individual fields."

The FHB maps, which are available on MAFRD website, will be updated daily, Monday-Friday, from now until the end of the flowering period for spring wheat in the province, which is typically late July/early August.