Potato fields in Manitoba with emerged plants are being scorched by heat, the June 15 provincial potato report from Manitoba Agriculture’s Vikram Bisht said.
With temperatures having been 125 per cent hotter this year and only 25 to 40 per cent of normal rain amounts falling, spuds in Manitoba are withering. Over 75 per cent of Manitoba potato fields are at 50 pre cent emerged.
“Scorching of emerged sprouts is still being reported in some fields, especially those which had not been irrigated yet. There have been spotty and scattered showers mostly in western parts of Manitoba in the last week,” the report said.
The report noted early planted fields are showing good stands, with in-row canopy filled and early tuber initiation happening.
Potato planting wrapped up in Manitoba on June 8, 10 days ahead of last year.
There have started to be early season reports of Colorado potato beetle adults feeding on young emerged plants. Egg masses have also been reported.
Late blight spore trapping network of 17 sites has been set up, the report said. The heat and dry conditions are meaning the late blight risk conditions and disease severity risk values are low though.
Grasshoppers feeding at the edges of potato fields have also been reported.
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