b'minute pests are vectors for the zebra chip bacterium, it causesYou can imagine if youre trapping about 100 aphids per week, striped discoloration of harvested potatoes.you will actually have a significantly huge population in the field, Overall, farmers are doing well and do not need to makeBisht says, adding that Minnesota had similarly large numbers. significant adjustments in 2024. With that in mind, Bisht says seed potato growers must be aware Yevtushenkos advice is: Just to stick to the normal agriculturalthatif aphid populations are trending highnot to extend the practicesrotation cycles, applications of chemicals andcrop past the third week of August.integrated pest management. All this should reduce the diseaseThe single biggest disease to watch for in 2024 is potato early dying.incidence in the fields. The inoculum in the form of microsclerotia of the Verticillium fungus can survive in these fields for many years, even in the absence Manitoba of the host, plus it has a wider host range, he says.Thanks to a quiet 2023 for foliar diseases courtesy of dry conditions,Bisht reminds farmers that if they receive rainfall following tuber this spring may bring lower than average levels of inoculum at plantinginitiation leading to wet soil, expect pink rot, which causes storage time, says Vikram Bisht, a pathologist for potatoes and horticultureissues. On fields with a history of pink rot, apply foliar phosphorus crops for the provincial government, based in Carman, Man. acid fungicide at about eight l/ac for effective control against both Pest wise, however, farmers should be extra vigilant. Somepink rot and late blight. Phosphorus acid products can be applied to producers fought significant populations of Colorado potatopotatoes going into storage. beetle, especially in southern Manitoba, last year. The insect hasLate blight inoculum remains very low but has the potential of been recorded resistant to a few insecticide groups includingentering through infected tomato seedlings, as happened in 2010. neonicotinoids (Group 4) and spinosyn (Group 5).Fungicide applications based on late blight risk forecasting helps At the moment, the potato industry is again looking for newersupport the judicious use of fungicide and may even help reduce effective chemistries, says Bisht. total applications.Green peach aphid populations in 2023 were huge in some fields.Bisht reminds farmers to be on the lookout for powdery scab, Some traps recorded more than 100 aphids per week, which waswhich can transmit potato mop top virus (PMTV). This disease between five- and 10-times recent years findings. leads to internal browning and causes losses for both growers and processors. Tolerant varieties are commercially available. The choice of the varieties for a field with potential mop top is quite important, notes Bisht. OntarioDennis Van Dyk says this past year will be one that will be remembered for quite awhile, by farmers given intense disease pressure in potato fields, largely driven by weather. A vegetable specialist with OMAFRA, Van Dyk says 2023 started dry but, when rain came near the end of June, it never really stopped.We had our highest late blight pressure year in a long time, he says, though he points out that the disease impacted certain regions rather than the entire province. Growers were able to manage it with fungicides, so thats always good and beneficial when the tools actually work.Van Dyk says he expects 2024 will bring higher than normal late blight pressure, likely because mild winter weather conditions mean higher levels of inoculum will successfully overwinter, and because inoculum may potentially be on seed.Prioritizing those late blight BMPs [best management practices] is going to be huge going into next year, he says.Be on the lookout for common scab too, especially in fresh Upgrade your gameto our top-of-the-line equipment, market potatoes. Over the wet 2023, there were storage pathogen whether you are looking for apiler ,bulk boxoraluminum insert , issues, namely soft rot, leak and pink rot. Farmers really good we have you covered. management going into storages likely prevented more issues, Call Todayto see how we can help you maximize your productivityexplains Van Dyk.with qualityGOWequipment. On a more positive front, there will likely be less potato early dying (PED) compared to recent years. BMP recommendations 1 (800) 799-4711 www.gowagriculture.com outlined in a nationwide PED project are being embraced by farmers.8SPUDSMART.COMSpring 2024'