b'Potato OutlookPests and diseases to watch out for in 2024.BY: TREVOR BACQUELAST YEAR WAS a challenging year for many Canadian potato growers. Depending on the region, growers faced a variety of diseases, multiple pests, excessive wet and too much dry. While every year brings its own challenges, some factors in one growing season can influence the next. We sat down with researchers from across the country to get a feel for what 2024 may bring. Their answers may surprise you.AlbertaDespite a relatively straightforward 2023, farmers should not assume they can rest easy on the pest and disease front heading into spring planting. Thats the advice from Dmytro Yevtushenko, associate professor of Biological Sciences at the University of Lethbridge.Part of the Potato Pest Monitoring program, Yevtushenko works with university students, the Alberta Potato Growers and Promax Agronomy Services on early detection to help farmers make timely management decisions and reduce chemical application. The vacuum traps in farmers fields collect spores while Yevtushenkos team analyzes them annually from May to September. They test for Phytophthora, Alternaria and Fusarium species. While Alternaria was higher than normal, Fusarium was down. No threat from late blight was detected; in fact, its at the lowest observable levels hes ever seen. Yevtushenko is also investigating potato early dying, which he says, is among the top priorities and will stay here with us for many years. Hes also focused on a two-year study of powdery scab of potatoes, a disease he believes is on the rise.Over the winter, Yevtushenko visited potato storages in the province to sample and observe Fusarium species. Dry rot continues to present major storage issue in potato in Alberta, he says, adding its often seen by springtime, but not recently. I saw it in November, so thats relatively early and it can create problems.The El Nio effect may also cause big issues for farmers in 2024.It is possible that pathogen pressure could be higher because of our unusually warm [winter]. Insect pests and pathogenic microorganisms survive in the mild temperatures better.Currently, Colorado potato beetle is of less concern in Alberta relative to other provinces. Green peach aphid is also a low concern, Yevtushenko says.Even though no bacterium was discovered during sampling, Yevtushenko stresses close monitoring for potato psyllids. ThePotato early dying.PHOTO: KHALIL AL-MUGHRABI6SPUDSMART.COMSpring 2024'