August 22, 2011 Fall Management of Late Blight of Potatoes and Tomatoes This Week Fall Management of Late Blight of Potatoes and Tomatoes

Transcription

1 August 22, 2011 Fall Management of Late Blight of Potatoes and Tomatoes In 2010, late blight of potatoes and tomatoes was reported in many areas across southern and central Alberta. This was the first major outbreak of late blight in Alberta since Late blight is a serious plant disease caused by the fungus Phytophthora infestans and is found in most potato and vegetable-growing areas of Canada, although it does not occur every year on the Prairies. One of the strains of late blight identified in 2010 was particularly virulent on tomatoes, which is relatively uncommon. Late blight is most significant on tomatoes and potatoes, but may also affect eggplants, peppers, petunias and some related solanaceous weeds, such as nightshade and wild tomato, says Robert Spencer, commercial horticulture specialist with Alberta Agriculture and Rural Development. Late blight is an aggressive disease that, if left unchecked, can cause significant and rapid crop losses in gardens, greenhouses, fields and in controlled environment storages such as potato bins. The late blight pathogen rarely survives overwinter, as it will only survive for a few days without living tissues. Therefore, overwintering of late blight in this region is mostly restricted to infested stored seed potatoes. In 2010, due to late identification, limited control options and excellent conditions for disease development, it spread rapidly in urban locations. While it was hoped that little late blight overwintered in Alberta, it was expected that some late blight would be present in 2011, to some degree, in seed potato stocks. There was also the risk of introduction from other regions where late blight is common, either on tomato transplants or on seed potatoes. In season, commercial potato and market garden crops are at risk to late blight, as are all other plantings of potatoes and tomatoes, notes Spencer. There is also a risk of spread into greenhouse tomato operations. In order to stop the continued risk of late blight, all growers of host crops need to take every possible step to try and control Cont d on page 2 This Week Fall Management of Late Blight of Potatoes and Tomatoes 1 Live to Ride Another Day 2 Swath Grazing Triticale 3 4-H Summer Showcase 3 Alberta Lamb Producers Share Traceability Project Findings and Technology 4 Agri-News Briefs 5

2 August 22, 2011 page 2 the spread and overwintering of the disease. This includes being vigilant in monitoring plantings of host crops, protecting commercial crops if conditions are suitable for disease development and a preventing disease overwintering by preventing the carryover of disease in living plant tissues. Late blight symptoms include water soaked lesions that can grow and spread rapidly, with lesions not contained by leaf veins. In wet conditions, a fluffy growth may develop on the underside of leaves on the margins of lesions. Lesions may occur on the stems and fruit or tubers. Moist and prolonged wet conditions favor disease development. If you find plants showing suspicious lesions, it is recommended that you dispose of infected material as quickly as possible, removing diseased parts (small scale) or killingout plants so disease cannot develop further. So that adjacent living tissues are not infected, bury or bag-up infected plant material as spores will continue to be produced as the tissues die. In some cases, the application of protective fungicides can be made if conditions favour disease, and if disease is known to be present in the province. Home gardeners should consult local suppliers (garden centres, etc.) for available, registered products. In fall, the risk of late blight infection should decrease dramatically as potato and tomato vines stop growing and begin to die back naturally, thus reducing the amount of living tissue available for infection and reproduction of the pathogen. If you suspect that you have had late blight, it is recommended that you dispose of all infected material immediately (by burial, etc.). Once the tops of plants are dead or have been removed, the potential for continued infection is reduced or eliminated. Top killing will encourage tuber skin set and reduce tuber infection. Only harvest from healthy stands and do not keep any infected plant material (e.g. tubers). Cull and dispose of infected tubers appropriately. It is always recommended that growers and gardeners purchase clean, certified seed potatoes each season, rather than keeping their own tubers over for seed. Late blight is a community disease, with the potential to affect many industries and individuals. Contact: Robert Spencer 310-FARM (3276) Live to Ride Another Day For too many Albertans, wonderful summer days on the ATV trails are ruined by crashes involving alcohol and drugs and experts are raising the warning flag. The power, speed and weight of an ATV along with the unpredictable nature of off-road conditions make the consequences of an ATV crash or rollover just too serious to ignore, says Dr. Don Voaklander, director of the Alberta Centre for Injury Control & Research. Intoxication by drugs and alcohol has been implicated as one of the most pervasive risk factors in ATV injuries. Even slight intoxication increases both the likelihood of a crash and the likelihood that the injuries sustained will be more severe. One of the most important things you can do is ride sober, says Kathy Belton, associate director of the Alberta Centre for Injury Control & Research. We encourage zero tolerance for alcohol and drugs before and while operating an ATV. Of the ATV fatalities in Alberta between 2002 and 2009, 55 per cent of those checked for alcohol had tested positive 72 per cent of whom were over the legal limit. The risk of suffering a life-threatening injury on an ATV after consuming alcohol is elevated because a person s abilities to make quick decisions and adjustments for the terrain are impaired, explains Belton. Drinking alcohol and operating an ATV could also result in an impaired driving criminal conviction. Experts recommend riders take simple steps to ensure they live to ride another day: Protect your head wear an approved helmet with face and eye protection. Age matters kids under 16-years old should not operate an adult ATV. Follow manufacturers recommendations for age and size. A child s level of development puts them at a higher risk for injury and death on ATVs. Make sure there is always close, visual, adult supervision. Zero tolerance alcohol, drugs and ATVs don t mix. One rider refuse to carry or be a passenger on an ATV built for one person. Get the skills take an ATV operator training course. Contact: Sharon Schooler Alberta Centre for Injury Control & Research

3 August 22, 2011 page 3 Swath Grazing Triticale An Alberta Agriculture specialist says swath grazing in middough stage can increase yield, energy and overall quality. The trick is to get the crop into the ground early and then swathing grazing it in early September in the mid dough stage, says Bill Chapman, crop business development specialist, Alberta Agriculture, Barrhead. By seeding triticale early and swathing in September, you can get higher production yields from a combination of the grain and the forage. And, with a crop like triticale, you get less deterioration for feed quality in the slighter wetter conditions of the fall. Chapman says recent research seems to bear this out. We ve done some trials where we ve seen between 175 and 211 grazing days per acre with swath grazing, and it actually reduced cost per acre. We re down to $.75 per cow/day in a 183 day situation. By not using any harvesting machinery but a swather, costs are kept down. Swath grazing triticale also complements perennial forage acres as grazing can start during the busy harvest period while most producers still have grain to harvest. Another big advantage of triticale is very low fusarium levels, says Chapman. In any of the screening trials we can still find traces of fusarium, but triticale definitely seems to have better resistance than many other crops. But we need to continue long term studies before we can say that triticale is tolerant or moderately tolerant to fusarium. Contact: Bill Chapman H Summer Showcase Club achievement days signal the end of the 4-H year for some members, but for those who wished to continue showing their livestock projects, there was no better place to be than Olds from July 10 to 15. The Provincial Beef Heifer and Provincial Dairy Shows have a long standing tradition of excellence in Alberta, and this year, for the first time, those two events welcomed the Provincial Sheep Show. This year marked the 65th year for the Provincial Dairy Show, a huge accomplishment for Alberta 4-H and for the members who continue to make this show such a success, says Cameron Horner, 4-H marketing and communications specialist with Alberta Agriculture and Rural Development. The Dairy show participants had a full schedule, competing in a variety of tasks over the three days. Judging, show team judging, a dairy husbandry quiz and a clipping competition kept the participants on the go. All of the tasks were designed to give members the opportunity to showcase their skills, as well as build on them for the following 4-H year. When it comes to the skill development provided from attending the Dairy Show, senior member participant, Katelyn Crest says, The Dairy show provides for a fun learning environment. You get to know everyone quickly and it s a great experience to keep learning right from the juniors to the seniors. Having just reached the 35-year mark, the Provincial Beef Heifer Show continues to give 4-H members involved in the beef projects more experience, skill development and fun. The judging competition, team grooming and showmanship classes kept participants busy for the three days. Senior members again had the opportunity to partake in the Your Hired event where they went through a mock interview process. First time show participant, Connor Douglas from the Cherhill 4-H Club saw the event as a great chance to show his 4-H projects again, It was a big learning experience, I m picking up lots of tips and meeting more people, plus the indoor facility is really great for showing. For the first time ever, Alberta 4-H hosted the Provincial Sheep Show, where 23 members attend. With the barns full of cute and cuddly sheep, members spent the three days of the program, judging, trimming, combing and showing their projects. The highlight of the week had to have been the program s costume event. Participants had the option of dressing up one of their entries in a costume of their choice. As the event was a first for everyone, the show was without a doubt full of excitement and fun for participants and organizers. Having a Provincial 4-H show is a great opportunity. It has been fun to meet other 4-H members in the sheep project and I m excited I got to participate in the first ever Provincial show, says Brennan Munro from the Irricana 4-H Beef & Multi Club. Hosting the Provincial Beef, Dairy and Sheep Shows is an excellent opportunity for our youth to get together and learn from each other. These young people could quite easily be our future producers in these industries and it is important we give them a venue to explore and develop their skills, comments Andrea Church, Calgary & South 4-H regional specialist. A lot of hard work and dedication goes into preparing any animal for show, and the 171 participants at this year s provincial livestock shows again proved that the agriculture industry is running strong in Alberta s rural youth. The Provincial Dairy Show was made possible by the support of Presenting Partner - Alberta Gas; Partner Supporters - Alberta Dairy Industry, ATB Financial, Government of Alberta and Westgen. Cont d on page 4

4 August 22, 2011 page 4 Partner Supporters for the Provincial Beef Heifer Show were Alberta Beef, AMA Insurance, ATB Financial, Gas Alberta, Government of Alberta, Kubota, PennWest Exploration and Westgen. Sponsor supporters for the inaugural Provincial Sheep Show were Presenting Partner - Farm Credit Canada; Partner Friends - Alberta Lamb Producers and the Canadian Sheep Breeders Association. Partner Host for all of these events was the Olds Agricultural Society Contact: Cameron Horner 4-H specialist Alberta Lamb Producers Share Traceability Project Findings and Technology Alberta s lamb producers will be getting access to information acquired through a Lamb Traceability Project that could help them manage operations more efficiently and increase profits. A $456,000 grant from the Alberta Livestock and Meat Agency (ALMA) will allow Alberta Lamb Producers (ALP) to share the lessons learned in the traceability project and potential benefits of a flock management system, which utilizes radio-frequency identification (RFID) technology. ALP will use the funds to hire project contractors, educate producers at regional skills training sessions, finalize software development and develop communications materials. The information will lead to improved management of operations and increased profits. Other possible benefits include labour savings, improved ewe production and reduced feed costs. The lamb industry has long been seeking better tools to support expanding production, increase profitability and attract a new generation of producers, said Jack Hayden, Minister of Alberta Agriculture and Rural Development. This project will allow producers to use RFID technology to manage their operations more efficiently. The next logical step for the lamb industry is to adopt the flock management system, said Margaret Cook, executive director, ALP. Our producers understand the importance of maintaining good information and records to allow them to make informed management decisions leading to increased efficiency and profitability. The Lamb Traceability Project puts Alberta in a lead position in Canada for developing industry benefits from a traceability program. It is also an excellent example of how RFID technology can increase profitability. The lamb traceability project aligns with ALMA s priorities of enhancing competitiveness and advancing information flow, says Gordon Cove, ALMA president and CEO. This project supports growth and profitability of Alberta s lamb industry. Alberta Lamb Producers, and Alberta Agriculture and Rural Development partnered to develop the Lamb Traceability Project to meet regulatory requirements for traceability and provide tools for managing flocks more efficiently and profitably. Alberta Lamb Producers is producer directed and funded, and represents the interests of Alberta sheep producers to help build a sustainable, thriving sheep industry for all stakeholders. For more information on ALP, visit and for information on the Lamb Traceability Project, visit ALMA contributes ideas, information and investment as it works with industry partners to achieve a sustainable, profitable and internationally respected livestock and meat industry. For more information on ALMA, visit Contact: Nicole Paradis-Clancy Communications officer, ALMA Margaret Cook Executive director, ALP To call toll-free within Alberta dial

5 August 22, 2011 page 5 Agri-News Briefs Food Regulations Workshop Fruits and Vegetables Get the answers to Agricultural Production/Processing Rules in Alberta by participating in this food regulations workshop. The workshop will help demystify the rules surrounding food production in Alberta, shedding light on rules and regulations from the various agencies that control food production and inspections. Topics being covered include: Who can sell food at the farmers markets? What are the rules for food processed and sold at farmers markets? Can restaurants and caterers buy and use farmers markets food products? What can be sold at the farm gate? Who inspects the production/processing facilities? What are the packaging rules? The workshop is being held in St. Paul on September 27, Registration is $20/person. To register contact Community Futures St. Paul - Smoky Lake Region at , toll-free at or admin@cfspsl.ca Beneficial Management Practices Project 2010 Progress Report The Nutrient Beneficial Management Practices Evaluation Project has completed the fourth year of field research to evaluate the environmental and economic effectiveness of applied BMPs in selected watersheds in Alberta. The BMP Project is a six-year study, initiated in Click on the website link to view the 2010 Progress Report and other information about the project. The website address for the project is: www1.agric.gov.ab.ca/$department/deptdocs.nsf/all/epw11955 AGC Farmer Member Announced Agriculture Minister Jack Hayden has appointed Stew Gilroy as a farmer member to the Alberta Grains Council (AGC). Gilroy farms in the Camrose area and has been involved in pioneering the use of hulless oats in pharmaceuticals and in the food and feed industries. He has served on many boards and committees, most recently as Chair of the Canola Council of Canada, and also served as a member of the Western Agri-Food Institute, the Alberta Canola Producers Commission, the Prairies Oat Growers Association, the Agriculture and Food Council of Alberta, and the Calgary Exhibition and Stampede. Gilroy s industry knowledge and experience will be an asset to the AGC, says Greg Porozni, AGC chair. The mission of the AGC is to provide strategic and tactical advice to the Minister and appropriate groups that are able to impact the long-term profitability and sustainability of the grains and oilseeds industry. The members of the AGC are: Greg Porozni - Mundare - farmer (chair) Henry Dechant - Fairview - farmer member Dan Greene - Carmangay - farmer D Arcy Hilgartner - Camrose - farmer Gerard Oosterhuis - Bow Island - farmer Ed Lefsrud - Viking - farmer Dennis Nanninga - Barrhead - farmer Sean Royer - Edmonton - department member Andre Tremblay - Edmonton - department member More information can be found on the AGC website at