We’ve all heard it, even if we’re a little fuzzy on what it actually means: This is an El Niño year, and the weather is going to be crazy. In a nutshell, El Niño occurs when, for reasons not entirely understood, waters in the eastern half of the Pacific become warmer than normal. Storms follow the warm water, thereby shifting customary weather patterns around the world.
In the Pacific Northwest of the U.S., that likely means a warm, wet 2016. We sat down with BASF technical market manager Jennifer Holland to discuss what steps growers can take to handle the challenges El Niño might throw at them.
1. Develop and implement a plan early
In any year, this is important, but in a year when growers can expect unusual environmental pressures starting early is especially key. “Getting a plan on paper early with your chemical rep and retailer is the best way to ensure you’re prepared for whatever the season might throw at you,” says Holland. “Growers who wait until the last minute, when they have an emergency in the field, will be hurt.
2. Research your own history
The old adage, “Those who fail to learn from history are doomed to repeat it,” is as true in potato production as it is anywhere else. “As you get ready to plant, take a look at the history of those fields,” Holland advises. “If you have fields with a lot of history of having soil-borne disease, for example, be sure to apply a good in-furrow fungicide.”
3. Get back to the agronomic basics
“Your planned approach can’t be only from a disease-control standpoint,” says Holland. “Growers also have to look at it from a nutritional/fertilizer standpoint.”
With potatoes’ relatively long growing season and high nutrient needs, special attention needs to be paid to their agronomic needs. “Having a robust plant means it’s going to be more resilient when it is faced with disease challenges,” says Holland.
4. Cover all the bases
With this year’s heavy precipitation in the West, Holland expects to see a big uptick in soil-borne diseases like Rhizoctonia. Growers can likely expect other fungal diseases like black dot, early blight and white mold to be prevalent.
“Have a robust plan with lots of broad-spectrum disease control components,” she advises. “Make sure you have multiple modes of action in the tank, and get the most out of the products you choose to use.”
5. Talk!
“There’s one thing more than anything I’d like to share with growers,” says Holland. “We’re really open to having personalized conversations with you about the needs of your operation. We welcome any and all conversation with growers.”