Trond Vistnes at Randaberg keeps a close eye on his potato grower. The experienced farmer hopes he has saved this year’s crop. – Resistance to dry rot can be the beginning of the end for potato cultivation. If the potatoes don’t get big enough before the dry rot takes over, we won’t be able to grow potatoes in the long run, he says. Dry rot Photo: Erlend Handeland Tuastad / news Potato dry rot is the most common and challenging potato disease in Norway. Due to a fungus-like organism that attacks both leaves, stems and tubers. It does most damage in hot and humid weather. To combat dry rot, different measures must be combined: fresh seed potatoes, crop rotation, resistant varieties and chemical control must work together. Sources: Nibio’s plant protection encyclopedia and Norsk Landbruksådgivning. Vistnes only has occasional and minor cases of dry rot in his field. But in several places in the country, dry rot has now been discovered, on which some pesticides no longer work. This has caused the alarm bells to ring for everyone who works with potatoes. – If he has used a pesticide that does not work, then it is a disaster, says advisor Arne Vagle in Norwegian Agricultural Advisory, and studies Vistnes’ potato plants carefully. Arne Vagle in Norwegian Agricultural Advisory. Photo: Erlend Handeland Tuastad / news Every week, Vagle participates in crisis meetings where agricultural experts discuss and survey the serious situation. – We have to find the right way to go to find a solution, he says. Resistant dry rot destroys crops Dry rot is a fungus that attacks the foliage and destroys the potato. It’s an old problem, but what’s new now is that the fungus has become resistant to pesticides. This applies throughout the Nordics and Europe. It could have major consequences for potato crops, says Vagle. – What is special about last year and this year is that the means we used to spray and protect the plants no longer work. The fungus has adapted to the new agents and is able to survive. It is a huge challenge for the industry. For Trond Vistnes, dry rot is a well-known problem, but he is worried about the latest developments. Photo: Erlend Handeland Tuastad / news Vagle has seen cases in Germany where entire potato fields have been plowed down because they are unable to stop the fungal attacks. – For the farmer, it also means an increased cost, because pesticides are expensive. But you have no alternative. The Norwegian Agricultural Advisory Board recommends spraying once a week, using two different substances, and not the same pesticide two weeks in a row. The Minister of Agriculture is concerned The Minister of Agriculture and Food Geir Pollestad (Sp) is also following the situation with dry rot closely. Agriculture and Food Minister Geir Pollestad (Sp). Photo: Philip Kollstrøm / news – I am concerned about the scale. We need more potatoes in Norway, and then we have to find solutions for the situation that has arisen. The Minister puts his trust in new potato varieties that can withstand dry rot. – We need to switch to varieties that are better able to withstand dry rot and are not attacked, says Pollestad. Published 12.07.2024, at 07.40
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The fungus dry rot has become resistant to pesticides. May lead to potato shortage in Norway – news Rogaland – Local news, TV and radio
