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The new year is a natural time to reflect on the agronomic challenges of the previous year – what was hard, what worked, what did not work? Here’s our take on the top three challenges in potato production in Canada in 2023.  

Too much water

In Eastern Canada, a relatively dry spring turned into a sopping wet summer. After first reports in July, everyone was on high alert for late blight. Frequent rain events and cooler weather were the perfect conditions for late blight to thrive and made it difficult to time sprays. Some were caught with longer spray intervals which made getting ahead of late blight a season-long battle. With length of control top of mind, many growers turned to the following products, and when use preventatively and in rotation, they managed late blight with success:


Allegro^®; 500F is a Group 29 fungicide that limits the spread of late blight spores, stopping the disease before it takes over. Allegro also provides excellent white mould control in potatoes.


Bravo^® ZN is a broad-spectrum, protectant fungicide for dependable foliar disease control of early blight, Botrytis and late blight. Bravo ZN fungicide with WeatherStik^® technology sticks and stays. The patented WeatherStik technology from Syngenta maximizes the ability of Bravo ZN to stick to plant surfaces, even during heavy rainfall or irrigation. 


 Applied preventively, Orondis^® Ultra provides long-lasting protection against late blight in potatoes thanks to two highly effective modes of action. Orondis Ultra combines oxathiapiprolin (Group 49) with mandipropamid (Group 40), for exceptional control of late blight. Oxathiapiprolin, a unique Group 49 fungicide, penetrates the leaf surface and moves upward in the plant to effectively protect new growth as well as existing plant material. Up to 14 days of control of late blight is seen with Orondis Ultra. 


With its powerful LOK+FLO^® technology, Revus^® fungicide quickly adheres to the wax layer of leaves and delivers up to 10 days of protection against late blight in potatoes, even during leaf expansion. 

The excess moisture in 2023 put storage concerns like pink rot and Pythium leak at the forefront, and not just in eastern Canada, as rain and warm temperatures also combined for tricky harvest conditions in Manitoba. Those who used an in-furrow fungicide application of Orondis Gold Potato as part of their integrated pest management program were happy that they did! Orondis Gold Potato combines the power of metalaxyl-M (Group 4) with oxathiapiprolin (Group 49) – a unique mode of action to suppress pink rot and help manage resistance.    

In 2019, an in-furrow program that included oxathiapiprolin and metalaxyl-M at the same rate delivered by Orondis Gold Potato provided 90 percent control of pink rot:


Source: Internal data, trials placed in MB and PE, 2019, n=2. 

As with all soil diseases, it is important to remember that pink rot and Pythium leak require an integrated management approach. For more information on Orondis Gold Potato and and integrated management methods for pink rot and Pythium leak, check out this article. 

Not enough water 

Recent weather trends tend to circle around extremes. Farming has always relied heavily on the weather, but the increase in extremes poses a different, more common challenge. In the West hot, dry, smoky drought was the summary of the year, while the opposite could summarize the 2023 growing season in the East – frequent or heavy rain events, late frosts, wind events, and the odd hail storm.  


As stressful events become a regular part of farming, when planning for 2024, a biostimulant product to help the crop recover better from stress may be beneficial. Megafol^®, as an example, up-regulates normal plant processes. Increased rates of these plant processes often help plants recover from stresses such as drought, heat, cool temperatures, or even physical stresses like hail.  

Potatoes trials over the past two years show favourable results when heat stress and excess water stress have impacted yield. In 2022, there was a noticeable increase in overall yield, while in 2023 there was an increase in marketable yield. Preliminary studies in fruit and vegetables are showing promise in similar ways. 


Source: Internal data, trials placed in MB and PE, 2019, n=2

Want to learn more? Check out the Megafol technical bulletin. 

Pesky Colorado potato beetles 

We heard reports of greater than usual numbers of Colorado potato beetles (CPB) in pockets of Canada in 2023. The increased chatter about CPB is a good reminder to consider insecticide resistance management while building insecticide programs. Rotating insecticide modes of action, using generational windows, and integrated pest management all contribute to insecticide resistance management. Learn more about these concepts in this video from the Insecticide Resistance Action Committee (IRAC). 

In 2023, Minecto^® Pro (Group 6 + 28) provided excellent control of CPB in a small-plot trial on PEI for 15 days after application. In following guidelines from IRAC, Minecto Pro fits well in a program after Actara^® 240SC (group 4) in-furrow or on seed. 
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Source: Replicated small-plot contract trial, PE, 2023, n = 1

Looking ahead 

Looking for more ideas on what to adjust in 2024? Check out the articles on our agronomy hub or reach out to your local Syngenta Representative or retail partner for more information. 

For more information, visit Syngenta.ca, contact our Customer Interaction Centre at 1-87-SYNGENTA (1-877-964-3682). 

Performance evaluations are based on internal trials, field observations and/or public information. Data from multiple locations and years should be consulted whenever possible. Individual results may vary depending on local growing, soil and weather conditions. 

Always read and follow label directions. Actara^®, Bravo^®, LOK+FLO^®, Minecto^®, Orondis^®, Revus^®, WeatherStik^® and the Syngenta logo are trademarks of a Syngenta Group Company. Megafol^® is a trademark of VALAGRO S.p.A., a Syngenta Group Company. Allegro^® is a trademark of ISK Biosciences Corporation. © 2024 Syngenta