b"PEST AND DISEASE OUTLOOKWide Range of Pests, Diseases for 2023 CropsFarmers in Alberta may face a range of issues in their fields with pests and crop diseases for 2023.THE 2023 GROWING season is shaping up to be a mixed bag(Bruners grasshoppers) seems to be a two season lifecycle. for pests and diseases. As winter rages on across the province,So 2023 would be the year they can expect to see that there are some hints of what is to come for Albertas crops fordepending on the spring weather, Barkley explains.pests and diseases this growing season. The southern portion of the province is predicted to be hit Disease development is mainly based upon weathermore by grasshopper infestations, while in the Peace region conditions, so outlooks may change depending on what Mothertheres a good chance theyll be dealing with Brunner's Nature serves up during the 2023 growing season. However,grasshoppers who feed on broadleaf plants such as grasses, recent and historical conditions can give clues as to whatBarkley adds. Grasshoppers and wheat stem sawfly favour drier farmers may face in their fields this growing season. conditions, and with the drier years lately it has allowed for pest For regions that on average receive typically more moisturepopulations to balloon. the Highway 2 corridor from Edmonton down towards Olds,There seems to be some wheat midge populations brewing that's typically on average you get more moisture, and thusin the central region of the province. Based on the raw data, there's greater potential for seasonal development of diseaseBarkley says farmers in the area should keep their eye out for issues, Kelly Turkington, research scientist in plant pathologywheat midge. with Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada (AAFC), explains in aI'm getting a feeling from washing the soil that that's what phone interview.we're going to see therethey could be seeing some pressure Meanwhile, what insect pests you may see are morefrom midge, she adds.dependent on recent weather conditions. Whether its beenPea leaf weevil levels will be similar to 2022, with increasing wet or dry over the past year can lead to different pests eggnumbers along the corridor between Edmonton east along populations increasing. Highway 16 to the Saskatchewan border. In good news though, it looks like there wont be issues with Status Quo for Insect Pests bertha armyworms. Barkley says there wasnt many found in Dry conditions during the 2022 growing season and a warm fall have spelled good news for pests with most being able to stick around for the 2023 growing season, Shelley Barkley, insect survey technologist with Alberta Agriculture and Irrigation, says in a phone interview.In the southern portion of the province, farmers will be battling wheat stem sawfly same as they did in 2022. In regions plagued with grasshoppers in 2022, farmers should expect to see more of the pest again in 2023, Barkley says. The long, warm fall was perfect conditions for grasshopper egg laying.Wheat stem sawfly which could cause problems in the southern portion of the province this growing season, same as in 2022.PHOTO: SJBARKLEY40seed.ab.ca"