b"PEST/DISEASE OUTLOOKLooking at the Past for 2024 Pest/Disease OutlookAlberta farmers only need to look at the history of their fields and weather from years past to predict what pests and crop diseases theyll face this year.FARMERS IN ALBERTAcan expect history to repeat itself in 2024. To predict what pests and diseases may impact crops during the 2024 growing season, they should look at the history of their fields and past weather conditions to know what to expect.(They need) to be out in the field scouting, knowing what's there and to be keeping track of what you saw in 2023, Shelley Barkley, insect survey technologist with Alberta Agriculture and Irrigation, says in a phone interview. It's knowing what you have or what you've dealt with in 2023 so that you can be prepared to be out scouting and looking for them in 2024.However, nothing is guaranteed and depending on the weather during the growing season, it could impact the pests and diseases that affect Alberta crops.The weather can change and so that can push severity a little higher or a little lower, depending on whether we get drought conditions or whether we get a lot of rainfall, Mike Harding, plant pathologist with Alberta Agriculture and Irrigation, explains in a phone interview.Along with historical pests and diseases, there are some newer ones that farmers A wheat stem sawfly.should be on the lookout for. PHOTO: SHELLEY BARKLEY18seed.ab.ca"