2024 Growing Season in Review: Challenges, Strategies, and Resources

The 2024 growing season has been everything but uneventful. Unlike 2023, we saw more rain events in the spring of 2024, they were welcomed to replenish soil moisture. However, the in-season precipitation was generally scattered, with some regions receiving more rain than the neighbouring areas. For the areas that received spring rain, cool wet conditions inevitably delayed planting, leading to a slower start of the season.

A few related resources on this topic:

In June, the wet conditions persisted for some, raising concerns about fungal diseases such as powdery mildew, cereal leaf spots, stripe rust and Fusarium head blight. In early to mid-July, stripe rust was reported from south to central Alberta. Forecasts by PCDMN had been tracking the wind trajectories coming from the cereal growing regions in the US, the potential sources of rust spores. Several fields were heavily infected with rust, raising concerns across the regions along the Puccinia pathway.

Figure 1. Powdery mildew symptoms. a-c: symptoms on leaf, stem, and in canopy. Photo credit: Dr. Kelly Turkington.

Figure 2. Puccinia pathway showing the main wheat-producing regions in Canada and the US. Source: https://bsppjournals.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/ppa.13147

In the latter half of July, many regions of the province experienced a heatwave, with day temperatures above 30°C and minimum rain. The heatwave provided some release to the concerns about diseases. At the same time, extended heat and drought stress caused yield reduction and/or lighter kernel weights in the most affected areas.

Heading into 2024, many were concerned about grasshopper population. Grasshopper pressure was expected to be high for two reasons:

1) large grasshopper populations in 2023, and;

2) a warm, open fall that provided ample time for grasshoppers to lay eggs and for the embryos to develop. On the fortunate side, the cool wet spring slowed grasshopper hatching and reduced their survival rate. It helped avoiding the worst-case scenario.

Looking ahead to 2025, knowing the grasshopper hot spots and keeping them monitored in spring will set the foundation for grasshopper management. See Prairie Pest Monitoring Network for the risk maps and monitoring tips.

Figure 3. Grasshopper risk maps based on 2023 survey. 2024 survey results being processed & upcoming. Source: https://prairiepest.ca/risk-maps/grasshopper/

Drought is the top concern for many in 2024 and the previous few years, driving crucial discussions on drought management strategies. Leaving longer stubble has been proven to trap more snow and help replenish soil moisture. Choosing more drought resilient crops and varieties is another key strategy. Yield performances of varieties can change substantially due to growing conditions. Consult local seed growers for which varieties are more drought tolerant. Related information can also be found on Alberta Seed Guide, under “low” yield category. Site-years that produced low yield are placed into the database for “low yielding environment” (including drought). Look for varieties that have stable performances under less-than-ideal conditions.

Figure 4. An example of 2024 Alberta Seed Guide. See the highlighted column for the "low yield category."

Ultra-early seeding is another way to utilize early-season moisture. It is also a way to have the crop head out earlier and reduce the impact of heat waves that usually occur in July. Balanced crop nutrients help with establishing healthy crops, which are more resilient to drought and other challenges.

Alberta Grains has been investing in research projects that look into drought management. Some of them focus on breeding, where breeders explore genes and traits that contribute to drought tolerance. The traits they study include, but are not limited to: root parameters, stomata development, and water use efficiency. These studies are the crucial first step in breeding for more drought tolerant varieties down the road.

Figure 5. Drought stress in cereal crops 2024. a. Drought stress in wheat (short plants, small heads); b. Drought stress in barley (short plants, head emergence impacted).

In a year like 2024 where we encounter drought and disease challenges, it is a good idea to test your grain/seed. The reasons are as follows:

  • Thin kernels: Heat and drought stress during grain filling stage can cause thin kernels, which may impact grain grade and germination rate. Thin kernels may also have lower thousand kernel weight (TKW). If the harvested grain is destined for seed, make sure to test the germination rate and TKW for optimum seeding rate next year.
  • Falling number: Grains that experienced wet and drying cycles before harvest are more prone to pre-harvest sprouting. Sprouting reduces baking quality which is measured by falling number (FN).
  • FHB: Grains that contain Fusarium graminearum infection has been found in the southern irrigation district, the regions north of Edmonton and the corridor between Edmonton and AB-SK border. Fg infection may impact grain’s marketability. In addition, using infected grains as seeds risks introducing inoculum to the field. It may also impact germination rate when the infection is significant.

If you have any of the above concerns, send your samples to one of the accredited labs for testing.

Overall, 2024 has been a challenging year for many. We look forward to snow to replenish soil moisture during the winter months.

Have a great holiday & see you at the agronomy events in 2025!

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