Lethbridge Researchers Develop Tools to Help Potato Farmers Tackle Extreme Weather Challenges

Extreme weather and unpredictability may pose a threat to farmers, but new research at the Lethbridge Research and Development Centre is exploring potential tools potato farmers may use to protect their crops.

Dr. Jonathan Neilson is researching how heat waves and hailstorms affect potato quality. His work shows that timing is critical.

Dr. Jonathan Neilson of the Lethbridge Research and Development Centre is leading studies on how extreme weather events, such as heat waves and hailstorms, affect potato quality and farm resilience.

Hail before tubers form typically has little impact, but storms during tuber bulking can reduce size, alter shape, and affect processing quality.

Tubers are the part of the potato plant that grows underground, serving as a food reserve.

Neilson’s findings also suggest that heat domes may influence tuber seed dormancy, potentially affecting seed quality in the following season.

Dr. Neilson hopes to develop a risk-assessment tool to help farmers identify potential problems and make decisions that reduce economic losses. 

Future research is set to examine how soil health and biostimulants can improve crop resilience and recovery.