Due to slow market activity, potatoes have remained in storage longer than usual, significantly increasing the risk of disease development. The dry harvest conditions of 2025 led to greater tuber damage, creating entry points for pathogens. According to seed treatment specialist Darren Wonnacott, the combination of increased harvest damage, extended storage periods, and demand for only top-quality potatoes has created “ideal conditions” for storage diseases such as Fusarium dry rot, soft rot, and silver scurf. “There were many damaged tubers during harvest, and the long storage period makes problems worse because pathogens need time to develop,” he explains.
The threat extends beyond current crop quality—pathogens can remain in storage facilities and affect the 2026 harvest. Wonnacott advises producers to thoroughly clean storage areas by removing soil, dust, old tubers, and debris before disinfecting. However, he warns that disinfecting too early is pointless if the facility remains open or is used for other crops or equipment before potatoes return. He recalls cases where JET5 disinfectant fog was applied, only for wind-blown dust carrying microorganisms to re-enter the facility a week later. He recommends treating storage immediately after unloading, loading only half-capacity to allow fog to circulate properly. “We know 2026–2027 will not be trouble-free, so it makes sense to take every possible step to reduce crop losses and financial damage,” he concludes.
