NDSU, Dow AgroSciences Offer Blight Monitoring

FARGO, ND - Keeping abreast of ever-changing disease pressures affecting potatoes is a high priority for growers, retailers and consultants throughout the growing season. To meet this need, North Dakota State University (NDSU) and Dow AgroSciences are teaming up again this year to offer faxed updates when late blight levels change.

The Late Blight Forecast Flash service delivers late blight disease severity values straight from the plant pathology department at NDSU. Each fax flash includes the most up-to-date cumulative severity value maps, showing two-day and seasonal accumulations based on local weather data.

The information is also available at www.ndawn.ndsu.nodak.edu or www.ndsu.nodak.edu/instruct/gudmesta/lateblight/hotlinesummer.

Some of the management practices growers are encouraged to follow include burying cull piles; destroying volunteer plants; planting non-infected seed or if seed is suspected of being infected with late blight using a seed treatment with mancozeb; frequent scouting; and paying attention to late blight reports.

To subscribe to the free Late Blight Forecast Flash service, call the Dow AgroSciences Customer Information Center at 1-800-258-3033.