Aug 26, 2014Idaho late blight continues to spread
Two fields with late blight in Idaho’s Fremont County have been confirmed. This brings the total number of Idaho counties reporting late blight to five, Madison, Bingham, Bonneville and Power counties being the others.
Jeff Miller, president and CEO of Miller Research, recommends protecting green, growing vines with fungicide applications.
If late blight is present in your field, Miller recommends a postharvest application of a phosphorous acid (phosphite) product going into storage at a rate of 12.8 fluid ounce/ton applied at a volume of 0.5 gallon/ton of potatoes. Ensure you are not over applying, which may add too much water to harvested potatoes. Potatoes should not be shiny wet but barely damp. Apply at a point in the handling process where potatoes are rotating or dropping to ensure best coverage. This post-harvest application will not cure infected tubers but will protect healthy tubers from becoming infected in storage.
