News
Blightline July 17, 2017
No late blight has been reported in ND, MN or MB. Late blight has been reported in central WA (US8) and in MI (US23). Late blight severity values accumulated in the northern half of the Red River Valley in both MN and ND. Many areas have reached or exceeded the late blight threshold value of 15. This indicates that conditions have been favorable for late blight infection if inoculum is present. A protectant fungicide should be applied when the threshold value reaches 15 or just prior to row closure, whichever occurs first. It continues to be important to scout for late blight in those areas where the threshold has been reached concentrating on areas of the field that stay wet longer such as along tree lines and low areas where water accumulates.
Helping Growers Manage Potato Psyllids & Zebra Chip in the Columbia Basin of Washington State
This presentation explains efforts to help Washington’s potato industry manage potato psyllids and zebra chip disease. It describes a regional insect monitoring program and pest alert system in the Columbia Basin of Washington. Viewers from all potato-growing regions will learn more about zebra chip disease and its vector, the potato psyllid. This includes descriptions of 1) psyllid life stages and how each can be monitored in potato fields; 2) how zebra chip is spread by psyllids; and 3) psyllid yellows disorder caused by potato psyllid nymph feeding. The presentation includes a review of zebra chip incidence in the Columbia Basin in the six years since it was first detected in the region. It also explains what has been learned about psyllid overwintering in the region and seasonal dispersal. Insecticide recommendations for managing potato psyllids and zebra chip in the Columbia Basin are described.
Potato Growth and Development
This presentation will help consultants, growers and other practitioners in North America understand potato growth and development as it impacts yield and quality. Specifically, this presentation will focus on key growth stages in crop development, and how management practices can impact each of those stages.
Blightline July 5, 2017
No late blight has been reported in ND, MN or MB. Late blight severity values continue to accumulate, particularly in the non-irrigated locations in the northern Red River Valley production area. Many areas are approaching the late blight threshold value of 15 indicating that conditions have been favorable for late blight infection if inoculum is present. A protectant fungicide should be applied before the threshold value reaches 15 or just prior to row closure, whichever occurs first. The hot weather predicted for this week will not be favorable for late blight.
What Is the Source of Potato Psyllids Colonizing Potato Fields in the Pacific Northwest?
The outbreak of zebra chip disease in potato fields of Washington, Oregon, and Idaho in 2011 has led to substantial disruption of established IPM programs in potatoes. Managing zebra chip disease requires controlling potato psyllid, the insect which vectors the bacterium causing the disease, and uncertainties in understanding biology of potato psyllid in the Pacific Northwest has forced growers to rely on calendar-based applications of insecticides to prevent establishment of infective psyllids in their fields. This presentation will examine the possible role of two non-crop host plants of potato psyllid – bittersweet nightshade and matrimony vine – as possible “bridge” hosts between late winter emergence of potato psyllid from overwintering quarters and late spring emergence of the potato crop. Understanding psyllid biology on non-crop plants in the Pacific Northwest will allow growers to better predict when seasonally and in what fields potato psyllid is likely to first arrive.
Potato Association of America 2017 Program
The Potato Association of America is a non-profit organization dedicated to improving potato health and utilization world-wide. Our more than 500 members work to actively promote all aspects of potato production, utilization, biology and breeding. The annual meeting will be in Fargo, ND on July 23-27, 2017 at the Fargo Holiday Inn.
Aphid Alert now available
UPDATE - 7 more sites reported in this week - Ada had a big capture and Green peach aphids have also now been recovered in Ada and Hoople. This gives us 3 sites so far this year that have recovered Green peach. It's still early days but it's looking like we might be in for an aphid year....
Blightline June 26, 2017
No late blight has been reported in ND or MN. Late blight severity values continue to accumulate slowly.
Blightline June 20, 2017
No late blight has been reported in ND or MN. Late blight severity values are just beginning to accumulate, particularly in northeast North Dakota.
Colorado Potato Beetle Update
Several different locations in the Red River Valley are experiencing emerging Colorado potato beetles. Here is some information from Dr. Ian MacRae on this emerging issue.
Welcome to Blightline 2017!
Welcome to the first NDSU Potato Blightline for 2017 sponsored by Syngenta Crop Protection. We are up and running for the 23rd consecutive year of operation. The Blightline includes disease forecasting and control recommendations for late blight and early blight, and other potato disease and insect information on a local and national basis. The Blightline is updated weekly, or more often if late blight is present, through mid-September.
Controlling Volunteer Potato Plants
Volunteer potato plants are emerging in North Dakota and have been found in soybean and corn fields. Volunteer potatoes are a susceptible host for late blight, because they are not continually treated with fungicides. How can you control volunteer potato plants?
Late Blight in Potato
The primary host is potato, but P. infestans also can infect other solanaceous plants, including tomatoes, petunias and hairy nightshade, that can act as source of inoculum to potato. In North America, late blight survives between seasons in infected seed tubers, cull piles and volunteer plants. Knowing the symptoms and disease cycle of this rapidly destructive disease is necessary to implement management options.
New Focus on Potato: Practical Management of Powdery Scab
This presentation will aid consultants and growers in understanding how to identify powdery scab of potato and manage this disease using an integrated approach to control. Key symptoms used to identify the various stages of the disease will be described and contrasted with other similar problems. Details of the pathogen, host, disease cycle, and environmental factors affecting symptom development, will be discussed. Much attention will be given to management options for this disease including avoiding the disease, measuring the inoculum load in soil, making the appropriate cultivar selections based upon the field history, resistance of a given cultivar, inoculum levels, and environment, and utilizing specific chemical control when warranted. Understanding the full integration of several different strategies for the producer are key to managing this potentially devastating and hard to control disease.
New Focus on Potato: Fungicide Management of Rhizoctonia Canker and Black Scurf
Rhizoctonia canker and black scurf causes economic loss to potato growers by decreasing tuber quality, and yield in severe cases. This webinar will focus on how fungicides can be used effectively to manage this disease.
2016 Crop Year Potato Research Reports
The research reports from potato trials funded by the MN Area II Potato Council and Northern Plains Potato Growers Association (NPPGA) from 2016 are now available. This reports cover agronomy, breeding, entomology, fertility, nematology, plant pathology, weed science and other important topics to potato growers.
Northern Plains Fresh Market Potato Cultivar/Selection Trial Results for 2016
A report on red- and yellow-skinned potato cultivar trial conducted in Big Lake, MN. Information on potato graded yield, tuber number, stems per plant and vigor estimation.
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