News
Blightline July 17, 2014
No late blight has been reported in our region. Late blight severity values did not increase the past three days. If severity values in your area have accumulated to 15, application of a protectant fungicide such as mancozeb or chlorothalonil on a 7-10 day schedule is recommended. Many sites have reached this threshold. P-day values, an indicator or early blight, are approaching 250-300 in many areas, and growers should consider application of an early blight fungicide and scout for the presence of early blight. Growers and scouts have reported that very little early blight is present now. The cool weather does not favor development of early blight.
Blightline July 14, 2014
No late blight has been reported in our region. Late blight severity values generally increased slightly over the weekend. The cool weather forecast for next week is favorable for late blight. If severity values in your area have accumulated to 15, application of a protectant fungicide such as mancozeb or chlorothalonil on a 7-10 day schedule is recommended. Many sites have reached this threshold.
Aphid Alert, July 11
We're getting vectors at a few more locations but still seeing low numbers. Nine of the sites from which we received trap catches had at least one aphid vector. High counts were at our Linton sites with three and four vectors. Ada, Erskine, Forest River, Hallock, Hoople, Langdon, and Staples collected no vectors. Species captured include buckthorn, bird-cherry oat, green bug, english grain, sunflower, cowpea, and pea aphids. These are all medium efficiency vectors.
MN Area II Potato Field Day set for July 15
The MN Area II Potato Council Field Day is set for July 15 at 5:30pm at the Sand Plains Research Farm in Becker, MN. Research and Extension personnel from North Dakota State University and the University of Minnesota will be discussing research and answering questions. Come and learn about ongoing research in potato agronomy, breeding, entomology, nutrient management, pathology, and other important topics.
Blightline July 11, 2014
No late blight has been reported in our region. Late blight severity values have generally stabilized, especially the non-irrigated sites. The cool weather forecast for next week is favorable for late blight. If severity values in your area have accumulated to 15, application of a protectant fungicide such as mancozeb or chlorothalonil is recommended. Many sites have reached this threshold. Late blight has not been found in MI as reported on Tuesday, but just across the border in Indiana. Late blight has been found in Cumberland County, Maine.
Blightline July 8, 2014
No late blight has been reported in our region. Late blight severity values continue to accumulate, particularly in the northeastern quarter of ND. All stations in this have reached the late blight threshold of 15 and conditions are favorable for late blight to develop if inoculum is present. Application of a protectant fungicide such as mancozeb or chlorothalonil is recommended. A protectant fungicide should be applied just before row closure or when late blight severity values reach 15.
Blightline June 30, 2014
Severity values are at or over 15 at the following NDAWN sites: Rolla 22, Cando 19, Langdon 23, Cavalier 16, Grafton 16, Forest River 19, Michigan 18, Crary 16, Robinson, 15 and Stephen 18. Many other locations are close to 15.
Blightline June 23, 2014
Late blight severity values are between one and four throughout our entire region This indicates a low level of late blight risk, but continuing cool and wet weather will result in further accumulation of severity values. To date, no late blight has been reported in our region.
Aphid Alert 2014
Dr. Ian MacRae's Aphid Alert II is up again for another season of finding the aphid vectors of PVY and letting you know where and how many there are in the region. The first week's suction trap catch is available now. Find all the info at: aphidalert.blogspot.com or aphidalert.umn.edu
Blightline June 16, 2014
Only a few late blight severity values have accumulated in some irrigated sites so far this season. The risk of late blight now is low, but continuing cool and wet weather is favorable for late blight. No late blight has been reported in our region. Preventing first sources of late blight is a critical part of late blight management. These sources of initial inoculum are culls, volunteers and seed. Infected seed can be an early source of late blight inoculum, so it is important to scout fields for late blight early and all season.
Heat Crinkle
Emerging Russet Burbank under heat stress can result in a phenomenon we call heat crinkle. It may look like herbicide damage, but the chlorotic and crinkling leaves are a result of the shootings being exposed to high temperatures in the hill as they are growing through that zone. The high temperatures cause cell damage resulting in some shoots loosing apical dominance and leaf crinkle.
NDSU Potato Blightline for June 10, 2014
No late blight severity values have accumulated so far this season. The risk of late blight now is low, but continuing wet weather during the season will provide conditions favorable for late blight. Preventing first sources of late blight is a critical part of late blight management. These sources of initial inoculum are culls, volunteers and seed. Infected seed can be an early source of late blight inoculum, so it is important to scout fields for late blight early and all season.
NDSU Potato Blightline for June 2, 2014
Welcome to the NDSU Potato Blightline for June 2 sponsored by Syngenta Crop Protection. We are up and running for the 20th 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 every Monday, Wednesday and Friday until mid-September. Information and recommendations are available anytime through the toll free number 1.888.482.7286 and the NDSU Potato Late Blightline at www.ndawn.ndsu.nodak.edu
Factors That Cause Sugar Ends in Potatoes
This presentation will help consultants, growers and other practitioners in North America understand the development of the physiological disorder called “sugar ends” in processing potatoes. Specifically, this presentation will focus on key stress factors associated with the development of sugar ends, and the management practices that help reduce this disorder.
Air Temperature Inversions: Causes, Characteristics and Potential Effects on Pesticide Spray Drift
A new article from NDSU Extension Service on air inversions is a great resource for growers and pesticide applicators. It’s particularly frustrating because some of the seemingly best weather conditions for pesticide application are often the worst. That is because those conditions are caused by air temperature inversions. Air temperature inversions provide near-perfect conditions for tiny, aerosol-size droplets to drift away from their targets
Blemish of Tablestock Tubers
North Dakota and Minnesota are known for their red-skinned, white-fleshed potato varieties. Recent data shows an increase in consumption of red- and yellow-skinned potato varieties in the United States. One of the challenges of providing a high quality potato is to produce tubers free from blemishes because consumers will “buy with their eyes” as they naturally gravitate to tubers free from blemishes. Silver scurf disease is the most important cause of potato tuber blemish. It is most often caused by the fungal pathogen Helminthosporium solani, but in recent years black dot, caused by the fungal pathogen Colletotrichum coccodes, has also become an important cause of blemish.
Herbicide Carryover in the Soil, What Does it all Mean?
This time of year when growers are looking for fields to plant potatoes, knowing the previous herbicides can determine if a potato crop can be planted in that field. Herbicide persistence into the next growing season can restrict potato production. It is easy to send a soil sample to a laboratory and have it tested for herbicide carryover in the soil. When the results come back I often get asked what does “x” parts per billion (ppb) mean?
Effect of Response of Rejuvenate on Potato Seed: Report from the NPPGA Field Day 2013
A report from a one-year study of Rejuvenate that was completed at Inkster, ND in 2013. Rejuvenate is a product that can help to reduce stem number on seed tubers. In this study the untreated averaged 3.1 stems per tuber and Rejuvenate reduced this to 2.6 at the higher rate showing promise for controlling stem number when they are too large.
Tips for Growing Potatoes in the Garden
As spring approaches many people are interested in growing potatoes in their garden. Below are links to some Extension publications and books on growing potatoes in the garden.
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