Manitoba’s first case of late blight in 2012 has been found in a commercial potato field near Carberry.
Manitoba Agriculture announced late last week that the affected parts of the field have been disked under. As well, growers have applied the appropriate fungicides to the remainder of the field and nearby potato crops.
The risk of late blight in the province has increased since rain fell in mid-August. Given the presence of late blight inoculum, potato producers in high risk areas should increase the frequency of their late blight fungicide applications, said Manitoba Agriculture plant pathologist Vikram Bisht.
Warm, dry weather forecast this week for Manitoba should limit the spread of late blight, but Bisht said growers should continue to scout for disease in wind-protected areas, near the tree line and other spots where plants remain wet after irrigation and dew.
