Idaho late blight outbreak now widespread

Late blight has become widespread in Idaho, leading experts to shorten their fungicide spraying recommendations to every five to seven days in counties in which it is present. High humidity and continued afternoon thunderstorms have enabled late blight to proliferate in potato fields across a swath of southeast Idaho encompassing eight counties, according to potato researcher Jeff Miller. Miller has encouraged one grower with severe infection to kill vines early to limit the spore load. In most cases, however, he’s found light infections of the devastating fungal disease are scattered throughout fields and haven’t spread in clusters, thanks to rigorous fungicide programs. More