Tomato/Potato Late Blight Risk on YOUR Farm - An Advanced Forecast Tool

March 19, 2013


In 2012, growers and consultants used the advanced Late Blight Decision Support System (DSS) forecast on 12 tomato and/or potato farms for part or all of the season. The email/text spray alerts and broad base of fungicide info made the LB DSS easier to use and more helpful than ever before. It provided scientific information to help them make better fungicide spray decisions, and in some cases safely stretch their spray schedule during the hot, dry weather.

Learn how to use this new late blight forecast tool on your farm. Participants will receive usernames and passwords for the Late Blight Decision Support System (DSS) website, will designate the location of their farm/fields on their personal account, and can input their varieties, at the workshop. They can also sign up for email/text fungicide spray alerts. In addition to using weather station data, the system uses point National Weather System forecasts for their individual farm location for predicting blight weather and fungicide weathering several days into the future. The DSS forecasts take into account varietal susceptibility to late blight and the relative effectiveness of a wide range of fungicides growers may choose to use.

A laptop computer capable of wireless internet access is needed for the workshop. Please notify us when you register if you would like to borrow one for the day.

Participation is FREE but pre-registration is required by Monday, March 11 and space is limited! To register, contact Angela Parr.

If you have questions about the workshop or the late blight Decision Support System, contact Carol MacNeil. DEC and CCA credits will be available.