Mapping of Potato Blight Outbreaks for 2002
Issued 6thJune 2002
The first outbreaks of potato blight in Ireland in 2002 have been reported on farms in Wexford and Cork in late May.
The Teagasc recording system tracks the initial outbreak of the disease in the different potato growing areas with the aim of helping growers to implement effective blight control programmes.
Dr Leslie Dowley, potato blight research specialist with Teagasc said the average date of outbreak of blight for main crop potatoes is in the latter half of July. However, for early crops in the south of the country, disease outbreak can be much earlier. Once blight has made its initial appearance, the further development of an epidemic is dependent on the control programme, variety, growth stage and the prevailing weather conditions.
All potato growing areas are being monitored by the potato inspectors of the Department of Agriculture, Food & Rural Development as well as the specialist potato advisers in Teagasc. When late blight is first identified in an area, the information is entered on a map so that the location and date of the outbreak is obvious at a glance. The map is up-dated on a weekly basis by Dr Dowley and colleagues at Oak Park Research Centre.
The map for 2002 will be updated, throughout the summer and will enable growers to check if blight has been reported from their area.
The map for 2001 and 2000, outline the locations and dates of outbreaks in previous years.
