Voigt: Thunderstorms Not A Welcomed Sight For Potato Growers

Despite the very late start for many growers across the region, the local potato crop looks very good, if you ask Washington State Potato Commission Executive Director Chris Voigt.  He said the soil moisture and temperatures have been a great combination, allowing fields to turn a thick green.  However, recent thunderstorms could spell bad news for spud growers.

Voigt said the winds, can break the steps of the plants, creating a wound, making the potato susceptible to viruses, fungus and diseases.

“While the crop looks good today, what we really have to pay attention to is how’s it going to look a week from now.  Generally speaking, the climatic conditions are ripe for Late Blight.  We haven’t had a Late Blight disaster since the 1990s, but we got to pay attention to it.  We have to scout our fields really good this time of the year.”

Voigt said it’s important for growers that come across Late Blight in their fields to treat the area in question thoroughly and as soon as possible.

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