<p>A serious disease that has infected a number of crops in Wisconsin has farmers concerned. Late blight, which effects both tomatoes and potatoes, is the same disease that caused the Irish Potato famine in the 1850’s. </p><hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="invisible minimal-padding"><hr class="invisible minimal-padding"><p>Donald Hamerski, who owns a farm in Plover, says he was worried when he heard blight was in the state. “The first thing we wanted to know was where it was, how far away from us, which direction, if the wind can blow on it. The wind will take it, so you have to monitor your field or have someone else monitor your fields," he said.</p><hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="invisible minimal-padding"><hr class="invisible minimal-padding"><p>Hamerski, of Hamerski Farms, has more than 1,000 acres of potatoes. According to WAOW News, experts say that if a small outbreak isn’t controlled, it can devastate entire fields and crops. Wind can spread the disease to other fields and crops as well. Even small gardens are at risk from this pervasive disease. </p><hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="invisible minimal-padding"><hr class="invisible minimal-padding"><p>Amanda Gevens, Extension Plant Pathologist in Potatoes & Vegetables at the University of Wisconsin, says, "Generally, most commonly grown tomato varieties are susceptible to late blight. In potatoes, there are varietal differences in susceptibility to late blight, but generally most are susceptible. As a result, when the late blight pathogen is present in our state and weather conditions have been favorable, fungicides are necessary for controlling late blight."</p><hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="invisible minimal-padding"><hr class="invisible minimal-padding"><p>"We spray our crops, every week they get sprayed, get out there pretty religiously," says Hamerski. "If you don't catch it, and you put the potato in the bin, it's going to rot and they're just going to keep rotting." </p><hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="invisible minimal-padding"><hr class="invisible minimal-padding"><p>Gevens concludes that, "While there continues to be risk of late blight in Wisconsin and growers need to be vigilant and proactive, the disease at this time is being controlled with cultural and chemical practices." Checking plants regularly can help prevent blight along with destroying infected plants. </p><hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="invisible minimal-padding"><hr class="invisible minimal-padding"><p><a class="btn btn-sm btn-primary col-lg-12" style="white-space: normal;" href="http://www.waow.com/story/23152114/2013/08/15/farmers-trying-to-protect-potatoes-from-serious-disease" target="_new"> Light Blight </a> </p><hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="invisible minimal-padding"><hr class="invisible minimal-padding">
