By Rob South, WKAR
EAST LANSING, MI –
Gardeners and farmers are being urged to use pesticides to protect plants from late blight, a fungal disease which can decimate entire crops. It's been found in southwest Michigan this year and experts want to keep it from spreading. Chris Long is with Michigan State University. He says the disease can infect a number of plants, including potatoes and tomatoes. He says gardeners should act now to keep it from spreading.
"...either through protecting their crop with fungicidal sprays, or if the disease is spotted to quickly destroy the crop to prevent the spread to their next-door neighbors or the community at large," he explains.
Long says there are both organic and non-organic treatments available to prevent the disease. There is no cure for plants infected with late blight. Late blight is blamed for the 1845 Irish Potato Famine.