Have Wisconsin spuds from last year? Time to destroy them

MADISON, Wis. — State agricultural officials are hoping to stave off a recurrence of last year’s potato late blight by reminding gardeners to destroy any discarded spuds from last year.

Adrian Barta is a plant specialist with the Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection. He says last year’s potato disease was worse in other states but Wisconsin still needs to be vigilant.

Late blight is a fungus that damages potatoes and tomatoes. Its spores generally can’t endure a Wisconsin winter in the soil but they can survive on plant material, such as discarded potatoes or infected plants left in compost heaps.

The spores can then be blown into fields, threatening new crops.

Barta says the state requires that waste potatoes be destroyed by Thursday.

Online: Information about potato late blight

Tags: late blight, crops, potatoes, wisconsin