06/10/05 Potato growers need to control leafhopper

06/10/05 Potato growers need to control leafhopper

Farm and Ranch June 10, 2005 The beet leafhopper transmits a disease that causes purple top in potatoes, which can affect both yield and quality. And Andy Jensen of the Washington State Potato Commission, says beef leafhopper populations are way up in the Columbia Basin this year. Jensen: "This year we are seeing very high numbers, five to ten times what we saw last year in a similar time period. Last year there was plenty of disease out there in fields not treated for leafhoppers, but it wasn't a very bad year. But the fact that we have five to ten times as many leafhoppers out this year as last year makes me pretty sure this could be a very bad year if leafhoppers are not controlled." Jensen says growers should be controlling the leafhopper now and be concerned about it for the next four to six weeks. Jensen: "Early in the season we suggest using pyrethroid insecticides because they have relatively long residual activity in the field and are very effective against leafhoppers. Later on in the season you don't want to use pyrethroid insecticides anymore and most other insecticides that are used in potatoes will control leafhoppers as well. They are easy to kill." Yellow sticky traps can be used around fields to monitor for leafhoppers and Jensen will help you identify them. There is more information and regional trapping reports on the Potato Commission's website. That's the Northwest Farm and Ranch Report. Brought to you in part by the Washington State Potato Commission. Nutrition today. Good health tomorrow. I'm Bob Hoff on the Northwest Ag Information Network.
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