Irish Authorities Issue Warning for Potato Blight

Local authorities have issued a Status Yellow warning for potato blight for the entire country. According to the national forecaster, weather conditions conducive to the spread of the disease, including humidity, are expected to develop in the coming days.

Opportunities for spraying will be limited due to unsettled conditions with rain or showers expected on most days.

Blight is the most important disease, which affects the potato, in terms of the economic losses and environmental impact of disease management in Ireland.

According to Teagasc, around EUR5m is spent by potato growers on fungicides annually in Ireland to mitigate the impacts of blight.

Potato blight is a disease caused by a fungal-like organism called Phytophthora infestans. The disease spreads rapidly in humid weather in the foliage of potatoes and tomatoes, causing the foliage to decay and the potato to be infected.