DISEASE & NEMATODE MANAGEMENT

% growers

   cultural controls

   destroy cull potatoes to reduce sources of late blight

96%

   plant certified seed

94%

   sort & remove decayed tubers coming into storage

88%

   adjust fertility and irrigation practices to manage diseases

86%

   control weeds that are alternate hosts for potato diseases

82%

   alter crop rotations for disease control

63%

   clean field equipment to avoid introducing nematodes

66%

   alter crop rotations for disease control

61%

   separate potato fields at least 1/4-mile to control diseases

17%

   scouting, fungicides & nematicides

   scout fields for late blight to determine need for fungicides

98%

   apply nematicides only if infestations exceed thresholds

69%

   keep written notes or field maps about disease problems

57%

   sample soil for nematodes

51%

   use forecasting models to time fungicides for late blight

51%

WEED MANAGEMENT PRACTICES

% growers

   cultural controls

   cultivate for weed control

88%

   choose rotational crops that compete with weeds

59%

   control weeds in fencerows by growing cover crops

30%

   clean equipment between fields to prevent weed spread

27%

   rogue potato fields for weeds

16%

   scouting and herbicides

   scout potato fields to determine need for herbicides

80%

   scout previous crop for weed problems

72%

   keep written notes or field maps about weed problems

72%

   adjust herbicide application rate based on weed pressure

67%

   rotate herbicide classes to avoid resistance

65%

   spot-spray weed patches vs entire field

27%

INSECT MANAGEMENT PRACTICES

% growers

   cultural controls

   alter crop rotations for insect control

27%

   cultivate to control soil insects

16%

   biological controls

   scout fields for natural enemies

33%

   reduce insecticide use to protect natural enemies

24%

   scouting and insecticides

   scout for Colorado potato beetle

91%

   examine potato leaves for aphids

88%

   use economic thresholds

83%

   rotate insecticides to avoid resistance

72%

   keep written notes or field maps about insect problems

64%

   sample soil for wireworms

11%