Potato Blight Hits Alaska

Blight kills plants quickly, and can rot potatos even in storage.

Tools

By Sean Doogan

Story Created: Sep 2, 2011 at 2:05 PM AKDT

Story Updated: Sep 5, 2011 at 9:27 AM AKDT

The plant disease responsible for the Irish potato famine has sprung up in Alaska.

Late Blight, a fungus that attacks both potato and tomato plants, is common in the Lower 48 and was recently discovered at two Alaska farms - one in the Mat-Su Valley and another near Delta Junction.

Blight kills plants quickly, and can rot potatos even in storage.

It's also extremely contagious, which is why the affected farmers are working with the University of Alaska Fairbanks Cooperative Extension Service to eradicate the fungus.

While Alaska winters kill the disease in most plants, UAF officials said they're not taking any chances.

"Fortunately, it's been well dealt with," said Steven Brown, district agriculture agent with UAF. "Our concern is making sure that any of the late blight didn't escape into gardeners' home gardens and become the source of future contamination."

In order to avoid the blight next year, botanists recommend planting only Alaska certified seeds and seed potatoes.

You have indicated this comment should be removed.

Close

The comment has been submitted for review. Thank you .

jjj said on Friday, Sep 2 at 7:42 PM

HURRY!!! PANIC!!!! WE NEED THE GOVERMENT!!! LOL!

73319816
Inappropriate? Alert Us!

Kevin S said on Friday, Sep 2 at 8:48 PM

how about, follow the suggested procedures and get rid of it. Your LOL is out of place. The comment wasn't funny.

73321284
Inappropriate? Alert Us!

Andrew said on Saturday, Sep 3 at 7:03 AM

This is a serious thing here people dont understand! We need those few crops we produce here and Id like to see more. Lots of hope on those people at the univesity to help out with this. I hope they can also come up with a way we can grow pther crops here!

73332257
Inappropriate? Alert Us!

compuuuter said on Saturday, Sep 3 at 8:44 AM

i'm not going to "bug" jjj but other 2 are right, not funny. as the guy said in the movie, it's "beetleheaded".

73336134
Inappropriate? Alert Us!

jjj said on Monday, Sep 5 at 5:11 PM

My apologies, my comment LOL was wrong. I don't say that very often, but this time you are correct. Almost all of my comments attack the criminal government, this is a serious alaskan problem that I do care about. I'll do better.

73418442
Inappropriate? Alert Us!

Add a comment

Name:

Comment: 1000 Characters Left

KTVA CBS 11 | Anchorage, Alaska News and Weather and its affiliated companies are not responsible for the content of comments posted or for anything arising out of use of the above comments or other interaction among the users. We reserve the right to screen, refuse to post, remove or edit user-generated content at any time and for any or no reason in our absolute and sole discretion without prior notice, although we have no duty to do so or to monitor any Public Forum.
This content requires the latest Adobe Flash Player and a browser with JavaScript enabled. Click here for a free download of the latest Adobe Flash Player.