Potato blight our fault?

[BarleySugar]

I couldn't believe this when I read it, what do others think? I will still be growing my own potatoes.
Gardeners blamed for spreading potato blight - Telegraph

[chris]

[chris]

Oh, that's rather large. Oh well, just as well

[Aberdeenplotter]

I don't think we should get our hackles up too much about this as we will all have seen spuds affected by blight on neighbouring plots/gardens with nothing being done to control the infection. It happens, it spreads to our crops, it spreads on the wind and so will spread to other crops in the vicinity. Commercial growers spray as often as every six days I understand (Tattieman will hopefully comment on this if he reads this post) and so any cross infection should be controlled but in a wet season what is sprayed on can quickly be washed off.

Any new growers out there should note that they too can prevent the disease getting a hold with the use of proprietary sprays (I know many of us try to grow organically mind) and once the disease gets a hold, cutting down the shaws/haulms and removing them will prevent damage.

In order to avoid getting the disease, growing early varieties which mature before the blight season works well as does growing blight resistant varieties.

Bottom line though is that blight is a naturally occurring disease which takes hold during periods of high temperature and humidity - Smith periods. Blightwatch.co.uk - the essential service for professional potato growers Rainfall alone doesn't cause it and people growing their own spuds don't cause it either.

[veggiechicken]

Potato Council Board meeting:-
A. Potato prices are going up this year and the consumer will complain.
B. We can't blame the weather this time - everyone uses that excuse.
C. *scratches head* - I know, lets blame the consumer, specifically those who grow there own and don't buy our potatoes - the allotment growers for one.
B. But they're the ones who give us advance warning of blight so that we can spray our fields.
A Ignore that, let's just pass the blame onto them............

[Aberdeenplotter]

clever woman that VC xx

[VirginVegGrower]

Then the growers should tell the supermarkets to stop charging an arm and a leg. Plus I do not want my food sprayed with whatever **** they can get their hands on, thank you very much. I can pour unwanted chemicals down my own throat...no help required!
They also left out "stop growing tomatoes!"

[Tripmeup]

"Allan Stevenson, Chairman of the Potato Council, told trade journal The Grocer, that people should be buying potatoes from the supermarket rather than growing their own as this may help spread blight"....

Ok then, that's me convinced..

[zazen999]

If the farmers spray anyway then what's the issue?

[VirginVegGrower]

If the farmers spray anyway then what's the issue?

The real issue? Money loss! Always money...
But I love your question. Maybe you should send that to both PC (how appropriate) and to the Torygraph!

[alldigging]

There is a blight watch website and mailing list.
I did sign up but maybe too late to actually get anything from them this year (or maybe they don't send out any info)

Blightwatch.co.uk - the essential service for professional potato growers

[Aberdeenplotter]

If the farmers spray anyway then what's the issue?

It's the blame game but we ain't having it.

[PAULW]

If the EU didnt keep taking useful chemicals off the market maybe the amatuer grower could do more to help prevent pests and diseases thriving, what will happen when all products containing copper are banned.

[Potstubsdustbins]

No comment, don't want to get banned.

Oh alright then 'what a load of cow dung' you can translate that into the male gender.

Colin

[quark1]

It could be the beginning of a campaign to BAN home grown veg - variety by variety - until there is no more.

Why?

Because then we will have imposed upon us all manner of GM, sprayed and interfered heaven only knows how with veg only available through a retail outlet or direct from a farmer.

And heaven help us if it gets like parts of the USA where incredulously it is a CRIMINAL offence to grow and consume home-grown veg. Unbelievable - do a search and see for yourselves.

There are many ways TPTB try to manipulate an otherwise free population from making their own informed choices.

Another example is the badger cull called for by farmers because they spread 'BOVINE' TB. There's a clue in the name of the disease and I would suggest that a vaccination programme of the prime animals is needed. That would cost money - thus cutting into profits.

Any manoeuvre by the food production industry to curtail or ban certain things is only in the interests of its own financial viability. The EU has a lot to answer for - but there are other powers which influence - too political or off-beam for this website - so I'll shut up now!

Please do your own research - information = power