UW Madison Vegetable Pathology

My research program investigates the ecology of fungus and fungus-like plant pathogens for enhanced and integrated disease management to support commercial agriculture in Wisconsin. We have three main areas of focus: management of Phytophthora species pathogenic on potato and vegetable crops in field and storage, investigating species distribution and occurrence of pathogenic Alternaria affecting potato, and development of integrated disease management programming in potato systems to reduce reliance upon soil fumigation in managing key soilborne diseases. As the University of Wisconsin Extension Potato and Vegetable Pathologist, my program supports vegetable growers by providing research-based recommendations for controlling diseases during production and in storage. My research program directly feeds into my extension work.

Vegetable Crop Update Newsletter

Get the latest information about disease management in vegetable crop production in Wisconsin. To be added to the email listserv and receive this newsletter in your inbox, please contact Amanda Gevens.

Late blight detection in SW Michigan

August 13, 2026

Please note an important disease update. Potato late blight (clonal lineage/genotype US-23) was discovered in a south-western Michigan County (St. Joseph) on August 12, 2026. Initial characterization of the pathogen was completed by Rob Schafer and his lab at Mid-Michigan Agronomy in DeWitt Michigan. Samples were also sent to Dr. Phillip Wharton at the University of Idaho Potato Pathology lab for secondary confirmation. Rob shared with his grower clients that the weather forecasted for the area over the next 5 days (temps in the 70s) is conducive for late blight development and he urged growers to be extra vigilant in…
Vegetable Crop Update – Aug 9, 2026

August 9, 2026

In this issue: Potato Early and Late Blight Disease Risk Modelling and Management | Cucurbit Downy Mildew Updates | Weather and Potato Production Updates | Aphid Pests of Vegetable Crops | UW Extension Potato Groundwater Quality Field Day Update
Vegetable Crop Update – Aug 2, 2026

August 2, 2026

In this issue: Potato Early and Late Blight Disease Risk Model Updates | Cucurbit Downy Mildew Updates | Hail Damage and Disease Management | European Corn Borer Updates and Management | Corn Earworm Updates and Management

Upcoming Events

Feb 9

2027 WPVGA and UW Extension Grower Education Conference
February 9, 2027 (all day) – February 11, 2027 (all day)

The 2027 Wisconsin Potato and Vegetable Growers Association (WPVGA) and UW Extension Grower Education Conference will be held Tuesday, Feb 9, through Thursday, Feb 11, 2026, at the Holiday Inn Hotel & Convention Center in Stevens Point, WI. Growers attending the conference will have the opportunity to get a head start on the season with …

More events

Additional Resources

Vegetable Disease Resources

Learn more about common vegetable diseases, disease risk prediction tools, and other online and print resources.

Decision Support Tools

View weather data and disease severity values in interactive charts for managing the risk of early blight and late blight of potato from a select set of locations in Wisconsin.