Late blight detection in SW Michigan
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 scouting for this important disease.
