Johnson speaks with WAGM about potato diseases for The County Ag Report
Steven Johnson, a crops specialist and Extension professor with the University of Maine Cooperative Extension, spoke with WAGM (Channel 8 in Presque Isle) for an edition of The County Ag Report focusing on potato diseases. Johnson works to identify diseases in potato samples for the public. “I get samples from all over the country and North America and, in fact, the world,” said Johnson. But he focuses on Aroostook County and its community. “I know the farmers, their dogs, their wives, that sort of stuff. This is what I do. We’re in the people business.” One frequently occurring disease is dickeya, which infects seed potatoes and causes tuber rotting, WAGM reported. Johnson said the only way to eliminate the disease is to not replant the infected potatoes. For those needing help identifying and treating potato diseases, Johnson has some advice. “If you’ve got problems or spots on your leaves, bring them in to the [Extension] office,” he said. “We can tell you whether it’s septoria leaf spot, whether it’s alternaria leaf spot, whether it’s late blight, we can look at that and tell you whether it’s going to be a big problem or not a big problem.” Johnson also runs a hotline with updates on the forecast for the growing season, including late blight; the hotline can be reached at 760.9IPM.