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Meeting focuses on battling squash, zucchini, pumpkin disease.
#MSUExtension
HART – Have you heard of the Irish potato famine? Unfortunately, this past fall a relative of this disease continued to cause much damage to our squash growers. This disease – known as Phytophthora – can turn beautiful fields into squash, zucchini and pumpkin graveyards during periods of heavy rain.
If your farm has suffered from this disease, there will be a chance Jan. 31 at the extension office in Hart to hear from national experts at MSU and Cornell University. They will give an overview of the disease; allow participants a hands-on chance to learn about disease identification and biology; and share the latest, unbiased research on how to use both old and new products to protect crops.
“When I started my position six years ago, there were very limited options for controlling Phytophthora,” said Ben Werling, Michigan State University Extension Educator. “Things are changing, as research, grower experience, and new products make it possible to develop a control program that can make a real difference. This workshop will allow us to hear about this from our own MSU expert Dr. Hausbeck, while providing a fresh perspective from Dr. Christine Smart, who has dedicated part of her lifetime of research to this pathogen in New York state.”
The program has received five Michigan pesticide re-certification credits in the categories of private core, commercial core or 1B and 4.5 Certified Crop Advisors’ Continuing Education Units.
The Phytophthora and Cucurbit Downy Mildew meeting will be Jan. 31, 2019 at the MSU Extension Office, 844 S. Griswold St., from 9:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. Breakfast and lunch will be provided. The cost of the workshop is $35. To register, call the Oceana County MSU Extension office at 231-873-2129 or visit http://bit.ly/pcaphart.
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