Late blight has been reported in tomato on an organic farm near Long Valley in Morris County, New Jersey. The cooler weather along with longer periods of leaf wetness lasting into the morning hours this time of year makes conditions ideal for potential Late blight development. As a reminder, once fields or blocks of tomatoes are finished, care should be taken to burn down, remove, or disc down the foliage. Fields left un kept can act as a source of inoculum. Tomato fields should be scouted on a regular basis. Regular protectant fungicide programs should continue as long as fields or blocks are in production. Organic tomato growers can apply an OMRI-approved copper fungicides to help suppress late blight development.

Late blight was found in processing tomato in Salem County today. Late blight was found in an organic tomato field in Mercer County last week. All commercial and organic tomato and potato growers in NJ should now consider late blight a significant threat and should take immediate steps. All growers should scout their fields on a daily basis. All commercial tomato and potato growers should include late blight specific fungicides in their regular fungicide maintenance programs. All organic tomato and potato growers should apply OMRI-approved copper based products to help suppress late blight development. As long as the current weather conditions continue, late blight will remain a significant threat.