ANALYSIS by the British Potato Council indicates fewer reported blight infections this year. However, the majority of cases have occurred late in the season due to August being one of the wettest on record.
A comparison with the same period during the last week in August 2003 shows 12 per cent fewer total castes of the disease with less severe infections reported by the council's network of voluntary blight scouts who regularly monitor crops.
Dr Rob Clayton said the late-season pressure reminded growers to keep monitoring their crops all the way up to harvest, particularly those fields that showed signs of blight on the haulm.
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