FORECAST SUMMARY: Monday, June 23:
***** Disease Update - 23 June ***** We have the first report of blue mold from Virginia. Our thanks to Harold Jerrell and Chuck Johnson .... who inform us of Mr. Jerrell's discovery of blue mold in Lee County, in the extreme southwestern part of Virginia. One lesion was found on one plant in a 5-acre field of burley tobacco near Jonesville. The tobacco is about knee-high and looked to be in excellent condition despite the recent wet weather. Given the proximity of Lee County, VA to Greene County, TN (just to the northwest).... we will not generate a separate forecast for this site. Users should consult the Greene County, TN forecast for trajectories from this area and forecast details.
***** Disease Update - 18 June ***** We have the first reports of blue mold from Tennessee. Our thanks to Buddy Bourne (field agronomist with the U.S. Smokeless Tobacco Company), Paul Hart (Robertson County Extension Director), and Steve Bost.... who inform us of two outbreaks of blue mold in Robertson County, TN. Both of these reports are in fields of burley tobacco near the town of Adams. One outbreak is in a small section of a larger field measuring 30ft X 30ft. Numerous lesions are present with heavy sporulation. The other outbreak involves a 5-acre field where most plants are showing symptoms, though not severely. Recent weather has been quite favorable. Other infections may exist but remain undiscovered, as the weather has been too wet for many growers to inspect their fields. This source is being added to the forecasts.
***** Dry weather dominates the eastern U.S. early this week *** A broad area of high pressure centered in the Ohio Valley region will control the weather for the next several days. Sunny to partly cloudy skies are expected with temperatures in the 80's and 90's for highs and mostly 60's for lows. There are some scattered showers in parts of FL this afternoon. On Tuesday, there is a slim chance of an afternoon shower for parts of FL or southern GA. Other than that, no rain is expected in the Ohio Valley, mid-Atlantic, or Southeast the next two days. Conditions for survivable transport and deposition are very unfavorable for all transport events. There is Low Threat from all known sources on Monday and Tuesday, with Low Risk to tobacco crops.
TK
Areas at Strongly Moderate or HIGH Risk during the past week: northern FL, southern GA, central and eastern SC, central and eastern NC, the southern Appalachian Mountains, north-central TN, south-central KY
Current Sources:
Previous Sources:
Pinar del Rio, Cuba
Santiago, Dominican Republic
Papantla, Veracruz, Mexico
Tepic, Nayarit, Mexico
Corpus Christi, Texas
Local Weather in North Carolina is available from the WRAL-TV5 Weather Center, which also has links to other weather sites.
***** NOTE: These forecasts/outlooks only apply to disease development from airborne transport of spores!!! We do not have the capability to ascertain blue mold development by other means, such as transplanting of infected seedlings, nor will we attempt to do so. Please consult the Extension Service personnel in your area if you have concerns about these matters! *****
This service is provided by the North Carolina State University departments of Plant Pathology and Marine, Earth, and Atmospheric Sciences.