Information provided by Dr. P.B. Shoemaker, Extension Specialist, Dept. of Plant Pathology, Fletcher, NC.
The Extension Agents reported blue mold from about 2/3 of NC's burley production area, though it's likely that blue mold was present in all 18 burley-producing counties. Expected losses from blue mold in 1997 will be less than half of the 30% (approx. $9 million) losses experienced in 1995 and 1996. The reduction can be attributed to better disease control efforts by burley producers. These include reduced importation of transplants from other areas and improvements in Acrobat MZ fungicide usage. The improvements in blue mold management in 1997 are a direct result of educational efforts by Extension Plant Pathology and Extension Agents, as well as the increased awareness and timely information provided by the North American Blue Mold Forecasting System.
The following counties reported blue mold in 1997 (reporting dates follow each county name): Madison (June 11), Buncombe (June 17), Mitchell (July 2), Yancey (July 3), Clay (July 8), Avery (July 10), Haywood (July 14), and Alleghany (July 21). Counties not reporting but known to have blue mold: Ashe, Watauga, Henderson, and Transylvania.
Information provided by Dr. T. A. Melton, Extension Specialist, Dept. of Plant Pathology, NCSU
Blue mold was widespread in flue-cured tobacco in 1997, putting approximately 75% of the crop at risk. The epidemic began in Greene and surrounding counties when tobacco was less than a foot tall. Average losses to blue mold in these counties ranged from one to five percent. Local losses could have reached 10% without Acrobat MZ applications. Statewide, the average flue-cured loss was 0.25%. Again, this loss could have been as high as 1% without Acrobat. Potential local and statewide losses would have greatly exceeded these estimates if wet weather had continued into late June. Acrobat MZ was sprayed on 57,949 (19%) acres, most of which was east of I-95. Approximately 26% of the treated acreage was sprayed once, 66% twice, and 8% three times. The acres receiving one application averaged about 0.5 lb/A, those receiving two applications averaged 1.5 lb/A, and those receiving three averaged about 3 lb/A. These figures suggest that growers started applying the material when recommended by the NC Cooperative Extension service and applied rates consistent with rates specified in the Section 18.
The epidemic is still in progress at this date in western North Carolina, Kentucky, Tennessee, and Virginia because of the late crop. Please look for further updates as more information becomes available.
Web page last updated by Thomas Keever on 23 February 1998.