05/18/07 Idaho potato disease impacts???

The University of Idaho has lost a lot of expertise in the Agriculture Department in recent years due to retirement or people moving on to better paying jobs. The loss of potato experts Jeff Miller and Bryan Hopkins this past year will be felt says U of I's Phil Nolte. NOLTE "This time of year the kind of phone calls that are going around usually have to do with seed performance issues which falls right into my area of responsibility anyway." But later into the season, late June or early July, Nolte says it's the Rhizoctonia calls that come in to extension offices, followed later by potential pink rot concerns. Those were areas where Miller concentrated his work. NOLTE "If my prediction is correct we're about to enter a year in which diseases may be minor players. It could be mercifully quiet (laugh) during a year when we're a bit understaffed." The University has started its search for a replacement for Miller and Nolte is hopeful that person will be hired by the end of the year. He says its not easy finding replacements. NOLTE "One of the great problems that we face in this day and age is a dwindling supply of agriculture scientists. There just ain't that many people out there that do this anymore." Weather is always the wild card and Nolte says late blight could develop if wet, windy conditions occur later in the production season. Today's Idaho Ag News Bill Scott