BS: Potato famine virus back in Rhode Island

Subject: RE: BS: Potato famine virus back in Rhode Island
From: maeve
Date: 07 Jul 09 - 02:05 PM

That's correct, robomatic. That's why so many organic farmers pay special attention to crop diversification, crop rotation, soil health, healthy seed stock, intercropping, and season extenders. Small diversified farms have the potential to greatly ease local and world-wide crop failures as a result.

maeve

Subject: RE: BS: Potato famine virus back in Rhode Island
From: robomatic
Date: 07 Jul 09 - 12:44 PM

one important point, though, while we obtain our calories from differing major crops, those individual crops are now much more "self-same" so that if something nasty and hard-to-combat got its hooks into a major wheat, or corn, or potato strain, it would have implications for food prices, the usual overproduction, and the fates of millions of people dependent on our crop surpluses.

Subject: RE: BS: Potato famine virus back in Rhode Island
From: maeve
Date: 07 Jul 09 - 05:58 AM

GUEST- No reports of Late Potato Blight in Aroostook County so far as I know; nor is there any reason to panic. This is a manageable, temporary situation. Thank you for your concern.

When the LP Blight hit Ireland, potatoes were the primary crop for food. The situation is much less dire today, with many different crops available for food. Management is basically hygiene through removal of infected plants and would certainly cause severe economic hardship here in Maine and in other major potato (and tomato) growing communities, but nothing like the famine that resulted in Ireland.

I don't expect anyone to die as a consequence. We are fortunate to have the modern communication tools that permit us to inform one another BEFORE the problem becomes widespread.

maeve

Subject: RE: BS: Potato famine virus back in Rhode Island
From: maeve
Date: 06 Jul 09 - 08:19 PM

I'm sorry, the correct name is "Late Potato Blight". It's not a virus. Blame it on me being tired.

M

Subject: RE: BS: Potato famine virus back in Rhode Island
From: maeve
Date: 06 Jul 09 - 04:02 PM

From the Gardening thread a few days ago:


Late Potato virus


No problems on our Midcoast Maine farm so far.

maeve

Subject: RE: BS: Potato famine virus back in Rhode Island
From: Paul Burke
Date: 06 Jul 09 - 03:55 PM

Will we get Americans flooding back to Ireland in coughing ships?

Subject: RE: BS: Potato famine virus back in Rhode Island
From: Bee-dubya-ell
Date: 06 Jul 09 - 03:53 PM

Link to a news article.

Subject: BS: Potato famine virus back in Rhode Island
From: GUEST,mg
Date: 06 Jul 09 - 03:29 PM

I don't have the exact link..just saw the news though...it is affecting potato and tomato farms back east. My first instinct is to panic, having been sure my whole life it would come back, like a monster in wait. But hopefully they have better ways of combating it and a wider variety of foods. They said it has to be combatted early though and will be hard for organic farmers. mg