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Potato Black Dot Survey
Potato All Locations
Black dot
Posted on: July 24, 2026 by Nora Olsen
We are seeking your input on black dot. A research initiative on managing black dot is being organized and would like to know the significance of black dot to your organization, the current management practices you are using, and how well you think they are working. Please take a moment to answer these questions in this short survey:
https://ndstate.co1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_0wRJGV9gYStqIzY
The survey can also be accessed through this QR code.
Sincerely,
Jeff Miller
Ken Frost
» https://ndstate.co1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_0wRJGV9gYStqIzY
Loopers in Potato
Potato All Locations
Loopers
Posted on: July 23, 2026 by Desiree Wickwar, Erik Wenninger
Loopers have been detected in some potato fields across the state. Both cabbage looper (Trichoplusia ni) and alfalfa looper (Autographa californica) may be present, although research has shown that cabbage looper is the more common and impactful species in potato. Loopers are small caterpillars that moving in a "looping" fashion, like an inchworm. These caterpillars feed on potato foliage, chewing irregular holes and ragged leaf edges. Potatoes can sustain a considerable amount of defoliation without affecting marketable yield. The crop is most sensitive during full bloom, but even at this stage, defoliation of approximately 10% appears to cause little or no yield loss. No established economic thresholds exist, and insecticide applications are generally not warranted unless defoliation exceeds this level during bloom (and likely much higher levels later in the season).
Before making a treatment decision, confirm that loopers are actively present on the foliage. Feeding damage and frass are often more obvious than the caterpillars themselves, though loopers do remain on the foliage and can be detected during normal scouting. However, keep in mind that in some cases larvae have already pupated before damage is noticed. If treatment is necessary, choose insecticides carefully. Broad-spectrum products can wipe out beneficial insects that help suppress loopers, as well as beneficials that suppress aphids; therefore, such products can flare aphids. Accurate identification is also important: caterpillars of other species, including the highly visible cabbage white butterfly, are not a concern in potato. For more information, including insecticide options, see the PNW Insect Management Handbook page on loopers in potato: https://pnwhandbooks.org/insect/vegetable/irish-potato/potato-irish-looper.
» https://pnwhandbooks.org/insect/vegetable/irish-potato/potato-irish-looper
More psyllids found; one Lso positive psyllids captured last week
Potato All Locations
potato psyllid
Posted on: July 23, 2026 by Tasha Stanzak
·
This week we received traps from all 55 fields that
we are monitoring.
·
We captured a total of 72 psyllids spread across
28 fields.
·
Captures were from the following counties: Owyhee,
Canyon, Elmore, Gooding, Jerome, Twin Falls, Minidoka, and Cassia.
·
Of the 42 psyllids captured last week, one from
Twin Falls County tested positive for Lso.
·
For psyllids captured this week, we expect to
have results on Lso incidence next week.
Psyllid
captures this week were higher than at this time last year, though Lso
incidence is still relatively low at this time. Psyllid captures appear to be
creeping up a bit, which is not surprising given the high temperatures and the
time of the season. Overall captures this year have so far tended to be higher
than for the last four years, but still not nearly as high as some prior years.
Risk of ZC so far looks to be moderate to low.
More information on
management of potato psyllids and ZC can be found here:
https://www.uidaho.edu/extension/food/ipm/ag-pests/psyllids
To view the
weekly data by site in the old spreadsheet format: https://tinyurl.com/potatopsyllid
Please visit
the Idaho Pest Monitoring Dashboard, for graphical summaries of our psyllid
captures from 2020 through 2025 and an archive of this year’s weekly updates as
the season progresses: https://idahopestmonitoring.org/
More psyllids found; two Lso positive psyllids captured last week
Potato All Locations
potato psyllid
Posted on: July 16, 2026 by Tasha Stanzak
·
This week we received traps from 54 fields of
the 55 fields that we are monitoring.
·
We captured a total of 42 psyllids spread across
17 fields.
·
Captures were from the following counties: Owyhee,
Canyon, Elmore, Jerome, Twin Falls, Minidoka, Bingham, and Bannock.
·
Of the 54 psyllids captured last week, two
tested positive for Lso.
·
For psyllids captured this week, we expect to
have results on Lso incidence next week.
Psyllid
captures this week were higher than at this time last year, though Lso
incidence is still low at this time.
More information on
management of potato psyllids and ZC can be found here:
https://www.uidaho.edu/cals/potatoes/pest-management/psyllid-management
To view the
weekly data by site in the old spreadsheet format: https://tinyurl.com/potatopsyllid
Please visit
the Idaho Pest Monitoring Dashboard, for graphical summaries of our psyllid
captures from 2020 through 2025 and an archive of this year’s weekly updates as
the season progresses: https://idahopestmonitoring.org/
Psyllid captures rise slightly; one Lso positive psyllid captured last week
Potato All Locations
potato psyllid
Posted on: July 9, 2026 by Tasha Stanzak
·
This week we received traps from all 55 fields
that we are monitoring.
·
We captured a total of 54 psyllids spread across
20 fields.
·
Captures were from the following counties: Canyon,
Elmore, Jerome, Gooding, Twin Falls, Minidoka, Cassia, and Bannock.
·
Of the 26 psyllids captured last week, one
tested positive for Lso.
·
For psyllids captured this week, we expect to
have results on Lso incidence next week.
Psyllid
captures this week were higher than at this time last year, though Lso
incidence still seems low at this time. Stay tuned for next week’s Lso results.
More information on
management of potato psyllids and ZC can be found here:
https://www.uidaho.edu/cals/potatoes/pest-management/psyllid-management
To view the
weekly data by site in the old spreadsheet format: https://tinyurl.com/potatopsyllid
Please visit
the Idaho Pest Monitoring Dashboard, for graphical summaries of our psyllid
captures from 2020 through 2025 and an archive of this year’s weekly updates as
the season progresses: https://idahopestmonitoring.org/
2026 Potato psyllid monitoring program underway in Idaho
Potato All Locations
potato psyllid
Posted on: July 2, 2026 by Tasha Stanzak
The University
of Idaho and our crop consultant collaborators across the state are once again
monitoring potato psyllids, zebra chip disease (ZC), and liberibacter (Lso),
the bacterium associated with ZC. The monitoring program covers commercial
potato fields throughout southern Idaho and is funded largely by the Idaho
Potato Commission and generous in-kind contributions from our cooperators.
Our official
monitoring season began last week with the wide deployment of traps and will
continue for at least 10 weeks. We have 55 fields across the state this year,
using 4 sticky traps per field at all sites.
·
This week we received traps from all 55 fields
that we are monitoring.
·
We captured a total of 26 psyllids.
·
Captures were from the following counties: Canyon,
Elmore, Twin Falls, Minidoka, and Cassia.
·
For psyllids captured this week, we expect to
have results on Lso incidence next week.
We captured
more psyllids this week than at this time last year, though not as many as the
year before. It remains to be seen what kind of pressure we’ll see this year,
so stay tuned.
More information on
management of potato psyllids and ZC can be found here:
https://www.uidaho.edu/extension/food/ipm/ag-pests/psyllids
To view the
weekly data by site in the old spreadsheet format: https://tinyurl.com/potatopsyllid
Please visit
the Idaho Pest Monitoring Dashboard, for graphical summaries of our psyllid
captures from 2020 through 2025 and an archive of this year’s weekly updates as
the season progresses: https://idahopestmonitoring.org/
Stripe rust in spring wheat
All Crops Eastern Idaho, Magic Valley
Stripe rust
Posted on: June 26, 2026 by Juliet Marshall
Stripe rust is starting to show up in susceptible spring wheat varieties, WB7696 and UI Gold in eastern Idaho. This is a late-season infection, but if the crop is within the PHI for fungicide applications (up to anthesis), consider spraying susceptible varieties with a systemic fungicide. (See the attached Fungicide Efficacy table for effective fungicides. Do not use a strobilurin fungicide at this late date, due to the potential impact on increasing DON levels from Fusarium fungi.)
Much of the spring wheat crop will be post-anthesis (flowering) and in the grain fill stage, which is too late to apply fungicides.
Stripe can still cause yield loss at this late stage of crop growth, but consider economic implications, crop growth stage and host resistance. High-temperature adult plant resistance will be of limited effectiveness depending on the strain of stripe rust and the temperatures (which are going lower this weekend).
Susceptible spring wheat: WB7696, WB9707, UI Stone, UI Gold, Dagmar
Moderately Susceptible: LCS Hammer AX, UI Cookie, Jefferson, UI Platinum
Thanks to Mark Morgan and Dale Clark for reporting stripe rust in commercial and Extension variety trial fields in the area! Please report occurrences to your local UI Extension county educator or to the UI Cereals Extension Team.
Juliet
-- Juliet M. Marshall, Ph.D.
Associate Director of the Idaho Agricultural Experiment Station
Endowed Research Professor, Cereals Pathology and Agronomy
Idaho Falls R&E Center
1776 Science Center Drive Suite 205
Idaho Falls, ID 83402
208-529-8376 office
208-390-4859 cell
http://www.uidaho.edu/extension/cereals/scseidaho
Cereals Field Days - Lions and Tigers and Bears! Oh my...
All Crops Eastern Idaho, Magic Valley
Stripe rust, bacterial blight, black chaff, freeze damage, soilborne diseases and viruses - all present this year
Posted on: June 26, 2026 by Juliet Marshall
The Cereals Team is hosting Cereal Field Days at the following dates and locations:
Tuesday July 7th, Rupert starting at 9:30 AM
Thursday, July 9th - ABERDEEN R&E Center - the main event! Joint UI/LCS starting at 8 AM
Friday, July 10th - Rockland dryland winter field day - Joint field day with Wheat Breeding Program
Tuesday, July 15th - Idaho Falls starting at 9:30 AM
Wednesday, July 22nd - Soda Springs - starting at 10 AM
Thursday, July 23rd - Tetonia R&E Center starting at 10 AM
HOPE TO SEE YOU THERE at one event or at all ;-)
Potato Black Dot Survey
Potato All Locations
Black dot
Posted on: July 24, 2026 by Nora Olsen
We are seeking your input on black dot. A research initiative on managing black dot is being organized and would like to know the significance of black dot to your organization, the current management practices you are using, and how well you think they are working. Please take a moment to answer these questions in this short survey:
https://ndstate.co1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_0wRJGV9gYStqIzY
The survey can also be accessed through this QR code.
Sincerely,
Jeff Miller
Ken Frost
» https://ndstate.co1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_0wRJGV9gYStqIzY
Loopers in Potato
Potato All Locations
Loopers
Posted on: July 23, 2026 by Desiree Wickwar, Erik Wenninger
Loopers have been detected in some potato fields across the state. Both cabbage looper (Trichoplusia ni) and alfalfa looper (Autographa californica) may be present, although research has shown that cabbage looper is the more common and impactful species in potato. Loopers are small caterpillars that moving in a "looping" fashion, like an inchworm. These caterpillars feed on potato foliage, chewing irregular holes and ragged leaf edges. Potatoes can sustain a considerable amount of defoliation without affecting marketable yield. The crop is most sensitive during full bloom, but even at this stage, defoliation of approximately 10% appears to cause little or no yield loss. No established economic thresholds exist, and insecticide applications are generally not warranted unless defoliation exceeds this level during bloom (and likely much higher levels later in the season).
Before making a treatment decision, confirm that loopers are actively present on the foliage. Feeding damage and frass are often more obvious than the caterpillars themselves, though loopers do remain on the foliage and can be detected during normal scouting. However, keep in mind that in some cases larvae have already pupated before damage is noticed. If treatment is necessary, choose insecticides carefully. Broad-spectrum products can wipe out beneficial insects that help suppress loopers, as well as beneficials that suppress aphids; therefore, such products can flare aphids. Accurate identification is also important: caterpillars of other species, including the highly visible cabbage white butterfly, are not a concern in potato. For more information, including insecticide options, see the PNW Insect Management Handbook page on loopers in potato: https://pnwhandbooks.org/insect/vegetable/irish-potato/potato-irish-looper.
» https://pnwhandbooks.org/insect/vegetable/irish-potato/potato-irish-looper
More psyllids found; one Lso positive psyllids captured last week
Potato All Locations
potato psyllid
Posted on: July 23, 2026 by Tasha Stanzak
·
This week we received traps from all 55 fields that
we are monitoring.
·
We captured a total of 72 psyllids spread across
28 fields.
·
Captures were from the following counties: Owyhee,
Canyon, Elmore, Gooding, Jerome, Twin Falls, Minidoka, and Cassia.
·
Of the 42 psyllids captured last week, one from
Twin Falls County tested positive for Lso.
·
For psyllids captured this week, we expect to
have results on Lso incidence next week.
Psyllid
captures this week were higher than at this time last year, though Lso
incidence is still relatively low at this time. Psyllid captures appear to be
creeping up a bit, which is not surprising given the high temperatures and the
time of the season. Overall captures this year have so far tended to be higher
than for the last four years, but still not nearly as high as some prior years.
Risk of ZC so far looks to be moderate to low.
More information on
management of potato psyllids and ZC can be found here:
https://www.uidaho.edu/extension/food/ipm/ag-pests/psyllids
To view the
weekly data by site in the old spreadsheet format: https://tinyurl.com/potatopsyllid
Please visit
the Idaho Pest Monitoring Dashboard, for graphical summaries of our psyllid
captures from 2020 through 2025 and an archive of this year’s weekly updates as
the season progresses: https://idahopestmonitoring.org/
» https://idahopestmonitoring.org/
More psyllids found; two Lso positive psyllids captured last week
Potato All Locations
potato psyllid
Posted on: July 16, 2026 by Tasha Stanzak
·
This week we received traps from 54 fields of
the 55 fields that we are monitoring.
·
We captured a total of 42 psyllids spread across
17 fields.
·
Captures were from the following counties: Owyhee,
Canyon, Elmore, Jerome, Twin Falls, Minidoka, Bingham, and Bannock.
·
Of the 54 psyllids captured last week, two
tested positive for Lso.
·
For psyllids captured this week, we expect to
have results on Lso incidence next week.
Psyllid
captures this week were higher than at this time last year, though Lso
incidence is still low at this time.
More information on
management of potato psyllids and ZC can be found here:
https://www.uidaho.edu/cals/potatoes/pest-management/psyllid-management
To view the
weekly data by site in the old spreadsheet format: https://tinyurl.com/potatopsyllid
Please visit
the Idaho Pest Monitoring Dashboard, for graphical summaries of our psyllid
captures from 2020 through 2025 and an archive of this year’s weekly updates as
the season progresses: https://idahopestmonitoring.org/
» https://idahopestmonitoring.org/
Psyllid captures rise slightly; one Lso positive psyllid captured last week
Potato All Locations
potato psyllid
Posted on: July 9, 2026 by Tasha Stanzak
·
This week we received traps from all 55 fields
that we are monitoring.
·
We captured a total of 54 psyllids spread across
20 fields.
·
Captures were from the following counties: Canyon,
Elmore, Jerome, Gooding, Twin Falls, Minidoka, Cassia, and Bannock.
·
Of the 26 psyllids captured last week, one
tested positive for Lso.
·
For psyllids captured this week, we expect to
have results on Lso incidence next week.
Psyllid
captures this week were higher than at this time last year, though Lso
incidence still seems low at this time. Stay tuned for next week’s Lso results.
More information on
management of potato psyllids and ZC can be found here:
https://www.uidaho.edu/cals/potatoes/pest-management/psyllid-management
To view the
weekly data by site in the old spreadsheet format: https://tinyurl.com/potatopsyllid
Please visit
the Idaho Pest Monitoring Dashboard, for graphical summaries of our psyllid
captures from 2020 through 2025 and an archive of this year’s weekly updates as
the season progresses: https://idahopestmonitoring.org/
» https://idahopestmonitoring.org/
2026 Potato psyllid monitoring program underway in Idaho
Potato All Locations
potato psyllid
Posted on: July 2, 2026 by Tasha Stanzak
The University
of Idaho and our crop consultant collaborators across the state are once again
monitoring potato psyllids, zebra chip disease (ZC), and liberibacter (Lso),
the bacterium associated with ZC. The monitoring program covers commercial
potato fields throughout southern Idaho and is funded largely by the Idaho
Potato Commission and generous in-kind contributions from our cooperators.
Our official
monitoring season began last week with the wide deployment of traps and will
continue for at least 10 weeks. We have 55 fields across the state this year,
using 4 sticky traps per field at all sites.
·
This week we received traps from all 55 fields
that we are monitoring.
·
We captured a total of 26 psyllids.
·
Captures were from the following counties: Canyon,
Elmore, Twin Falls, Minidoka, and Cassia.
·
For psyllids captured this week, we expect to
have results on Lso incidence next week.
We captured
more psyllids this week than at this time last year, though not as many as the
year before. It remains to be seen what kind of pressure we’ll see this year,
so stay tuned.
More information on
management of potato psyllids and ZC can be found here:
https://www.uidaho.edu/extension/food/ipm/ag-pests/psyllids
To view the
weekly data by site in the old spreadsheet format: https://tinyurl.com/potatopsyllid
Please visit
the Idaho Pest Monitoring Dashboard, for graphical summaries of our psyllid
captures from 2020 through 2025 and an archive of this year’s weekly updates as
the season progresses: https://idahopestmonitoring.org/
» https://idahopestmonitoring.org/
Stripe rust in spring wheat
All Crops Eastern Idaho, Magic Valley
Stripe rust
Posted on: June 26, 2026 by Juliet Marshall
Stripe rust is starting to show up in susceptible spring wheat varieties, WB7696 and UI Gold in eastern Idaho. This is a late-season infection, but if the crop is within the PHI for fungicide applications (up to anthesis), consider spraying susceptible varieties with a systemic fungicide. (See the attached Fungicide Efficacy table for effective fungicides. Do not use a strobilurin fungicide at this late date, due to the potential impact on increasing DON levels from Fusarium fungi.)
Much of the spring wheat crop will be post-anthesis (flowering) and in the grain fill stage, which is too late to apply fungicides.
Stripe can still cause yield loss at this late stage of crop growth, but consider economic implications, crop growth stage and host resistance. High-temperature adult plant resistance will be of limited effectiveness depending on the strain of stripe rust and the temperatures (which are going lower this weekend).
Susceptible spring wheat: WB7696, WB9707, UI Stone, UI Gold, Dagmar
Moderately Susceptible: LCS Hammer AX, UI Cookie, Jefferson, UI Platinum
Thanks to Mark Morgan and Dale Clark for reporting stripe rust in commercial and Extension variety trial fields in the area! Please report occurrences to your local UI Extension county educator or to the UI Cereals Extension Team.
Juliet
-- Juliet M. Marshall, Ph.D.
Associate Director of the Idaho Agricultural Experiment Station
Endowed Research Professor, Cereals Pathology and Agronomy
Idaho Falls R&E Center
1776 Science Center Drive Suite 205
Idaho Falls, ID 83402
208-529-8376 office
208-390-4859 cell
http://www.uidaho.edu/extension/cereals/scseidaho
» NCRA184_Wheat_fungicide_table_2026_FINAL.pdf
Cereals Field Days - Lions and Tigers and Bears! Oh my...
All Crops Eastern Idaho, Magic Valley
Stripe rust, bacterial blight, black chaff, freeze damage, soilborne diseases and viruses - all present this year
Posted on: June 26, 2026 by Juliet Marshall
The Cereals Team is hosting Cereal Field Days at the following dates and locations:
Tuesday July 7th, Rupert starting at 9:30 AM
Thursday, July 9th - ABERDEEN R&E Center - the main event! Joint UI/LCS starting at 8 AM
Friday, July 10th - Rockland dryland winter field day - Joint field day with Wheat Breeding Program
Tuesday, July 15th - Idaho Falls starting at 9:30 AM
Wednesday, July 22nd - Soda Springs - starting at 10 AM
Thursday, July 23rd - Tetonia R&E Center starting at 10 AM
HOPE TO SEE YOU THERE at one event or at all ;-)
» UI_Extension_2026_Cereals_Field_Days.pdf
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