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Earlier this week, the Wyoming and Nebraska Department's of
Agriculture issued a special fungicide exemption to help
southeastern Wyoming and western Nebraska sugar beet growers fight
Cercospora Leaf Spot. State Agriculture Director Merlyn Carlson
issued a crisis exemption effective last Monday for the use of
Eminent to help combat Cercospora Leaf Spot.
Wyoming Agriculture Director Jim Bigelow also released a similar
exemption for Wyoming.
Agriculturists from Holly and Western are asking growers to
monitor their fields for outbreaks.
According to Rick Griffith, ag manager for Holly Sugar, two
fields have been positively identified for Cercospora Leaf Spot. One
field is in the Gering Valley area and the other is located near
Veteran.
"We wanted to alert our growers to scout their fields more
often and prepare to spray their fields if it becomes
necessary," he said.
According to Mark Bjornestad, agriculturist with Western Sugar,
the Hemingford area has been hit the hardest. "The growers are
treating a few fields in Hemingford that are affected," he
said. Bjornestad estimates between 300-500 acres are effected.
Cercospora Leaf Spot kills the leaf tissue and can significantly
reduce yields if the fields are left untreated.
According to Bjornestad, the disease starts out as gray spots on
leaves of the sugar beet plant, which are about the size of a beebee
or pinhole. There is typically a purplish-reddish halo around the
spot.
Griffith said the hot, humid weather is ideal for outbreaks to
occur. "The closed rows also causes humidity to build up under
the canopy," he said.
Although the special exemption is for Eminent, growers can also
use Super 10 or Topsin Benlate, which will also do a good job,
Griffith said, if they are applied in a timely fashion.
"The best control is to prevent it from entering the
field," said Griffith. "They could put fungicide on before
it develops. The fungicide will last anywhere from 14-21 days.
If the conditions are still favorable, they may have to put on a
second application. The first application is the most important. It
will give pretty good protection."
Jerry Darnell, senior agriculturist for Western Sugar in
Scottsbluff, said they haven't had any positive cases in the
Scottsbluff area. "The monitors are moderate right now,"
he said. "We haven't had anyone here treat for it yet."
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