06/02/05 large cherry drop; late blight update

Washington Ag June 2, 2005 The early estimate of a large cherry crop in Chelan and Douglas counties is changing due to a higher than normal "June Drop." That's the report in the latest weekly crop weather bulletin from the Washington Agricultural Statistics Service. Some producers were reporting 50% of the crop dropping which was being attributed to frost and cold temperatures. Meanwhile cherry producers in the Tri-Cities and Paterson area were beginning harvest this week. There have been no reports of potato late blight yet in the Columbia Basin this year but the disease is expected to be a problem. Here is the latest update from Dennis Johnson of Washington State University on the Blight Hotline. Johnson: "Some fields north of Pasco are at row closure now and a protectant fungicide should be applied at row closure and every seven days through June. Another fungicide application schedule will be given in early July." Johnson emphasizes the need to control volunteer potato plants, particularly those in fields that had late blight in them last year or the year before. The recent hot weather did allow farmers to complete the planting of potatoes, spring wheat and barley and also slowed the development of rust that affected a significant amount of wheat acreage. I'm Bob Hoff.