This guide for organic production of potatoes provides an outline of cultural and pest management practices and includes topics that have an impact on improving plant health and reducing pest problems. Updated for 2016....

Potatoes are a vegetatively propagated crop, and many disease organisms including several viruses and a viroid are disseminated in tubers. The important role that tubers play in virus spread is recognized by the strict requirements for foundation...

Beneficial insects such as Trichogramma ostriniae can be used as part of an integrated management program for European corn borer or on their own to reduce ECB damage. Releasing beneficial insects is an approved practice for certified organic...

Rhizoctonia solani is a fungus that attacks tubers, underground stems, and stolons of potato plants. Although it probably occurs wherever potatoes are grown, it causes economically significant damage only in cool, wet soils. In temperate production...

losses and detract from the appearance of the processed product. The occurrence of scab and its severity varies by season and from field to field. Cropping history, soil moisture, and soil texture are largely responsible for this variability. Potato scab...

) , Colletotrichum can cause severe rotting of below-ground plant parts and early plant decline leading to discolored tubers and reduce~ yields. The same black dot organism causes anthracnose or npe-fru1t disease of tomato, and can occur on other solanaceous crops...
, the organism does not penetrate intact tuber skin, but can grow and sporulate on damaged tissue. This limited growth, however, does not appear to provide entry sites for secondary fungal or bacterial invaders in stored tubers. In a three-month greenhouse test...

that has maneb, mancozeb, chlorothalonil, or fixed copper as an active ingredient AND has tomato and potato late blight on the label. Of these fungicides, only some of the fixed copper products are approved for organic production. Contact your Cornell...
or were forced to emigrate. Entire potato crops rotted in the field or in storage because of late blight infection. Late blight is caused by an oomycete pathogen that survives from one season to the next in infected potato tubers. This organism is well...

rot develops slowly and may not be severe until quite late into the storage period. This decay may allow the entry of secondary organisms such as Fusarium fungi and soft rot bacteria. �CONTROL The following measures will help prevent the occurrence...
. Surface tubers infected by conidia washed from leaves. ~,'~'~:~~"~:,~~:~~,-'".~"~~~~"'~",~",~~~ ~~~~~' ~~"~ "Target" spots Early Blight Disease Cycle Adapted in part from North Dakota State University Extension Bulletin 26, 1976, 'Potato Production...

seeking hibernation sites in the fall may become a nuisance on the walls and at doorways and windows where they congregate. Control Numerous natural control organisms exist in the field. Both parasites and predators are useful. A fungus Beauveria bassiana...
for maximum potato production. In many areas of the Northeast the Colorado potato beetle has become resistant to most pesticides. Control is further complicated by the ability of the species to produce thousands of new eggs per acre. Consult your local...

of action to avoid or delay field resistance. 18) Chose effective labeled pesticides with the least environmental and beneficial organism impact (EIQ). 19) Calibrate sprayer at least once per season. 20) Keep complete records of soil tests, fertilizer...
publications: Integrated Crop and Pest Management Guidelines for Commercial Vegetable Production. A Method to Measure the Environmental Impact of Pesticides. 1992. New York Food and Life Sciences Bulletin Number 139. The above reference material can be obtained...