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Published September 02, 2009, 10:30 AM

Potato blight threat eases in Red River Valley

The Northern Plains Potato Growers Association says potato blight in the Red River Valley appears to be well-contained.

GRAFTON, N.D. (AP) — The Northern Plains Potato Growers Association says potato blight in the Red River Valley appears to be well-contained.

The disease was confirmed last month in northeastern North Dakota's Grand Forks County. The association says it has not been found anywhere else since then.

Potato growers are being told to continue scouting their fields and to continue spraying a preventative fungicide.

A 1999 outbreak of blight in the Northern Plains destroyed $125 million worth of potatoes. The potato association says if the weather remains fair, damage to Red River Valley potatoes from the disease this year should be minimal.

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