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Maine potatoes face high risk for late blight

In this Sept. 25, 2014, file photo, a mechanical harvester fills trucks with potatoes in Mapleton, Maine.
Robert F. Bukaty
/
AP file
In this Sept. 25, 2014, file photo, a mechanical harvester fills trucks with potatoes in Mapleton, Maine.

Scientists say Maine potato crops are at high risk for late blight- a destructive disease that devastated Maine's potatoes in 2009.

Record high heat and humidity last week, followed by a cool and wet weekend, have increased the potential for late blight, according to the University of Maine Cooperative Extension Potato Pest Alert.

No late blight infections have been confirmed in Maine, but extension scientists have detected late blight spores across Aroostook County. The extension recommends that potato growers begin a fungicide spray regimen, and stay on a 5-day spray schedule.

Kaitlyn Budion is Maine Public’s Bangor correspondent, joining the reporting team after several years working in print journalism.