B6—Lancaster Farming, Friday, July 3,1981 Blue mold strikes Md. tobacco fields COLLEGE PARK, Md. - Blue mold, a dreaded tobacco fungus disease of recent vintage in the United States, has hit the tobacco crop in extreme southern Maryland. The outbreak may be the largest of its kind in the nation so far this year. It was identified during the third week in June by Claude G. McKee, Extension tobacco specialist and professor of agronomy on the University of Maryland faculty. McKee is also farm superintendent for the University’s tobacco research farm near Upper Marlboro (Prince Georges County). He reports the outbreaks appear to be only in fields where the new systemic fungicide, Ridomil, was not used in the tobacco plant beds or at transplanting time. Approximately 40 percent of the tobacco fields in southern Maryland have been treated this year with Ridomil, McKee com mented. So they would appear to be safe from blue mold infestation during the current growing season. In those fields where blue mold is suspected, the Maryland Ex tension specialist advocates im mediate spraying with maneb or zineb fungicides at rates recom mended by the dealer or county Extension tobacco agent. McKee notes Ridomil is labeled only for soil application —not as a contact fungicide and it is WESTEEL-ROSCO GRAIN BINS Number Bushel Ft. Height Diameter Model No. Of Tiers Capacity Eaves Overall Cash Price 13.8 Ft. 144 4 1453 10.3 14.3 *822.60 13.8 Ft. 145 5 1769 12.8 16.8 *951.87 13.8 Ft. 146 6 2085 15.3 19.3 *1,102.69 19.1 Ft. 194 4 2883 10.3 15.8 |*1,326»0(i 19.1 Ft. 195 5 3488 12.8 18.3 1*1,549.83 19.1 Ft. 196 6 4093 15.3 20.8 *1.799.52 19.1 Ft. 197 7 4698 17.8 23.3 *2,012.27 19.1 Ft. 198 8 5302 20.3 25.8 | *2,244.97 Prices Shown Are For Cash. FOB Manheim, PA K.D. See Ebersole's For Auger Conveyors, Bucket Elevators, Poultry & Hog Supplies relatively expensive. But with blue mold continuing to cause concern, it will be a necessity in future years to treat all tobacco plant beds with Ridomil. Meanwhile, tobacco farmers still involved with transplanting are cautioned not to use plants which show any indication of disease. And the Maryland agronomist admonishes fanners to destroy tobacco plant beds as soon as transplanting is finished. At mid-June, when the blue mold outbreak was noted in southern Maryland, only two small in festations of the disease had been reported in U.S. tobacco-growing areas so far this year. They were in Dixie County, Fla., and Lancaster County. Blue mold outbreaks are generally brought on by too much cool, damp weather during the tobacco-growing season. The malady has been a problem in plant beds for some time. But it was first observed actively in festing Maryland tobacco fields in 1979. Information on identification and control procedures for blue mold, along with wildfire and anthracnose, will be included in one of the six wagon tour stops during the Thirty-First Annual Field Day on July 29 at the University of Maryland’s tobacco research farm near Upper Marlboro. EBERSOLE EQUIPMENT F 8 SUPPLY COMPANY Box 190, Manheim, Pa. 17545 te 717-665-4201 or 735^1305 RDS, Phor FOR MORE INFORMATION, CALL COLLECT! We Oughta Reduce Our Inventory... You Oughta Buy Now And Save! NEW TRACTOR SPECIALS... MODEL 2600 sfi OQ -30 HP o|At9 mo «h?°° *10,900 MODEL 5600 60 HP MODEL 6600 70 HP MODEL 7600 86 HP MODEL 7700 86 HP MODEL TW-20 las hp *26,500 • Prices For Standard Tractors, Subject To Available Inventory FRANK’S FORD TRACTOR SALES CO. 215-929-2884 2X5-582-3658 JOHN R. EBERSOLE Contractor & Builder RD 5, Box 190, Manheim, Pa. 17545 Phone 717-665-6861 You Oughta Try A Ford ... *12,900 *14,900 *15,600 *16,900 4531 Kutztown Road Temple, PA 19560 I * 215-929-2553 215-921-3913