Late blight becomes a threat to farms, gardens

A potato disease known as late blight is threatening some Wisconsin potato fields, but growers are well aware and making strides to prevent it from spreading.

Late blight is the disease responsible for the Irish potato famine in the 1840s and 1850s. The fungus which caused this devastation was identified in Portage County just last week and can cause serious problems for potato, tomato, and eggplants as well as other flowering crops.