For the first time, growers will be able to be receive advance warnings of blight risk to crops in their specific area by mobile phone SMS text message, email or fax.

Blight Alert is a free service, provided to growers, agronomists, advisors, packers and processors registered on the Syngenta Potato web site, www.syngenta-potato.co.uk . The web site service will provide a unique nationwide picture of blight of blight risk and forecasts of impending disease attacks for the forth -coming three days. Blight forecasts are automatically updated every four hours, using physical disease risk data and weather conditions.

Growers can receive specific Blight Alert updates direct to their phone, fax or computer - in time for pro-active crop management.

A comprehensive reporting, forecast and advice level will be held on the Syngenta Potato with the premium ‘Gold’ proactive warning service available following a simple registration to pick the most appropriate recording sites.

Launching the Blight Alert service, Syngenta Potato Manager, Garth Bretherton, said: "There is a wealth of extremely valuable information available to help growers tailor blight programmes more accurately to disease risks. But, it only becomes really useful if we can deliver the details in time to make improved agronomy decisions; Blight Alert is utilising all the communication tools available for the rapid dissemination of information to make the crucial difference. With the Gold Service there is no need for growers to check the web site every day; it will provide the proactive warnings of blight risk, along with details by fax and email for the best control strategies and timing."

Bretherton said he believed the value of blight forecasting systems have been vindicated over recent seasons, with some growers moving away form routine prophylactic spraying, to targeted applications to match specific disease risks. "When disease pressure is low, routine weekly spraying cannot be justified and growers could safely extend application periods. When pressure is high and crops rapidly growing, however, very tight applications will be required to keep out blight. Decision Support Systems can help achieve better levels of blight control from the same or reduced fungicide applications."

Last year, the Syngenta Potato blight service proved 98% accurate in forecast risks turning into actual blight occurrences.

A new feature for Blight Alert will be on on-line archive of the season’s blight risks and incidence, enabling growers to look back, evaluate and learn from the timing and success of fungicide applications. "Using the archive of disease risk at a given time in the season, growers can clearly justify their fungicide decisions, applications and product choice to buyers, packers and processors," added Bretherton. "It will automatically help potato growers to meet one of the objectives of the Voluntary Initiative, as well as making best and most appropriate use of fungicides at the right time through the season."