Late Blight Confirmed in Grafton County

UNH Cooperative Extension's Plant Diagnostic Lab has just confirmed late blight on a sample from Grafton County, not surprising since the fungus has been found just over the river in Vermont.

Plant Health Specialist Cheryl Smith urges tomato and potato growers (including home gardeners) to apply a late-blight specific fungicide as soon as possible, as rains and winds will help to spread the disease spores. Check our late blight page for current information about this plant disease.

NH Coverts Project Featured in National Woodland Owner Networks

The most important benefit? Connecting with other like-minded volunteers.

Extension foresters in Minnesota want to spread the word about the UNH Cooperative Extension Coverts Project.

Bjorn Betzler, Woodland Owner Networks (WON) Project Coordinator at the University of Minnesota Forestry Extension, recently posted an interview with Malin Clyde, who coordinates the NH Coverts Project.

Here's a tidbit from the interview, which highlights one of the core values of Extension volunteer programs: other volunteers.

BB: What is the NH Coverts program all about?

MC: The NH Coverts Project trains wildlife volunteers to educate others about wildlife, habitats, and sound forest stewardship. The program is 16 years old, has trained almost 400 "Coverts Cooperators," and has volunteers working in over 120 communities in New Hampshire. UNH Cooperative Extension coordinates the program, whose principal support comes from the NH Fish & Game Department.

Protect Yourself Against Mosquito-borne Illnesses

Late summer and early fall are the periods of greatest risk from Eastern Equine Encephalitis (EEE) and West Nile Virus (WNV) in New Hampshire.

Recently, health officials have reported finding an EEE-positive horse in Freedom and a WNV-positive batch of mosquitoes in Manchester.

These discoveries should serve as reminders to protect yourselves and your family members from mosquito bites at this time of year. The clothing you wear (how much skin is exposed) and time of outdoor activity (within an hour or two of dusk usually has the greatest mosquito activity) greatly affect your risk. Wearing insect repellent reduces the risk.

Learn more about both diseases and how to protect yourself

Learn more about insect repellents

Stay informed: New Hampshire Department of Health and Human Services: Eastern equine encephalitis (EEE) and West Nile virus page