If the field plants are less than a foot high, Wright said growers should apply a half of a pound of Acrobat MZ to 20 gallons of water. If the plants have grown higher, he recommended one pound per 20 gallons of water. Blue mold was found on a second Pittsylvania County farm Wednesday, about one mile from the Gretna site. Wright expected that the spores spread from the Gretna farm to the other location. In that vicinity, farmers grow about 300 acres of tobacco, he estimated.
Farmers can easily inspect for the fungus.
If you see discoloration and turn the leaf over, you can find the fungus more than likely sporulating. Last week, blue mold was found in Mecklenburg and Charlotte counties. The Southside Area-Wide Crusade drew 8,000 people over its four nights. The Rev. Doug Barber, pastor of Westover Baptist Church and one of the crusade's organizers, said the revival will be held next year at the same time. Barber said one thing will be done differently next year.