Penn State also has refined field experiments to identify different varieties' degree of resistance to early blight and has developed techniques for making variety assessments without extensive field trials. The results of these tests are distributed through Penn State Cooperative Extension to the state's potato growers and potato industries. To help with crop management, extension professionals work with growers to improve disease and insect scouting a process of estimating the total infestation of a field by sampling a small area. This allows the grower to better time fungicide applications. Information on fungicide and pesticide applications, as well as field scouting practices to spot diseases and pests, has been incorporated into a potato expert system.
Growers have access to the expert system at cooperative extension offices throughout the state.
New potato varieties developed by Penn State are helping growers eliminate two to four fungicide applications per season per field of potatoes. Using more suitable varieties also eliminates thousands of gallons of fungicides that could enter our groundwater, streams and rivers. These new varieties also help maximize production. Average yields for the state range from 175,000 to 240,000 pounds per acre, and better-adapted varieties are helping growers consistently reach the high end of that range.