Oriskany, NY (WIBX) - Oneida County has seen its first positive case of late blight, seen in a tomato plant from Whitesboro.

According to Cornell University, the strain US-23 was found in the plant, and is common in the Northeast and Canada. Luckily, the strain is sensitive to the preventative fungicide, Ridomil.

The Cornell Cooperative Extension of Oneida County urges gardeners to check their tomato and potato plants.

If any plants are infected, the CCE says to bag them up and throw them away. Do not burn or compost plants because airborne spores may infect other plants in the area, up to several miles.

For potatoes, if any become infected, remove all the potatoes from the ground and monitor the area in the spring for sprouts. Late blight will winter on infected potatoes and infect new plants the following year.

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