Video: Soil Under Siege | Black Dot, Microbial Health & the Future of Fumigation
Black dot is on the rise. Soil health is under pressure. And growers are caught in the middle: trying to protect their crops while keeping the biology beneath their boots alive.
In this unscripted expert panel, Spud Smart brings together three top minds in potato production to tackle the biggest questions in soil management today:
•Dr. Gary Secor (North Dakota State University) — Renowned plant pathologist with deep expertise in black dot and soilborne diseases
•Joy Youwakim — Soil microbiologist focused on microbial communities and crop resilience
•Dr. Chad Hutchinson (TriCal Group) — Global leader in fumigation, agronomy, and sustainable soil solutions
What they cover:
• What’s actually working against black dot
• How fumigation affects soil microbes
• Whether “living soil” and chemical tools can work together
• How to measure ROI in disease control