This link above stopped reporting about blue mold infestation in real time a couple years ago. For real time reports of blue mold, this link reports for the whole USA
http://www.ctvalleytobacco.org/
As of June 9, 2014, no Blue Mold has been reported in the United States. The link has not been updated since then. Probably, they will update it when they get reports. Seems relatively safe to say that blue mold is not a current threat, but it is prudent to spray plants every 10 days or so with at least Mancozeb. If you can get Dimethomorph and/or Asoxystrobin, they should be alternated, Dimethomorph is usually combined with mancozeb for better adherence to the leaves. These products are hard to get without a state pesticide license (except mancozeb is OTC.) Brand names are Acrobat, Quadris, Dithane and others.
If plants are not protected when the blue mold fungus hits it is hard to control. Prevention is better than trying to kill the fungus once it appears. Given the large flow of humid air from the south this week, which has brought storms and humidity, I'd not be surprised to see blue mold start to appear soon.
For those interested, here is a cut and paste of 2014 blue mold and target spot information, and the email address for getting your own updated tobacco disease reports. Dr. James LaMondia has been the lead scientist in the Conn Valley for very many years, and knows his business.
This information has been updated as of: June 9, 2014
Blue Mold has NOT been reported in the United States
We have had no reports of blue mold in the United States. Soil temperatures recorded this past winter throughout the Valley were low enough to kill most potato tubers left in soil from last years’ crops, so this season’s PVY risk will be based on 2014-planted potato seed tubers rather than overwintering volunteers, which typically have a much percentage of higher virus infection. Target spot has been a problem in broadleaf tobacco the last couple of years, but our observation was that target spot occurred in tobacco crops that had not been treated with Quadris fungicide as the first preventative blue mold spray in the field. Quadris may sometimes cause leaf flecking, but the leaves treated early in the season are not those that will be wrapper leaves at harvest. Early Quadris application controls Rhizoctonia sore shin and also early target spot leaf infection.
If you would like to be notified of important changes and meetings by email, please submit your name and email address to:
James.LaMondia@ct.gov