THE British Potato Council has designed an early warning system to combat the threat of blight.

The web-based system will inform growers of potato blight infection in their immediate area, but the BPC needs growers to become "blight scouts".

In return, it will supply "Fight against Blight" packs designed to help them notify the BPC quickly of blight infection via a text messaging service.

Suspected samples will be validated at designated laboratories and the information will be used to build an informative national picture of blight pressure.

BPC levy payers will be able to find warnings on the BPC web site at www.potato.org.uk where users can quickly gather more detailed information about their postcode area.

Dr Rob Clayton, BPC knowledge transfer manager, said the more growers who got involved with the system, the greater the impact would be on helping to prevent blight infection in growing crops.

"This completely independent system for recording blight is very simple and requires very little time on the part of the scout," he said. "Full instructions will be supplied, along with pre-paid sample bags for sending suspected blight cases to laboratories.

"Scouts will be recognised for their important work on the BPC web site and through other BPC activities," he said.

The early warning signs already suggest that 2003 could be a high blight pressure year. Severe infections this year, coupled with many more potato dumps on farms and in fields, will greatly increase the source of infection next season.

Dr Clayton said many in the potato supply chain had given full backing to the Fight against Blight campaign. He suggested, however, growers should check with their agronomist that they were a part of the national monitoring scheme and encourage their adviser to contact the BPC for more information.

In addition to the mapping, the BPC is producing growers' advice sheets and the first advice sheets will focus on potato dumps. Free BPC blight fact packs are available from 0131 472 4064