Alert for Rice Farmers! Prepare for New Cold Wave and Brown Leaf Spot Disease in Early February

The Department of Agricultural Promotion is warning rice farmers to be cautious of 'Brown Leaf Spot Disease' as a new moderate cold wave covers northern Thailand. Weather forecasts indicate that early February will see cool morning temperatures across northern, northeastern, eastern, and central regions, with dense fog in many areas - conditions ideal for disease spread through wind, especially in high-humidity environments. In late January, disease outbreaks were reported in several provinces: 10 rai in Buriram, 1 rai in Sakon Nakhon, 36 rai in Kamphaeng Phet, and 34 rai in Phatthalung. Farmers are advised to regularly inspect their fields to manage the disease promptly. The disease is most common during the rice tillering stage, characterized by brown circular or oval spots with yellow borders, 0.5-1 mm in diameter. Fully developed lesions can be 1-2×4-10 mm. Spores spread through wind and seed transmission, potentially causing rice grain discoloration and reducing grain quality. Preventive measures include regular field inspections, seed treatment with fungicides like Trichoderma, maintaining clean fields, appropriate fertilization, and targeted fungicide application if severe outbreak occurs.