I just published an article on 2 pests (one disease & one insect) that are causing real problems to the home gardeners and local farmers. One is a recent introduction to the U.S. (2008) and the other has been around for a long time. This is the same disease that killed all the potatoes and subsequently the people of Ireland in the mid-1800’s. See link for more info.
http://hilltownfamilies.wordpress.com/category/jim-mcsweeney/