Need help from tomato growers

[flhiker]

I posted this question on another fourm (man what a hassle that was). So I decided to post it here too! My next door neighbor started 2 plants from seed in 5 gal. buckets and today he showed me this nasty looking growth coming from the side of the stalk about half way up. They look like roots forming but being that they are only 50ft. away from my plants I was worried that it may be a decease and affect my plants too. Anyone here know what it is? I grown tomatoes for many years and have never had this happen. Thanks