11/14/08 Access to Alberta seed potatoes expected in early 09

Farm and Ranch November 14, 2008 Washington potato growers should have access to seed from Alberta, Canada in time for next spring's planting season. Alberta seed was off limits this past year because of the discovery of the golden nematode in some potato fields there. Chris Voigt, Executive Director of the Washington State Potato Commission says the issue of importing seed from Alberta was resolved at a recent meeting among all the parties, including Washington growers, held in Washington D.C. Voigt: "We all locked ourselves into a room for two days in Washington D.C. and reviewed the science and the situation and we finally came to a resolution. One that ensures that the border will open up mostly likely in early January. So we will have access to seed potatoes from Alberta in early January, and that there is a reasonable level of certainty that we will not be importing the pest. So it is a win-win for everyone. It will give us access to the Alberta seed potatoes we need and there is a protocol in place to ensure that we won't be importing the pest." Washington typically gets about 30 percent of its seed potatoes from Alberta but Voigt says growers in the state squeaked by last season because of reduced potato acreage in the U.S. Voigt: "But this year with the higher potato prices we anticipate there will be more acreage planted, therefore it is going to cause a seed shortage domestically. So that Alberta seed is going to be very important to us." That's the Northwest Farm and Ranch Report. Brought to you in part by the Washington State Potato Commission. Nutrition today! Good health tomorrow! I'm Bob Hoff on the Northwest Ag Information Network.