12/09/05 New concern for Idaho spud growers

There was an outbreak of potato tuber moths in Idaho back in the 1950's but none since. The moths and worms have been found in the Columbia basin of Washington State and recently more than a dozen were found in southwestern Idaho, mostly in traps near Parma. While there's no evidence yet of a reproducing tuber worm population in Idaho growers want to keep it that way. ESPLIN "Reports we get are of increased costs where they have it in the Columbia basin of anywhere from 150 to 200 dollars an acre in additional spraying costs and that's with the higher yields than we get." That's Keith Esplin of the Potato Growers of Idaho. After vine kill the moths and worms can dig into the ground, into the potato and spread into storage. He says the state has been aggressive in getting more than 400 traps scattered across the state. The ag department also recommends no cull potatoes from the Columbia basin be brought into Idaho or Malheur County, Oregon for processing. ESPLIN "The experts tell us they fly low to the ground and on their own they're only going to spread about 400 feet a year and so to make great leaps and distances they'll have to be hauled in in a truck so that's what we're trying to do, prevent them from coming in on infected potatoes or other ways." Tuber worms will be one of the many seminars and workshops at next month's 38th University of Idaho Potato Conference in Pocatello. Today's Idaho Ag News Bill Scott