05/01/06 Seeking potato cyst nematode source

05/01/06 Seeking potato cyst nematode source

The Idaho State Department of Agriculture and APHIS are making sure to isolate the potato cyst nematode which has been detected in eastern Idaho. HOFFMAN "We have a team of people on the ground collected soil samples at equally spaced intervals to see if we can find additional samples that contain the cyst nematode." That's ISDA's Wayne Hoffman. State and federal actions restrict the movement of soil, plants, plant material and farm equipment which may have been exposed to the potato cyst nematode. Those restrictions have been imposed in Bingham, Bonneville, and Jefferson counties, but limited to seven sites which include fields, cellars and potato handling facilities. HOFFMAN "That is not to say there are restrictions throughout those three counties. It is specific to seven sites." Dozens of people are involved in surveying fields, cellars, packers and processors that may be associated with the detected PCN. Survey teams collected 362 samples last Wednesday for a total of 466 samples since the official confirmation date on April 19th. The source of the two microscopic worms has not yet been identified. Voice of Idaho Agriculture Bill Scott
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