06/05/06 The search for PCN continues

It was mid April when we learned that the Potato Cyst Nematode or PCN had been detected in Idaho during a routine survey of tare soil at an ISDA grader facility. Since then state and federal officials have been trying to find the source of the PCN and prevent it from moving into production areas. State Department of Agriculture's Wayne Hoffman says the eastern Idaho detective work continues. HOFFMAN "You look for the field but there's more too it than that. It's possible that it could have come from equipment that was brought it. It could have come from wildlife or even the wind. The possibility of it coming from an Idaho potato field is just one of several scenarios." More than 25 hundred soil samples have been collected after the PCN detection with no additional potato cyst nematodes found. HOFFMAN "Tare dirt that has been held for the past month is free and clear of potato cyst nematode. So that's been able to be released. There was a potato product that was briefly held that was able to be released. Slowly we've been able to say 'no that's not it.'" It's just like police detective work, searching for clues, following leads and eliminating potential suspects through investigative work. 21 APHIS and state ag employees are actively involved in this case. Today's Idaho Ag News Bill Scott