04/24/07 PCN eradication strategy

The federal government has added nearly 11 million dollars to the almost 13 million already spent in the battle against the Potato Cyst Nematode. PCN was confirmed in seven fields near Shelley which will be fumigated and covered with plastic to create the heat to wipe out the nematode. KNIGHTEN "It'll be a five year program and more than likely we will eradicate this pest from Idaho." Claude Knighten of the federal Animal Plant Health Inspection Service says his agency is working with state agriculture officials on the eradication program. O'DELL "The Potato Cyst Nematode is a major pest of potato crops in cool temperate areas." The pest is not considered harmful to humans but it can take a toll on potato yields says Melissa O'Dell of APHIS. O'DELL "They actually feed in the roots of the potato crop making it less efficient by taking out both water and nutrients from the soil." The PCN discovery resulted in a ban on Idaho potato exports last year. Canada has since reopened its border to Idaho potatoes, Mexico just did the same. O'DELL "After conducting a detailed scientific evaluation Mexican officials concluded that the isolated detection presents no risk of introducing potato cyst nematode in Mexico." There could be nearly as many soil samples taken this year as there were last and that total was nearly 38 thousand across the state. Today's Idaho Ag News Bill Scott