12/20/07 APHIS testing in wake of Alberta nematode find

The US border has been closed to seed potatoes from Alberta after the discovery of the golden nematode in two fields. Idaho State Department of Agriculture's Mike Cooper says some of those Canadian potatoes were bound for Idaho. COOPER "We get some that goes into our seed certification system and we get some commercial potatoes and with us its only about ten growers and three brokers." The federal Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service is now investigating shipments made to eight states to assess the potential risk to American growers. APHIS spokesman Larry Hawkins says field testing has already started in the US. HAWKINS "Hopefully what will happen is that growers that need seed potatoes for the 2008 crop can find other sources until we can get the whole issue with golden nematode cleared up." Alberta potato seed growers are putting pressure on the US to reopen the border but Idaho and American growers don't want to see a repeat such as occurred when potato cyst nematode was discovered in eastern Idaho. HAWKINS "If golden nematode were to be found to be distributed in the US that some of our trading partners might very well close borders to US potatoes." Mexico, like the US, has closed its border to Alberta seed potatoes in the wake of the nematode discoveries. Today's Idaho Ag News Bill Scott