12/27/07 craigslist for seed potatoes

Washington Ag December 27, 2007 As we have previously reported Washington potato growers usually get about 30 percent of their seed potatoes from Alberta Canada. Hawkins: "And the fact that the border is now closed to seed potatoes from Alberta might very well create some problems for U.S. potato growers seeking seed potatoes for their 2008 crop." That's Larry Hawkins of USDA's Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service. The U.S. border was closed to Alberta seed potatoes because of the discovery there recently of the golden cyst nematode. In order to facilitate the matching of buyers and sellers of seed potatoes, the Washington State Potato Commission is encouraging all seed growers to post any available seed for sale on a website for viewing by commercial growers in Washington. That website is "craigslist.org" It is essentially a free classified ad website. The Commission says "Seed Wanted" ads can also be placed by growers. One ad from a seed supplier in Maine had been posted as of yesterday. Meanwhile, the Washington Potato Commission says it will continue to work on opening the border to Alberta for the safe and pest free importation of seed potatoes into the state. USDA's Hawkins says; Hawkins: "Hopefully, what will happen is that growers that need seed potatoes for 2008 crop can find other sources until we can get this whole issue with golden nematode cleared up." I'm Bob Hoff.