01/18/08 Timely access to Alberta seed potatoes not likely

Farm and Ranch January 18, 2008 The United States now has more information from Canada about the golden nematode situation in Alberta, Canada which led to the U.S. border being closed last October to seed potato imports from that province. If the nematode was to get into the U.S. export markets could be lost, but Washington growers also rely upon Alberta for about 30 percent of their seed needs. Chris Voigt, Executive Director of the Washington State Potato Commission, says Canada finally got some trace back and trace forward information to the USDA. Voigt: "And this is important information because this is what the USDA is going to base their decision on whether they are going to reopen the border or note. We had a briefing this past weekend from APHIS on what information they had gotten and they are going to be meeting with Canadian officials this week to make a decision on whether seed will be available for export this spring." Voigt is normally optimistic by nature but he says getting access to Alberta seed in time for planting here does not look promising. Voigt: "There is just a lot of questions out there that can't be answered until full soil samples have been taken in Alberta and unfortunately the ground is frozen there and they can't take any. So we are not going to see any 100% resolution of this situation until we can get more soil testing done in Alberta." At the instigation of the Washington Potato Commission several U.S. seed growers have posted ads for available seed on craigslist.org That's the Northwest Farm and Ranch Report. Brought to you in part by the Washington State Potato Commission. Nutrition today! Good health tomorrow! I'm Bob Hoff on the Northwest Ag Information Network.