Alberta potato producers who were forced to destroy their crops after the discovery of potato cyst nematode in two Edmonton area fields last October will receive compensation within two months.
Dozens of Alberta potato farmers were forced to destroy their crops when the American and Mexican borders shut down after the pinhead-sized pest was discovered.
Producers will receive $23.5 million in federal and provincial support through the AgriRecovery program.
Edzo Kok, executive director of Potato Growers of Alberta, said growers will be paid based on clean-up expenses and the value of the potatoes that were destroyed.
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Kok said the association is also working on further compensation for growers who own land that may have come in contact with nematode-infected equipment. About 11,000 acres may have been infected this way.
Canadian Food Inspection Agency officials will inspect equipment used on those acres to make sure they are free of nematode-infected soil.
Kok said additional assistance will be available for the extra cleanup costs and for landowners or tenants who wouldn’t receive the same rent because of the extra restrictions.
The potato cyst nematode is a soil borne pest that can lower the yield of potato plants. It is spread through the transportation of infected soil, wind and water.
