The American border is once again open to Alberta potato growers after a pinhead-sized pest was found in two fields last fall.
The border opening is too late for most Alberta seed potato growers to sell their 2007 crop, but it offers comfort to growers wondering if they should plant potatoes for export this spring, said Vern Warkentin, executive director of the Potato Growers of Alberta.
“They were very uncertain whether they should plant for the export market or not,” he said.
The United States had closed its border to seed potatoes from Alberta after potato cyst nematodes were discovered in that province.
Read Also
Vancouver port says it has improved efficiency
Grain movement has been strong at the Port of Vancouver due in part to a new centralized scheduling system.
Canadian and American officials signed an agreement May 5 to once again allow Alberta potatoes to be exported into the United States, a lucrative market for the province’s potato growers.
As part of the agreement signed by the Canadian Food Inspection Agency and the U.S. Department of Agriculture, fields used to produce seed potatoes for trade between Canada and the U.S. must be soil sampled using a full field grid pattern.
Previously, soil samples needed to be taken only around the perimeter of the field. All shipments must also include a phytosanitary certificate with an additional declaration confirming the seed potatoes originated from fields tested and found free of potato cyst nematodes.
The nematodes attach to the roots of potato plants, reducing crop yields by up to 80 percent. Last fall’s discovery in Alberta was the first time it had been found on a seed potato farm in North America.
Alain Boucher, the CFIA official in charge of efforts to regain markets, said the negotiations were long, but both sides wanted to find common ground that they could live with.
“We found a process we can move forward which allows the export of seed potatoes from Alberta to resume,” Boucher said.
It’s estimated the border closing cost Alberta seed potato growers $35 million in lost sales.
“It’s not chump change. It’s significant,” Warkentin said.
CFIA officials continue to sample soil at the two farms where the pest was discovered to ensure it hasn’t spread beyond the two fields.
Mexico also closed its borders to Alberta seed potatoes, but it is expected to reach an agreement with Canada for future exports in the near future.
Warkentin said most of the 2007 seed potato crop was destroyed or sold to feedlots for cattle feed. A few lots of high generation seed are still around that may still be sold to growers in the Pacific Northwest states for seed this spring.
