USDA funds to benefit Idaho potatoes
USDA funds to benefit Idaho potatoes
WASHINGTON -- The U.S. Department of Agriculture has announced that it will send Idaho nearly $11 million to eradicate the potato cyst nematode, an announcement that came just days after Mexico agreed to reopen its market to Idaho potatoes.
Mexico joined a handful of other countries in suspending imports of Idaho potatoes after PCN was detected for the first time in a soil sample collected from an Idaho processing facility in April 2006. Since then, studies found PCN in seven fields within a one-mile radius.
Agriculture Secretary Mike Johanns said that USDA was sending nearly $11 million in Commodity Credit Corp. funds to implement an eradication strategy. The pest does not pose any threat to human health, but nematodes can cause significant yield loss if left unchecked.
"Because the infestation is confined to an isolated area, we have a unique opportunity to eliminate the pest before it has a chance to become established," Mr. Johanns said in a statement.
USDA doled out $13 million last April to collect soil samples from 800 fields and facilities to determine the extent of pest infestation.
"If we jump on it now, we have a high probability of knocking it out," said Frank Muir, president of the Idaho Potato Commission, who added that only Israel has eradicated PCN, and that nation caught it early.
Idaho lawmakers in Congress praised USDA for providing the extra funds.
"This is major news for Idaho's potato industry and the producers whose farm operations were directly affected," the Idaho congressional delegation said in an April 19 press statement. "We commend the excellent work of Secretary Johanns and the Bush administration in recognizing the urgency and severity of this problem and acting quickly to resolve it. This will help preserve Idaho's potato industry."
The health of Idaho potatoes is critical to U.S. trading partners. The Mexican potato market could amount to $25 million for 2007-08 shipments, according to USDA.
After reviewing the situation, Mexican officials concluded that the pest would not threaten Mexico's crops and agreed to new shipping rules to resume imports.
Under the new agreement, potatoes must be shipped from production fields outside the PCN area, and all Idaho potatoes produced in 2006 must be certified free of PCN based on soil samples taken during the growing season or post-harvest prior to export, said USDA.
Beginning with the 2007 growing season, all Idaho potato fields must be tested before planting, and certified PCN-free and post-harvest soil samples taken from Idaho packingsheds must be tested as well, said USDA.
In March, Canadian and U.S. officials developed a joint certification protocol for all seed potatoes traded between the two countries as a result of detections in Quebec and Idaho.
For Mexico and Canada to reopen the borders in a year, "that's lightening speed" in terms of international negotiations, said Mr. Muir. Idaho has already shipped 10 carloads to Mexico. "We never lost customers there," he added, noting that Mexican companies were very disappointed when the market closed.
Japan had suspended imports of all U.S. chipping potatoes but lifted that trade ban in February. U.S. potato fields must be tested and certified as PCN- free prior to export. Idaho must complete a comprehensive survey before Idaho is eligible to export to Japan, and all chipping potatoes must be grown from seed potatoes produced outside Idaho.
It will take longer for Idaho potatoes to surface in Japan, but Mr. Muir said that he is confident the potatoes will be back in Japan and South Korea by next season.
South Korea, one of the other countries that suspended Idaho potato shipments, also was in the news recently as the National Potato Council praised the Bush administration for reaching the U.S.-Korea Free Trade Agreement.
Mexico joined a handful of other countries in suspending imports of Idaho potatoes after PCN was detected for the first time in a soil sample collected from an Idaho processing facility in April 2006. Since then, studies found PCN in seven fields within a one-mile radius.
Agriculture Secretary Mike Johanns said that USDA was sending nearly $11 million in Commodity Credit Corp. funds to implement an eradication strategy. The pest does not pose any threat to human health, but nematodes can cause significant yield loss if left unchecked.
"Because the infestation is confined to an isolated area, we have a unique opportunity to eliminate the pest before it has a chance to become established," Mr. Johanns said in a statement.
USDA doled out $13 million last April to collect soil samples from 800 fields and facilities to determine the extent of pest infestation.
"If we jump on it now, we have a high probability of knocking it out," said Frank Muir, president of the Idaho Potato Commission, who added that only Israel has eradicated PCN, and that nation caught it early.
Idaho lawmakers in Congress praised USDA for providing the extra funds.
"This is major news for Idaho's potato industry and the producers whose farm operations were directly affected," the Idaho congressional delegation said in an April 19 press statement. "We commend the excellent work of Secretary Johanns and the Bush administration in recognizing the urgency and severity of this problem and acting quickly to resolve it. This will help preserve Idaho's potato industry."
The health of Idaho potatoes is critical to U.S. trading partners. The Mexican potato market could amount to $25 million for 2007-08 shipments, according to USDA.
After reviewing the situation, Mexican officials concluded that the pest would not threaten Mexico's crops and agreed to new shipping rules to resume imports.
Under the new agreement, potatoes must be shipped from production fields outside the PCN area, and all Idaho potatoes produced in 2006 must be certified free of PCN based on soil samples taken during the growing season or post-harvest prior to export, said USDA.
Beginning with the 2007 growing season, all Idaho potato fields must be tested before planting, and certified PCN-free and post-harvest soil samples taken from Idaho packingsheds must be tested as well, said USDA.
In March, Canadian and U.S. officials developed a joint certification protocol for all seed potatoes traded between the two countries as a result of detections in Quebec and Idaho.
For Mexico and Canada to reopen the borders in a year, "that's lightening speed" in terms of international negotiations, said Mr. Muir. Idaho has already shipped 10 carloads to Mexico. "We never lost customers there," he added, noting that Mexican companies were very disappointed when the market closed.
Japan had suspended imports of all U.S. chipping potatoes but lifted that trade ban in February. U.S. potato fields must be tested and certified as PCN- free prior to export. Idaho must complete a comprehensive survey before Idaho is eligible to export to Japan, and all chipping potatoes must be grown from seed potatoes produced outside Idaho.
It will take longer for Idaho potatoes to surface in Japan, but Mr. Muir said that he is confident the potatoes will be back in Japan and South Korea by next season.
South Korea, one of the other countries that suspended Idaho potato shipments, also was in the news recently as the National Potato Council praised the Bush administration for reaching the U.S.-Korea Free Trade Agreement.
