Second Phase of Potato Diversion Program to Begin

Potato farmers should begin the second phase of the diversion program early next week as a result of the federal-provincial agreement reached yesterday. Agriculture and Forestry Minister Mitch Murphy today confirmed a statement released on Wednesday by federal agriculture minister Lyle Vanclief.

"The original federal announcement was very restrictive with respect to the mechanisms through which the $12.6 million in diversion could be spent. We worked hard this past week to achieve amendments which would provide more flexibility to allow the Potato Board to offer, for example, a more reasonable price for diverting seed potatoes," said Mr. Murphy. "We are not satisfied with the level of federal support. There is no question of that. It is at least $9 million short of what we established as the minimal need of the Island's potato industry."

The provincial minister said he is pleased that the Canadian Food Inspection Agency has finally taken Prince Edward Island's advice to look at quarantinable pests in other states where they are found as well. He was responding to an announcement by the Canadian Food Inspection Agency that it has banned the import of potatoes from Texas and New Mexico because of the Columbian root rot nematode.

"While these states are minor players, major shipping states also have diseases subject to quarantine and we hope they will be looked at as well," said Mr. Murphy.