CAP ON SEED POTATO VIRUS LEVELS MAINTAINED

The cap on virus levels for Prince Edward Island seed potatoes will be maintained at three percent for the 2008 growing season. The announcement was made today by Agriculture Minister Neil LeClair. The announcement follows reports that virus levels in some varieties during the past growing season exceeded levels from the previous year.

“There was an increase in aphid infestation during the 2007, which resulted in greater transmission of viruses,” said Mr. LeClair. “Raising the cap on virus levels would result in more disease pressure on the crop in the coming growing season.”

Mr. LeClair said the post-harvest virus tests were established a number of years ago at the request of the industry to protect the quality of seed, processing and tablestock potatoes. He said that Prince Edward Island is the only Canadian province to conduct the testing, which provides it with an advantage in the marketplace.

“It is vitally important that we are able to maintain low virus levels in the province, and maintaining the cap at three percent as it has been will help achieve that goal,” said Mr. LeClair. “I am confident that producers will exercise greater vigilance and ensure that we continue to produce a high quality potato crop.”