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CONCLUSION
All soil testing data to date and investigative actions taken in cooperation with industry participants indicate the
area infested with potato wart to be localized to a small section of a single field. CFIA is fully confident that this
infestation is not associated with the movement of infected seed potatoes. Results of intensive visual inspection
of tubers and comprehensive soil sampling of contact fields indicate that the second major pathway of disease
dissemination, the movement of infested soil, is not implicated at this time. These conclusions are based on the
extensive results obtained from the highest risk potential fields, adjacent fields, the affected fields and the mother
field. Other supporting data obtained from lower risk areas will continue to be analyzed in a progressive manner.
Those results will be forthcoming as soon as they are available.
FACTS
- Affected fields (Pillman Farms) - 59.1 acre and 5.4 acre
- Seed sourcing - Planted with Elite 3 class Russet Burbank from Saskatchewan farm (certification number 1999-7304619-01)
- Tracebacks of sister seed lots
- Approximately 29,000 cwt were planted in 72 acres in PEI (13 farms including Pillman Farms) and 6 acres in Nova Scotia
- No symptoms resembling potato wart were observed in all sister fields
- No symptoms resembling potato wart were observed stored sister stock
- No symptoms resembling potato wart were observed on 35 Russet Norkotah fields planted by 5 PEI farmers with seed source which had originated from the same Saskatchewan seed supplier.
- Tracebacks of equipment
- CFIA gathered information with respect to year 2000 equipment used in the Pillman fields. Fields were listed in their sequential order and ranked as primary, secondary and tertiary contact fields. Any possible contamination either arising from another field or transported to another field would be determined through soil sampling and analyses.
- 40 current year contact field were identified, walked for any sign of infected tubers and soil sampled. No potato wart symptoms observed.
- Accessible harvested tubers were bin inspected - no symptoms observed.
- Investigation on Mother Farm
- All the 1999 produced Elite 3 Russet Burbank was sold. None were replanted for recertification or for table production by any potato producer in Saskatchewan in 2000.
- The mother farm produced seed potatoes for re-certification on 5 different land locations in 2000. These 5 fields (already harvested) were walked and the pre-storage transfer cull piles were examined. No tubers in the field or in the cull piles showed symptoms of potato wart.
CONFERENCE CALL
November 28, 2000
Participants: USDA/PPQ; ISDA; USDA/ARS; Colorado State University; National Plant Board
The following things were discussed and agreed upon:
- Most likely potato wart has been on the PEI infected field for more than 5 years.
- PEI wants to ship table stock into US.
- Prior to US lifting the quarantine on table stock certain information will have to be available and the following restrictions met:
- CFIA will have to inspect potatoes for export at the packing plant.
- CFIA will also examine culls at the packing plant.
- Potatoes export will be limited to 20 lb bags and must be accompanied by certificate of origin and phytosanitary certificate certifying freedom from potato wart.
- USDA will examine all shipments at the port of entry.
- The only port of entry will be through Holden.
- USDA will not lift the ban on seed potatoes.
- Maps of the infected fields and associated infected fields will be recorded and a "buffer zone" of at least ½ mile or may be more will be established and considered as a regulated area.
- CFIA must keep track of the equipment used in the infected field in 2000.
- CFIA must traceback all (to approximately 1984) equipment used in the infected field.
- Fields cultivated with the same equipment (traced back to infected field) will be considered associated disease fields and exports will not be allowed from these fields.
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