|
|
Quarantines, inspections protect potato industry from damaging fungusShipments of seed potatoes are on their way to the San Luis Valley and there are important procedures that must be followed to protect Colorado's potato industry from an extremely damaging fungus. The potato industry is the number one agricultural industry in the San Luis Valley and the Colorado Department of Agriculture provides inspections to help keep that industry healthy. "The San Luis Valley is unique in that it is one of the few places in the country that has not been inundated with late blight, and we are working hard to keep it that way," said Mitch Yergert, director of CDA's plants division. Late blight, Phytophthora infestans, is a fungus that is among the most devastating of all plant diseases. Most commonly recognized as the Irish potato famine fungus, it can attack all portions of the plant. Late blight spores are explosive and the subsequent disease can destroy whole fields of plants in a remarkably short time. Under favorable conditions, a potato field that had mild and scattered lesions in one week can be nearly destroyed the next week. "Introduction of late blight to the potato crops in the San Luis Valley would cause irreparable economic injury to the potato producers in the area," continued Yergert. "I urge all potato producers to follow the rules within the Pest Control Act." According to CDA's Late Blight Quarantine implemented from authority in the Pest Control Act, (C.R.S. 35-4-110) all shipments of seed potatoes must be inspected and tested at their location of origin. Imported seed potatoes shall be certified and accompanied by a certificate which shows proof of field inspection and documents that a representative sample of tubers from the shipment was tested for late blight. If the fungus is not detected, then the potatoes may be shipped into the San Luis Valley. Upon arrival, CDA will inspect the potatoes as they are unloaded. Any tubers showing symptoms of late blight are tested. If late blight is confirmed by testing, the shipment must be removed from the state or destroyed within 72 hours. Each seed lot is counted separately when determining the number of violations; in the last seven years, there have been three situations resulting in 14 violations to the Late Blight Quarantine. Five of the violations were for not having seed inspected in the originating state and therefore correct paperwork was not presented; nine violations were for not having seed potato loads inspected during unloading. Each violation may receive up to a $1,000 fine. Colorado ranks fifth in the nation for potato production. In 2007, Colorado's potato crop was valued at $181.8 million; more than $174.1 million was produced in the San Luis Valley. 3/31/08 Date: 3/26/08
Copyright/Privacy
Copyright 1995-2011. High Plains Publishers, Inc. All rights reserved. Any republishing of these pages, including electronic reproduction of the editorial archives or classified advertising, is strictly prohibited. If you have questions or comments you can reach us at High Plains Journal 1500 E. Wyatt Earp Blvd., P.O. Box 760, Dodge City, KS 67801 or call 1-800-452-7171. Email: webmaster@hpj.com |
|
