Canada: Prince Edward Island potato growers press to fumigate for wireworm

P.E.I. potato farmers are hoping to add another tool in their toolbox this year in the battle against a damaging pest. The bug is called wireworm, or click beetle, and potato growers want government green lights to use soil fumigation as a valid farm practice. “There used to be only a few hot spots of wireworm but now the pests are right across the province,’’ says Gary Linkletter, chair of the P.E.I. Potato Board. “We need to get something to control it or it will deplete our industry.” More