Earlier this year, it was reported that McDonald’s in Venezuela could neither import potatoes to make fries nor find a reliable supply domestically. The reason has recently come to light and it appears that it is not just because of currency controls. Venezuela’s National Seed Service (Senasem) has been asleep at the switch, and let 175,000 metric tons of potato seeds[Read More…]
Seed
HZPC pays almost five percent above forecasted price
The low European ware potato prices, which clearly stayed behind compared to previous years, influenced the seed potato prices for Crop 2014. This effect is partly compensated by the sales oversea, which ran again successfully. HZPC has set the standard with its forecasted price this year, and with the present final growers price, this standard is even slightly exceeded. The[Read More…]
US: Tri-State varieties expanding abroad
Foreign countries are showing increasing interest in potato varieties developed in the Pacific Northwest and managed by the Potato Variety Management Institute. Officials say Tri-State Potato Research and Breeding Program varieties are beginning to find their way into farm fields throughout the world. A business in Quebec, Canada, has reached an agreement for the exclusive Canadian rights to the Tri-State fresh variety[Read More…]
India: Certified potato seed to be provided for free to select farmers
The Department of Horticulture has launched a programme of promoting the sowing of certified potato seeds in Hassan. All these years, farmers were getting table potatoes from Punjab for sowing. On an experimental basis, the department has procured 136 quintals of certified seeds from Gurdaspur in Punjab, which will be distributed among a select group of 65 potato growers in[Read More…]
Correction: Alaskan Seed Potato Program story
KENAI, Alaska (AP) – In a story June 9 about the Plant Materials Center’s seed potato program, The Associated Press reported erroneously that congressional approval is needed for the program to continue next year. It needs state legislative approval. A corrected version of the story is here.
Egyptians may visit North Dakota this summer to inspect seed potato fields
The Egyptian government is requesting a visit to the U.S. this year to approve expanded access for seed potatoes from all U.S. states. Egypt approved California as a seed potato export state following a visit by Egyptian authorities to the state last fall. Egyptian authorities have now informed USDA-APHIS that they are willing to approve other seed producing states pending[Read More…]
‘Tattie roguer’ shortage threatens Scots reputation
The success of Scotland’s £116 million a year potato industry could be threatened by a shortage of “disease police”. Farmers and agricultural experts are calling for more “tattie roguers”, trained to root out diseased and undesirable plants lurking among the crop. They fear a shortage of the seasonal taskforce could threaten Scotland’s reputation as a leading supplier of quality, disease-free[Read More…]
UK: Supporting potato trade with the Canaries
Each year, large quantities of GB ware and seed are exported to the Canary Islands. Potato Council’s head of seed and export, Rob Burns, updates on the current difficulties affecting this long established trade agreement. “While no one knows the exact date of the potato’s arrival Europe, its entry point was probably Spain’s Canary Islands, where traditional potato cuisine plays[Read More…]
Scotland: Humble potato offers no easy fixes for farmers
Scottish seed potato exports are booming, with the latest figures indicating that 2014/15 has been a record breaking season. Scotland only grows 25 per cent of the total GB potato crop, but produces 75 per cent of GB seed and exports a total of 300,000 tonnes annually to more than 25 countries outside of the UK. While Scotland’s seed producers[Read More…]
UK: Record year for seed potato exports
Seed potato exports are booming in Britain, with the latest figures indicating that 2014/15 has been a record breaking season for the industry. Already 81,968 tonnes of seed have been exported to non-EU countries – and with the season running from July to June there could be up to another 3,000 tonnes to add to that figure, based on previous[Read More…]
Bangladesh: Russian team to inspect pest-free potato exports
A team from Russia is likely to call in Bangladesh in the second week of April to assess the country’s capacity of controlling plant diseases and exporting disease-free potato, said a senior official of the agriculture ministry. The team may visit Bangladesh from April 6-11, said Anwar Faruque, director general of the agriculture ministry’s seed wing. The development comes after the agriculture[Read More…]
US: Idaho seed potato growers see opportunity in Algeria
A group of Idaho seed potato growers sees opportunity to establish a new market in Algeria, where the nation is working to become more self-sufficient with its food production. The North African nation, located along the Mediterranean Coast, imported virtually all of its food as recently as the early 1990s but has been working lately to become self sufficient, explained[Read More…]
Armenia: Farmers get unprecedented $600,000 govt loan for Dutch potato seed purchases
Armenia’s government will give an unprecedented loan of $600,000, to farmers for potato seed purchases, head of the Agrarian-Peasant Union of Armenia, Hrach Berberyan, said at a press conference on Monday. The seed are from the Netherlands. The agreement will be signed in a couple of days, Berberyan said. Half of the loan will be paid while purchasing the seed and the remaining[Read More…]
Australia: Seeding the potato industry
The Crookwell district is probably best known for its seed potato industry and general potato production although it is also well represented in sheep and cattle agricultural pursuits. On March 6-8 the district celebrated the humble vegetable for which it has become famous with its “best ever Potato Festival” according to life member of the Potato Growers’ Association Eric Hurn. Crookwell growers produce around 3050 Tonne of seed potato[Read More…]
Russia permits Scottish seed potato import
Rosselkhoznadzor (Russia’s phytosanitary watchdog) has permitted import of seed potatoes from Scotland. Rosselkhoznadzor officers have finished a lab inspection of samples of seed potatoes taken from a Scottish farm on February 25-28, 2015.
UK: Tips on tackling the tuber blight threat to potato crops
Higher than anticipated blight levels in Scottish potato crops last season means more disease than usual is appearing in seed and ware stocks, warns one expert. Growers will need to be on their guard to reduce potentially significant threats to crops about to be planted, advises Stuart Wale, consultant and researcher at Scotland’s Rural College. “Levels of blight in Scottish seed[Read More…]
Latest British Potato Trade Association newsletter now online
The British Potato Trade Association (BPTA) recently published a newsletter – it can be accessed from the Association web site – follow this link. BPTA describes itself as “the representative body for the British Potato Industry.” The bulk of the tonnage of seed potatoes traded in Great Britain for both the home and export markets (between 250,000 & 300,000 tonnes[Read More…]
India: Farmers may soon get late blight-resistant seed potatoes
The Horticulture Research Centre at Somanahalli Kaval near Hassan in the Indian state of Karnataka has been doing research on providing quality potato seeds that can withstand late blight disease, for the benefit of farmers. The centre is now doing field experiments on a seed variety called D-125, cultured by the Central Potato Research Institute, based at Shimla. Vishnuvardhan, head[Read More…]
Seed potato production in Ireland discussed at meeting
Farmers from across the country attended the Seed Potato workshop organised by Teagasc, Bord Bia and the IFA in the City North Hotel, Dublin on Wednesday 4 March. The workshop addressed the important aspects of seed potato production in Ireland. Seed exports have dwindled from over 10,000 tonnes per annum, a little over 10 years ago, to negligible volumes today. Dr Barry[Read More…]
Scottish seed potato sector on track for record
The Scottish seed potato sector is on track for a record number of exports this year. According to Scottish Government figures, 81,968 tonnes of seed have been exported to non-EU countries since July 2014, with another 3,000 tonnes expected to be exported by the end of the season in June. Exports are already up on last year, when nearly 78,000[Read More…]
Idaho seed growers exceed ring rot program requirements
Many Idaho commercial and seed potato growers weren’t content to simply meet the minimum requirements of a newly mandated test for bacterial ring rot. Under the Idaho Crop Improvement Association’s new ring rot program, certified seed beginning with generation one must undergo advanced laboratory testing at a 200-tuber sample size for lots smaller than a tenth of an acre and[Read More…]
Venezuela: Potato farmers struggling to meet demands of fast food industry
Potato farmers in Venezuela seem to be running out of options after a months-long stall in seed imports have caused the potato supply there to dwindle. The Venezuelan Producers Association, also called FEDEAGRO, says it is up to the Venezuelan government to import seeds from outside of the country. According to farmers, they are not getting clear information from the[Read More…]
UK: Greater focus on processing, seed production
As part of its efforts to develop British seed potato exports, the parent organisation for the Potato Council UK (AHDB), has undergone a re-branding. Robert Burns, Head of Seeds and Export, points out, “We are a young organisation currently on a journey and haven’t quite found out yet what the structure will be. It will probably be an emphasis on[Read More…]
Expert help for Western Australia’s seed potato producers
The Department of Agriculture and Food has invited a world leader in seed potato physiology to share his expertise with WA growers this month. DAFWA research officer Andrew Taylor said the visit would provide an opportunity for potato growers to gain first-hand practical information to help boost their businesses. “Western Australia has a strong reputation for seed potato quality and[Read More…]
Potato virus Y incidences on the rise in Idaho seed
The incidence of potato virus Y has increased markedly in Idaho potato seed, according to newly released results of the state’s 2015 winter grow-out. Alan Westra, Idaho Crop Improvement Association’s southeast manager, said during his organization’s Jan. 20 seed seminar clean seed lots in the grow-out decreased from 54 percent in 2014 to 44 percent this winter. Westra said the[Read More…]
Editor & Publisher: Lukie Pieterse
Feel free to get in touch with Lukie!
He will be most happy to share potato news stories from your country on Potato News Today.
lukie@potatonewstoday.com
lukie5555@gmail.com
Connect on LinkedIn
Follow on Twitter
About us
Lockwood Mfg
PULSEMASTER
Urschel
Dewulf
Kiremko Strata Invicta
