More than 2000 soil samples across Canada’s potato-producing provinces came back free of potato wart, for a clean bill of health, the Canadian Food Inspection Agency said today.
The CFIA in its 2023 national potato wart survey tested for the soil-borne fungus in British Columbia, Alberta, Saskatchewan, Manitoba, Ontario, Quebec, New Brunswick, Nova Scotia and Prince Edward Island.
This marks the second year the survey turned up no cases of potato wart, though the 2022 survey did not include P.E.I, which struggled with the fungus in 2021 and 2022.
In late 2021, two processing potato fields on the island were confirmed infected with potato wart.
On U.S. trade concerns, the federal government shut down fresh potato exports from the province. Most trade resumed in April 2022.
The 2021 cases were followed by confirmations in February, July and December of 2022, bringing in export restrictions and mitigation orders.
Earlier this year, the federal government asked for producer feedback on new potato wart guidance documents and plans.
