Addressing the Threat of Potato Wart from Canadian Imports
Washington D.C.—In a united effort, U.S. Senators Ron Wyden (D-OR) and Mike Crapo (R-ID) led a bipartisan group of Senate colleagues in addressing a significant agricultural threat. In a letter to U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Secretary Thomas Vilsack, they expressed serious concerns about the potential spread of potato wart from Canadian potato imports, specifically from Prince Edward Island (PEI), to U.S. farms and production facilities. The senators urged immediate implementation of additional mitigation measures to prevent this disease from entering the United States.
Potato wart is a highly destructive disease that can severely impact crop yields and render potatoes unmarketable both domestically and internationally. This disease, which spreads through infected potatoes and soil, can persist in contaminated farmland for decades with no available treatment to eliminate it.
The senators warned, “If potato wart should enter the United States, our farmers and the communities they support will be economically devastated. Given that 20 percent of our potato crop—valued at over $2 billion—is exported, we cannot allow the introduction of a disease that would shut off access to international markets and curtail domestic production and sales.”
Despite USDA regulations identifying soil testing as the most effective tool to detect potato wart, the senators highlighted a critical gap: the lack of mandatory testing of PEI fields before clearing potatoes for export to the U.S.
Proposed Measures to Mitigate Potato Wart Risk
To safeguard this crucial American crop and the livelihoods dependent on it, the senators urged the USDA to take three specific actions:
- Restrict Bulk Shipments: Limit bulk shipments of potatoes into the U.S. to smaller packages (20 pounds or less) to reduce waste generated during repacking processes, which can transmit potato wart.
- Limit Retail Shipments: Ensure retail shipments are clearly labeled for consumption rather than cultivation to prevent consumers from unknowingly planting infected potatoes in home gardens.
- Control Waste from Processing Facilities: Mandate USDA supervision of processing facilities using PEI potatoes, including treatment of biohazard waste, and prohibit the conversion of waste potatoes into livestock feed to prevent embedding potato wart into agricultural land.
Gary Roth, Executive Director of the Oregon Potato Commission, emphasized the gravity of the situation, stating, “Potato wart entering the United States from Prince Edward Island in Canada has been and continues to be a significant threat to U.S. potato farmers. If the disease enters the United States, the impact would be devastating not just to U.S. potato farmers, but also to the domestic and international supply chain. Oregon growers and those across the United States greatly appreciate the inclusive and bipartisan support of the U.S. Senate to further bring this to the attention of the USDA.”
Bipartisan Support for Enhanced Protection Measures
The letter, signed by 18 senators including Wyden and Crapo, underscores the bipartisan support for addressing this agricultural threat. The full list of signatories includes Senators Angus King (I-ME), Susan Collins (R-ME), John Hickenlooper (D-CO), James Risch (R-ID), Michael Bennet (D-CO), Pete Ricketts (R-NE), John Fetterman (D-PA), John Hoeven (R-ND), Jon Tester (D-MT), Steve Daines (R-MT), Maria Cantwell (D-WA), Kevin Cramer (R-ND), Jeff Merkley (D-OR), John Boozman (R-AR), Debbie Stabenow (D-MI), and Patty Murray (D-WA).
Ensuring the Future of U.S. Potato Farming
The concerted efforts of these senators highlight the importance of protecting the U.S. potato industry from external threats. By urging the USDA to implement these additional measures, they aim to preserve the economic stability and agricultural integrity of U.S. potato farming.
