Weekly Column: We Must Close The Door On Destructive Crop Diseases

Idaho leads the nation in potato production, producing far more potatoes than are consumed in the State.  This enables Idaho potato producers to sell one in every six rows of Idaho potatoes to people in other countries, according to data from the Idaho State Department of Agriculture.  But, in order to maintain strong Idaho potato production and keep these markets open, we must be vigilant in ensuring we are not importing crop diseases threatening Idaho’s production.  I recently co-led an effort requesting U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Secretary Tom Vilsack increase protections against importing potatoes with potato wart from Canada. 

Potato wart is a highly destructive disease that can reduce yields and make potatoes unmarketable both within the U.S. and in foreign markets.  Potato wart is present in Canada’s Prince Edward Island (PEI), which led to Canada’s suspension of potato exports from PEI to the U.S. in November of 2021.  However, USDA resumed importation in April 2022 after a meeting between President Biden and Prime Minister of Canada Justin Trudeau. 

U.S. potato producers are justifiably concerned USDA is not properly addressing the risks of potato wart.  USDA’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) identified multiple pathways (including through seed potatoes and potatoes for consumption) for potato wart to almost certainly be introduced into U.S. fields if steps are not taken to prevent it.  APHIS found that about 48 percent of the contiguous U.S. states has a suitable climate for potato wart establishment, and resting spores can remain infectious for an alarming 40 years or more in the soil in suitable climates. 

The National Potato Council (NPC) has raised concerns with Secretary Vilsack and the Canadian Food Inspection Agency that beyond the initial prohibition of PEI potato exports (since resumed) no additional steps have been taken to prevent the spread of potato wart to the U.S.  When asking for immediate action to mitigate the risk, Kam Quarles, NPC’s Chief Executive Officer wrote, “We fear under the current policy it is only a matter of time before potato wart is exported from PEI to the U.S.”

Idaho Governor Brad Little has also urged USDA to take steps to protect U.S. potato production.  The Governor highlighted Idaho’s unfortunate experience with pale cyst nematode eradication writing, “In Idaho, we understand the severe economic impact disease can have on the potato industry.” 

In a letter to Secretary Vilsack, I joined Senate Finance Committee Chairman Ron Wyden (D-Oregon) and 16 other Senate colleagues, including fellow U.S. Senator for Idaho Jim Risch, in stressing, “Given that twenty percent of our potato crop—valued at over $2 billion—is exported, we cannot allow introduction of a disease that would shut off access to international markets, and also curtail domestic production and sales.”  We requested USDA take sensible steps to better protect U.S. potato production that include:

• Restricting bulk shipments into the U.S. to smaller-size packages, so repacking waste, which can transmit the disease, would be contained in Canada, not the U.S.;

• Limiting large retail shipments and ensuring consumers know they are for consumption rather than cultivation, to hopefully decrease consumers unknowingly planting infected potatoes in home gardens; and

• Controlling the waste generated by processing facilities, which can transmit the potato wart disease.

The Senate Finance Committee has oversight responsibility over trade agreements.  Serving as Ranking Member of this Committee provides an enhanced platform to weigh in on trade issues affecting Idahoans—a position I use every chance I get to press the Administration to work with Idaho farmers and ranchers to make certain our trade agreements are effectively enforced to best enable U.S. agriculture to continue to succeed both at home and in international markets. 

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