Canadian Food Inspection Agency officials believe mop top virus in potatoes poses little danger to the PEI industry and is contained.
CFIA doesn’t expect trade restrictions. Growers in fields next to infected fields are asked to create buffer zones. Mop Top was found on the Island from Maine seed two years ago. Growers are still upset they were not notified sooner.
The virus has been found in samples from eight states and checked in potatoes from five provinces. At least two of the Canadian samples were positive.
Nova Scotia is putting restrictions on certain land that has been planted with seed potatoes from Maine. There are suspicions but nothing has yet been confirmed. Specific growers have been told to wash down and disinfect their tractors when they go into their fields.