06/23/06 PGI, United and SIPCO meet Wednesday

The first case of potato late blight has been confirmed this season in the Columbia Basin of Washington State. The disease was found in a field of Ranger potatoes near Eltopia and some experts believe it will show up in additional fields thanks to wet weather. That discovery will probably get the attention of Idaho growers who will be attending a meeting next week in Pocatello. Potato Growers of Idaho executive director Keith Esplin says growers will learn more about potato cyst nematode from state and federal officials who have been invited to the June 28th meeting. PCN has been traced to a field near Blackfoot. Esplin says they will also be discussions about potato tuberworm. ESPLIN "The Department of Agriculture has a lot of traps out in the Treasure Valley to see if it shows up again. There were just a few that showed up late last fall but we never established as being resident because they never found any of the larvae." The PGI meeting next Wednesday is held jointly with the United Potato Growers of Idaho and the Southern Idaho Potato Cooperative. United will unveil its overall strategy and plans for the coming year, the number of acres planted and the potential size of the 2006 crop. Voice of Idaho Agriculture Bill Scott