Nematode infestation believed confined

Press, Volume CXV, Issue 33791, 13 March 1975, Page 18

Nematode infestation believed confined

The Ministry of Agriculture in Christchurch is optimistic that with two-thirds of a survey completed, the outbreak of nematode in potatoes, discovered on February 5, is confined to the Marshland area.

Mr R. Plummer, of the ■ department, told the executive of the agriculture section of North Canterbury Federated Farmers yesterday that a team of 30 had so far inspected 850 acres of a total 1300 acres of commercial potatoes. The survey to discover the extent of the infestation should be completed by the end of the month, he said. The infestation appeared confined to the initial area in Marshland east of the Main North Road and below the Waimakariri River, said Mr Plummer. No trace of the pest had been discovered outside this area. There were now 30 properties, covering 250 acres, confirmed as having nematode infestation, he said.

Of 670 hectares of seed potatoes growing outside Christchurch, almost 470 hectares had been inspected with “nil result.”

In North Canterbury, where two departmental teams were

I working out of Rangiora, 280 of 500 acres had also been inspected, with the same result; and these included two crops which had links with the Marshland area, but both were clear. PRESENT POLICY

In the Marshland area, 20 of the 180 acres growing seed potatoes showed no infestation.

Besides the checks, a soilsampling team was also moving through the Marshland area.

Mr Plummer said that about 12,000 tons of potatoes wer i grown in the Marshland area, of which about 10,000 were normally sold outside the Christchurch marketing area.

In conjunction with growers, the department’s present policy is that potatoes from infested land must be cleaned and be free of soil, to the satisfaction of the department’s inspectors, and sold only in the Christchurch metropolitan and West Coast

[markets. This also includes gate sales. I Potatoes from infected land | where nematode has not been found, but which is farmed in conjunction with land where it had, must also be cleaned, but for this season only they [may be sold outside the [Christchurch metropolitan market.

in the cleaning process, Mr Plummer said, the department was getting 100 per cent support from growers.

“We are also asking all growers marketing potatoes from infested land to mark their bags so that none are sold outside Christchurch,” Mr Plummer said. This is also serving as a double check for the merchants.” POLICY IN FUTURE

Machines working on and off infested land must also be cleaned, and warning notices have been printed suggesting the precautions growers can take to prevent the spread of the disease.

As regards future policy,; Mr Plummer said the department was waiting until it knew the exact area of nematode infestation. No fumigation, which cost $6OO an acre, would be carried out in the Marshland area this autumn. Mr Plummer also said he did not envisage potatoes being grown in the same area next year.