b'up 26% of total acreage, and although duction in the area for the foreseeable Memorandum of Understanding (MOU)RussetBurbankisstilltherussetof future.GovernorTimWalzand for Necrotic Virus Management Plan inchoice with over half the russet acreage AgricultureCommissionerThom July.Followingeveryharvest,growersat 51%, Umatilla Russet accounted for Petersonheldaroundtablediscussion submitsamplesforthePost-Harvest21%.Whiteandyellowvarieties withgrowersandindustryofficialsat Winter Test in Oahu, Hawaii. In the fallaccounted for 14% and 13% respective- the MDA office in East Grand Forks to of 2019, 223 samples were submitted forly,withspecialtyvarietiesmakingup discuss the difficulties the growers expe- this program. The samples will be plant-the remaining 3%.riencedwiththeharvestandprovide ed,andeachlotobservedvisuallyforsome support moving forward. Overall, stand, vigor, and potato virus.All posi-Harvest was difficult, with some regions the quality of the potato seed that was tive potato virus visual observations arereceiving up to 14 inches of rain from able to be harvested is good to excellent. confirmedwithalaboratorytestcon-Labor Day to the end of October. The ductedattheUniversityofHawaii.brunt of the heavy rainfall was in the The MDA Potato Inspection Unit uses a Once complete, the results are commu-RedRiverValleyandnorth.Fifty-two generation system and remains vigilant nicated to the growers and industry. certified seed lots, representing over 700 in detecting potato virus and other dis-acres, were totally lost due to the excess eases.Withthisinmind,theMDA ForcopiesoftheMinnesotacertifiedmoisture. In addition, not all remaining signed the United States Department of seedpotatodirectory,pleasevisittheacreage was able to be harvested. This Agriculture(USDA)AnimalandPlant MDA website or call 218-773-4956 to bewill have an impact on seed potato pro- HealthInspectionService(APHIS) added to the mailing list.MARCH 2020 POTATO GROWER 27'