Page 1 Page 2 Page 3 Page 4 Page 5 Page 6 Page 7 Page 8 Page 9 Page 10 Page 11 Page 12 Page 13 Page 14 Page 15 Page 16 Page 17 Page 18 Page 19 Page 20 Page 21 Page 22 Page 23 Page 24 Page 25 Page 26 Page 27 Page 28 Page 29 Page 30 Page 31 Page 32N O V E M B E R / D E C E M B E R 2 0 1 6 16 POTATO GROWER Changes In Representation At The UNECE Specialized Section On Seed Potatoes by Willem Schrage The United Nations Economic Commission of Europe (UNECE) helps countries to convene and cooperate on norms, standards and conventions. This impacts the life of citizens every single day when they, for instance, buy food, drive a car, breathe clean air, transport goods, handle chemicals, save energy or walk in the forest. Seed potatoes is but one of the many issues that are dealt with. The Specialized Section on Seed Potatoes of the UNECE held its annual meeting recently in Geneva, Switzerland. Seed potato certifica- tion officials from Australia, Austria, Czech Republic, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Israel, Italy, the Netherlands, the UK and the USA discussed changes in the UNECE Seed Potato Standard and finalized the last two of the four guides on seed potato inspections that this section has produced as well as other topics. There was general agreement about the importance of the efforts of the UNECE to facilitate trade and reduce the cost of trade and help countries improve their use of certi- fied seed. There were three delegates from the USA, Todd Mattos, USDA/AMS (tuber inspection), Nina Zidack, Montana Seed Potato Certification (field inspection) and Willem Schrage, retired from the North Dakota State Seed Department. Funding for the travel of Nina Zidack and Willem Schrage is pro- vided by the Potatoes USA seed export promotion program. Nina Zidack was elected at the last NPC seed certification meeting to suc- ceed Willem Schrage as representa- tive of the US seed potato certifica- tion agencies. Since Willem Schrage was leaving the position of vice-chair of the Specialized Section became vacant. Nigel Crump of ViCSPA, Victoria, Australia was duly elected as vice chair of the section. Re-elected were vice-chair Hannah Kortema, of Finland and chair, John Kerr of Scotland. Virus Testing Survey Colleagues in the US may expect a questionnaire from the UNECE Specialized section on virus testing. Since PCR-testing is becoming more prevalent many certification offi- cials suggested to create and send out a survey with as purpose to: 1. Capture information from around the world regarding potato virus testing methods that are used to support decisions in seed potato certification. 2. Develop a comparative list of the virus testing methods which can be used as a reference/guide for all seed potato certification authorities. 3. To determine how the UNECE standard should reflect the current practices of virus testing that is associated with seed potato certifi- cation. The data generated will be made publicly available through the UNECE seed program website. Certification Guides The Guide to Seed Potato Field Inspection: Recommended Prac- tices, Guide to Seed Potato Diseases, PACKER&SHIPPER R, GROWE OFREDPOTATOES , ND 58201 ks or and F . S., Gr e v 701-772-620 | 4320 18th A let’s dig deeper. . w w w s m r a f d ol g k c a bl . CONTACT: en: v o Keith Gr goldfarms.com k en@blac v o eith.gr k am: y asey Br C .b y case goldfarms.com k am@blac y r ke: ak eah Br L e leah.brakk goldfarms.com k @blac : on Ladhoff D f don.ladhof goldfarms.com k @blac