News Seed potatoes
Reduction in seed potatoes more than doubled
After a second week of field inspections, the NAK inspection service has again reduced a considerable area of seed potatoes in class. In most cases due to bacterial disease. The percentage increased from 2,6% to 5,9% (through week 25).
The NAK has now inspected almost 90% of all seed potato plots known† Just under 6% has been reduced in class and 1,1% has been rejected; it concerns 2.500 hectares. The percentages are significantly higher than in recent years, when 2,6% (2017) and 2% (2016) were reduced in class.
Bacterial disease
In most cases plots are reduced or rejected by the discovery of bacterial† Many virus-infected plants are now found. Varietal purity accounts for a decrease of 8% and is therefore a relatively small item compared to previous years.
Crops have been cut especially in the south of the country, followed by the middle. According to the NAK, the unusually high percentage can be explained by the wet autumn in 2017. In the meantime, reductions are also being made as a result of primary viral disease. The NAK expects that the lice pressure will increase, which will also increase the disease pressure.
Niels van der Boom
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