Urgent call for action to protect U.S. growers from potato wart

Published 2024년 8월 7일

Tridge summary

A bipartisan group of U.S. Senators has urged the USDA to take additional measures to prevent the introduction of potato wart, a highly destructive disease caused by the pathogen Synchytrium endobioticum, into the U.S. The disease, which is nearly impossible to eradicate, could lead to severe economic losses for growers and the potential closure of international markets. The senators are calling for the USDA to implement stricter import regulations and more stringent measures to protect U.S. potato growers.

Disclaimer:The above summary was generated by Tridge's proprietary AI model for informational purposes.

Original content

U.S. agriculture faces numerous challenges, and one of the most destructive is a pest or disease that is extremely difficult or impossible to eradicate. One disease facing the potato industry (potato wart) embodies exactly that perilous risk to U.S. growers demanding immediate and decisive action. Bipartisan members of the U.S. Senate, led by Senate Finance Committee Ranking Member Mike Crapo (R-Idaho) and Chair Ron Wyden (D-Oregon), issued an urgent appeal in July to the USDA to implement additional mitigation measures to prevent the introduction of Prince Edward Island (PEI) potato wart into the U.S. The stakes couldn’t be higher for American potato growers. “If potato wart should enter the United States, our farmers and the communities they support will be economically devastated,” cautioned the senators. With 20% of our potato crop — valued at more than $2 billion — exported annually, the introduction of this disease could shut off access to international markets and curtail ...

Source: Growingproduce