“The consensus of the technical advisory group reporting to the Ministry for Primary Industries is that eradication is not technically feasible short-term,” Potatoes NZ chief executive Chris Claridge said.
“On that basis we are moving to long-term management.
“There are a series of steps we need to take to do that and we are in that process now.
“In long-term management there are a number of options we can look to take and we are just starting to work through those options now.”
Biosecurity NZ and the potato industry are working together to transition out of the joint response and planning what the industry-led management programme will look like, Claridge said.
Three paddocks in Canterbury are confirmed as infected.
A further 11 paddocks are linked as suspected infections.
Processing plants store tubers mixed from multiple paddocks so they can’t be traced back to their origin. All the suspect sites are in Canterbury.
A second processor identified virus symptoms in its processing tubers and they have been confirmed positive.
Further sampling is under way to learn more about the virus and to build a better picture of whether the disease has spread beyond the initial detections.
“We are looking into how the virus may have entered the country but we may never know,” MPI said.
MPI has removed the unwanted organism status for PMTV.
That decision was based on advice from MPI scientists and discussion and agreement between Biosecurity NZ and Potatoes NZ.
The removal of the unwanted organism status doesn’t change growers’ obligation to report to MPI if they suspect their crops have the virus.
“It is still a notifiable organism.”
Seed line testing of tubers to be grown this season has been completed.
All seed line samples for cultivars Innovator, Russet-Burbank, Agria, Moonlight and Nadine have shown no trace of the virus.
Sampling of potatoes and soil from confirmed and suspect properties is continuing though bad weather has caused some delays.
The virus can be spread on seed tubers, in soil associated with boots, in machinery and in waste or by-products from potatoes.
Specific on-farm management measures include not growing potatoes in affected paddocks, cleaning and disinfecting equipment, machinery and vehicles and using signs to ensure workers and visitors are aware of biosecurity hygiene practices.
There are no food safety risks from eating potatoes with the virus.
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Growers who suspect they have found the virus on their property should call the Biosecurity NZ pests and diseases hotline 0800 80 99 66
