Potato mop-top virus no longer a concern for spud growers

Potato growers and industry representatives say the mop-top virus is having very little impact.

Mop-top virus was first detected on a Tasmanian farm in July.

It was the first time it had been detected in Australia. However, traceback work indicated the virus could have been present in Tasmania for two years.

Authorities have since determined that eradication of mop-top was not feasible and have shifted the focus to long-term management of the virus.

Tasmanian Certified Seed Potato Scheme (TasSeed) manager Doug Clark said that mop-top was no longer a threat to farmers.

“When we tested all our certified lines last year, we only had a couple of hits – so overall, it’s a very, very low percentage of all of the seed that was produced that was detected with mop-top,” Mr Clark said.

“A grower who grows fresh market potatoes for the supermarket, for example, has a very, very low percentage chance that they’ve got it in that first instance.

“For the hundreds of 1000s of tonnes of potatoes that Simplot or McCains process, it’s only chance if you pick it up.

“It’s a storm in a teacup.”

Mr Clark said TasSeed would still be testing for mop-top as part of its tuber testing.

“I think we’re going to be really unlucky if we find anything.

“We have not seen any visual symptoms in the field, and that’s consistent with what we’ve seen over the last few years.”

Potato farmer Stuart Applebee said that mop-top was not affecting him.

“It’s had no impact on any grower,” Mr Applebee said.

“No one is talking about it.

“It’s gone completely quiet.”

Fellow farmer Nathan Richardson shared this view.

“On the list of things to worry about with the potato industry, mop-top is well down the list.”