WA POTATOES
Creating export opportunities for increased seed potato production in WA.
PHOTOS © JULIAN ACKLEY
Growing seed potatoes
3 IF your seed crop is flowering and you have not yet submitted a application, then it is too late and you should make other plans for your crop.
BY JULIAN ACKLEY POTATO SEED GROWER
I
n the past five years the potato industry has weathered many setbacks and has forced many growers to either leave the industry or restructure their business. For those wishing to continue to utilise their equity in potato equipment, many are looking more closely at seed potato production. The new initiative of Ausfarm Connect is leading the way to potentially creating export opportunities for increased seed potato production in Western Australia (WA). For those of you thinking about giving it a go, this article intends to give you the basics in the hope it will prevent simple but costly mistakes in your first seed potato crop.
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WA Grower AUTUMN 2021
WA Seed Scheme The WA Seed Scheme is unique across the world as it includes two variants, both the Certified Seed Scheme and the Registered Seed Scheme. For most intensive purposes they are essentially identical in terms of allowable disease levels and almost every other rule. The only exception of the Registered Seed Scheme is that it allows certification approved swamps to omit from rotational requirements. However, without an approved swamp you will still be required to rotate your growing areas identically to the certified scheme. If the intention is to export overseas then it may create less confusion if your crop is under the certified scheme; for exporting to the eastern states of Australia then certified or registered seed are equally suitable.
Seed labels Before you can start growing seed you will need to obtain suitable seed stocks, which will include a label that provides the traceability of the seed line.
3 OF the four labels available in WA, you will need either Black Label Certified or Blue Label Registered if you wish to multiply the seed another generation.
