Preliminary testing is showing about half of the Prince Edward Island, Canada, seed lots have high virus levels and can't be planted this spring.
This will not only mean a shortage of seed potatoes, but lower total production. Tests on Russet Burbank seed are particularly poor.
Cavendish Farms, one of the Island's large processors, anticipating the shortage, imported a special order from Saskatchewan before the end of '99. It is thought that even with this extra purchase it will still not be enough to meet production demand.