Guyra District Potato Growers Association – Seed Growers, (GDPGA) will be holding a special meeting on Monday December 1 at 7:30 pm in the RSL Hall, Guyra to further discuss the recent outbreak of the potato disease POTATO CYST NEMATODE (PCN) in the Thorpdale region in Victoria. PCN is a microscopic, worm-like organism that feeds on the roots of potatoes, tomatoes and other plants of the solanaceae family.

It lives in the soil and is easily spread by the movement of host plants, soil attached to plants, bulbs, advanced trees and agricultural equipment.

PCN can significantly reduce crop yields, increase production costs and result in trade restrictions for potatoes.

This may sound far-flung from Guyra but it is now the fourth outbreak of this disease in Victoria and at present requires a 25-kilometre exclusion zone around any outbreak. With the distribution of both ware and seed potatoes out of Victoria into all other states of Australia, the possibility of this disease spreading to the Guyra district is a real possibility.

GDPGA urges all potato growers and persons associated with the industry to attend this very important meeting.