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Michigan seed potato act passed

 

Michigan lawmakers have passed legislation that will require the state’s potato industry to transition to certified seed by 2021.

Specialty crop producer Representative Roger Victory of Hudsonville says the Seed Potato Act is an industry driven initiative to self-regulate growers and protect the state’s crop.  “I do like potato chips, but a lot of our Michigan grown potatoes foster that industry and we’re one of the top producers for the potato chip industry.  That could be at risk if we were to have a (disease) outbreak.”   He says the measure is based on similar precedents in other states and will also create an advisory board to enforce the legislation.

Growers planting less than an acre, or less than 3,000 pounds of seed potatoes are exempt.

Michigan is the nation’s top producer of potatoes for potato chip processing. Potatoes are Michigan’s leading produce commodity in terms of volume and sales.

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