The Prince Edward Island government has announced new funding valued at $3 million to support potato seed growers affected by ongoing trade suspensions. The Soil Building for Seed Producers project will focus on Best Management Practices (BMPs) on fields currently used for seed potato production.

“In our meetings with industry and the PEI Potato Board, the need for additional supports for our seed sector were identified, specifically so that those growers can assess and address alternative crops as they deal with ongoing trade suspensions,” said Bloyce Thompson, minister of agriculture and land.

The project, developed with the PEI Potato Board, will focus on BMPs such as:  incorporating new soil-building crops into rotations, extending rotations with soil-building perennial crops to increase carbon sequestration and to contribute to reducing net carbon emissions in the province.

“The board is very pleased to work with the province on the development of this project, as our seed growers still face a lot of uncertainty and challenges for 2022 and beyond,” said John Visser, chair of the PEI Potato Board. “This project will help those most affected by the restrictions on seed movement to cover fixed costs while gaining some time to assess how they move ahead, and it is very positive that they will be able to take advantage of this support while benefitting the environment and soil health.”

The deadline to apply for the Soil Building for Seed Producers Project is June 30, 2022.

Source:  PEI Department of Agriculture  & Land May 12, 2022 news release