Seed Potato Production Management

Return to the Guide to Commercial Potato Production on the Canadian Prairies.

The Prairie Provinces annually produce more than 25,000 acres (10,000 ha) of certified seed potatoes. Seed potato production for commercial planting is primarily at the Elite 3, Elite 4 and Foundation classes

Seed Potato Production Pyramid.

Class	Field generation
Pre-elite	1st generation seed
Elite 1	2nd generation seed
Elite 2	3rd generation seed
Elite 3	4th generation seed
Elite 4	5th generation seed
Foundation	6th generation seed
Certified	7th generation seed

The range of potato varieties produced in the Prairie Provinces varies with the demand and ultimate use of the raw potato. Most of the fields entered for certification are for the production of processing potatoes. Russet Burbank and Shepody are the main French fry processing varieties, while Atlantic, Norvalley and Snowden are the main chip processing varieties. The majority of these seed potatoes are grown under contract with potato processing companies. Other varieties are produced for the production of table potatoes. These include red skin, white skin and yellow flesh varieties. In addition, several novelty varieties are produced for the home garden trade.

This chapter was written to provide general information about seed potato certification in Canada. Any persons wanting more detailed information should contact the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) local office or the CFIA website .

Seed Potato Act and Regulations

In Canada, the inspection and certification of seed potatoes is governed by legislation contained in Seeds Act and Part II of the Seeds Regulations. A copy of the Act and Regulations can be obtained at the CFIA website.

The seed potato regulations define seed potatoes as: “potato tubers certified pursuant to Part II of the Seeds Regulations of the Seeds Act for reproduction purposes”. Seed potatoes must, therefore, meet the standards set out by these regulations. Potato tubers that do not meet the seed potato standards do not qualify as seed potatoes and are defined as non-certified potatoes or table stock potatoes. Seed potatoes, which have been transported without official tags or a bulk-movement certificate, are also defined as non-certified potatoes (i.e. seed potatoes require an official label or documentation).

The Canadian Food Inspection Agency administers the Seeds Act and Part II of the Seeds Regulations and ensures that a uniform standard is applied across the country. CFIA headquarters in Nepean, Ontario, assumes the main administrative role for developing new policies and regulatory amendments in consultation with a national seed potato industry stakeholders committee. The Operations directorate of CFIA is responsible for seed inspections and issuing certification numbers and phytosanitary certificates.

Role of CFIA Officers and Inspectors

1. To approve or reject grower applications for crop inspection.
2. To inspect and verify the cleaning and disinfecting of equipment and storage used in seed potato production.
3. To inspect grower crops and to record and report the inspection results.
4. To pass, downgrade or reject the certification of fields entered for inspection.
5. To issue Growing Crop Certificates to fields passing inspection.
6. To issue Rejection Notices to fields failing to pass field inspection.
7. To revoke certification on crops which fail to continue to meet the certification requirements.
8. To inspect and verify that seed potatoes have been graded prior to shipment.
9. To issue official tags and bulk-movement certificates on seed being shipped.
10. To carry out tuber inspections when a request for re-inspection of a lot has been received.
11. To perform post-harvest inspections of winter grow out plots under disease evaluation
12. To accredit qualifying laboratory testing for seed potatoes.

1. To apply for inspection on the official form.
2. To ensure that all equipment and storage facilities are cleaned and disinfected before being used in the production and storage of seed potatoes.
3. To ensure that only eligible seed potatoes are planted on the seed farm.
4. To ensure the crop is protected from varietal mixture and disease contamination.
5. To ensure the growing crop is well managed.
6. To rogue diseased and off-type plants from seed fields.
7. To ensure the harvested crop is stored in a manner that prevents varietal mixture, contamination by disease, loss of identity, and tuber deterioration.
8. To grade the seed potato tubers to regulatory quality standards and the prescribed size requirements prior to shipping.
9. To correctly label all seed potatoes sold using official tags or bulk-movement certificates.
10. To keep field rotation, varietal history, production and storage figures and sales records to document product activity.

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