Preparing for post-harvest testing

• before harvest begins provincial field staff will visit your farm to review your CFIA Seed Inspection Application Form or a list of your planted seed lots to determine which lots require testing.
• you must clearly communicate what testing you require before sampling arrangements are finalized
• if requested, Bacterial Ring Rot (BRR) sample can be collected with the post-harvest sample
• the sample size (size chart below) is based on the size of your field and number of tests you require
• the lab destroys all samples after testing to prevent any contamination
• growers may request to receive test results by e-mail, mail, and/or fax

Bacterial Ring Rot (BRR)

Provincial field staff will collect samples for BRR testing on your behalf while collecting for post-harvest virus sample. You must identify the fields that require BRR testing so that enough tubers are collected for the combined BRR and virus tests.

It’s mandatory for Federal CFIA inspectors will collect samples from:

• new seed growers who began growing within the past two years
• farms affected by BBR within the past six years, and
• seed lots destined for export markets in Uruguay, Brazil, Thailand and EU

CFIA minimum testing requirement: For replanting on your farm and/or for sales purposes, a minimum of two (2) seed lots per grower (identified by specific grower number) must be tested and found free of BRR before any tags will be issued. Select the two sampling lots in consultation with your local CFIA inspector.

If the above minimum testing requirement is met, pre-shipment testing of each lot of Pre-Elite, Elite I and/or Certified class stock is not mandatory.

For sales purposes, a sample of each lot of Elite II, Elite III, Elite IV and/or Foundation class seed must be tested and found free of BRR.

Post Harvest Virus Limit

The post-harvest level of seed lots planted cannot exceed 2% Potato Leafroll Virus (PLRV) or 3% total virus (PLRV+PVY).