Plea to ease potato controls

A GEMBROOK potato farmer has rushed to clarify a need for better disease classification controls.
This comes after the Mail last week reported that potato farmer Carl Firrito was calling for the State Government to assess farms on a case by case basis.
Mr Firrito told the Mail that the disease, potato cyst nematode (PCN) had not affected his farm but that he was still being penalised.
The story last week reported that PCN had not been found on Mr Firrito’s property or within a two-kilometre radius but that he still was being restricted from exporting his crops interstate.
But Mr Firrito said what he meant by these statements was that PCN restrictions put in place by the Department of Primary Industries affects any property within a two kilometre radius of known PCN infestations.
“The two kilometre radius covers the whole of Gembrook area and includes properties which are free of the disease,” he said. “So, in effect, land owners who do not have PCN on the property suffer because of the two kilometre radium ruling.”
Mr Firrito said as a result of this, landowners with or without PCN on their land can’t freely trade their produce as they are restricted to trade in Victoria only. “Local packing sheds are also affected with much stricter hygiene methods required to be used and this has resulted in a reduced market price,” he said.
The Mail’s report also stated that Mr Firrito only made $150 per tonne in 2007 for his crop but he actually made $300 per tonne, which is $150 less than received in other areas.
Mr Firrito said with green wedge and potato restrictions in the area, farmers need both the State and local governments to come together with the landowners to work towards resolving some of the issues within the Gembrook area so that it can remain sustainable and viable for farmers in the future.