Seed Potato Certification

2008 Application for Seed Potato Import Permit (.pdf)

The Division of Plant Industry certifies seed potatoes in Maine to control the level of regulated pests in Maine's potato industry. Certification is a three step process: inspection of seed potatoes during the summer, disease evaluation of samples submitted for testing in Florida and inspection during shipping to ensure the potatoes meet grade standards.

The first step of the certification program is the inspection of seed potatoes during the summer growing season. Only seed lots that are found to meet the tolerance for regulated diseases and pests are eligible to be certified as seed. A directory of producers whose seed lots pass the summer inspection program is compiled at the conclusion of the field inspection season.

Second, Maine statutes require that in order for a seed lot to receive certification, a sample must be submitted for post-harvest disease evaluation at a state-owned farm in Homestead, Florida. Approximately 1000 samples are planted in November and evaluated for disease in January. Seed lots meeting the tolerances of the post-harvest test are published at the conclusion of the program. Florida Test Results (.pdf) for 2007-2008.

Lastly, in order for seed lots that are shipped out-of-state to receive final certification, they must be inspected during shipping to ensure they meet grade standards. Only lots that are found to meet field, post-harvest test, and shipping point inspection tolerances can be tagged as certified seed in Maine 2007 (.pdf file).

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Seed Potato Certification