Defra is extending its precautionary action against potato ring rot to three premises in England which received seed potatoes of the same variety as those found to be infected on a Welsh farm last week.
The supplier of the Dutch seed, which is believed to have been the origin of the disease, has provided details of five other consignments which were delivered for planting in 2003. These seed potatoes were not from the same farm in the Netherlands but were the same 'Provento' variety. As a precautionary measure, in case of any common ancestral link with the infected stock, the premises to which the seed was delivered have been contacted and the remaining stocks of the affected variety on three of the farms are being held for testing. We are also seeking information from the Netherlands about other varieties of potatoes delivered from the source farm.
