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CDA staff brief commission on seed-potato rule amendments to address virus and sampling
Summary
Staff outlined proposed rule changes under the Colorado Seed Potato Act to respond to rising potato virus Y: delete obsolete language, set testing and sampling standards (reducing sample counts from 400 to 200 seed pieces), set submission and reporting timelines (Nov. 1 submissions; CSU notifications), and set auditing rates (minimum ~10%).
Department staff briefed the commission on proposed amendments to rules implementing the Colorado Seed Potato Act, citing industry requests and rising incidences of potato virus Y in the San Luis Valley and other production areas.
The proposed changes would remove obsolete provisions, amend sampling and testing requirements for uncertified seed potatoes (reducing a previously used 400-piece sample to 200 on Colorado State University advice), clarify when growers must submit seed for testing (a November 1 submission window was described) and the notification timeline that CSU and the department must follow, and set an auditing floor at roughly 10% of growers to reflect increased use of uncertified seed. Staff said the rulemaking includes timelines to establish an aggregate virus tolerance and that tolerance will be used for the 2027 planting cycle after a two-year transition.
Staff emphasized extensive consultation with industry committees and CSU and noted implementation steps and timelines; the item was presented as a rulemaking briefing and will return as a formal rulemaking action for commissioner consideration.
