Deep frost and low winter temperatures reduce their populations and therefore their potential to damage the succeeding potato crop. According to Hafez, this year's unusual weather favors speedy reproduction and numerous generations of several species of nematodes, especially the rootknot nematode. Rootknot nematodes leave potato skins bumpy and discolor the tissue immediately beneath the skin. While soil tests can determine the initial population of nematodes in a potato field prior to planting, Hafez says there's no accurate way to determine how many nematodes are present during the growing season. But he says growers whose fields have a history of rootknot nematode infestations may benefit from harvesting their potatoes early and not storing them.
Nematodes continue to lay eggs in storage.
North Korea Wheat Donation Agriculture Secretary Dan Glickman has announced that the U.S. Department of Agriculture will donate 50,000 metric tons of wheat to the World Food Program's emergency feeding operations in North Korea. The surplus U.S. wheat will be used to help feed tens of thousands of undernourished children, new mothers, and other people in need. Noodles and other food products made from the donated wheat will be distributed to children, pregnant and lactating mothers, hospital patients, and other vulnerable groups. Earlier this year, USDA donated 10,000 metric tons of wheat for distribution in North Korea. Under fiscal 1999 food aid programs, USDA provided more than 550,000 metric tons of wheat, flour, corn, and nonfat dry milk as part of U.S. food assistance to support World Food Program feeding operations in North Korea.