New Zealand sees new pest wrecking potato crop

"We really don't know much about it. It is a very new pest here."Terry Olsen - Horticulture New Zealand's Potato Group chairman on the potato psyllid.

The jury is still out on the impact the pest, the potato psyllid, will have on crop yields.

The insect spreads a damaging bacterium, liberibacter.

Horticulture New Zealand's Potato Group chairman Terry Olsen said information from potato growers suggested the psyllid has had between a 10 and 20 per cent impact on lowering potato yields, but not a lot is known about the insect's influence yet.

"Growers are all talking about it, and there is some uncertainty and concern about next year's crop."