Island farmers who don't properly dispose of bad potatoes will face much higher fines, as the province moves to stop the spread of diseases.
Farmers are required to bury potatoes that can't be sold due to bruising or disease. Potatoes that are not disposed of properly can cause the spread of diseases such as blight.
Under the old rules, fines ranged from about $200 to $1,000. The new rules set a minimum fine of $1,000, with fines as high as $25,000. The change also gives Brian Craig, the manager of the plant health regulatory section of the Department of Agriculture, the authority to lay charges.
