A problem with wireworm in 2011 prompted the P.E.I. Potato Board to reconsider its commitment to researchA problem with wireworm in 2011 prompted the P.E.I. Potato Board to reconsider its commitment to research (Agriculture Canada)

The P.E.I. Potato Board is holding district meetings to brief farmers about plans to expand the amount of agricultural research it is involved with.

Board chair Gary Linkletter said there is a need for the industry to step in and supplement government-sponsored research. Linkletter said the need came to light about a year ago when the Island had a problem with wireworm. At that time the industry, the province and the horticultural council worked together to come up with a solution.

"If we don't do some things like this, have control of it ourselves, and things come up, we could find ourselves right out of business and not even know what happened to us," said Linkletter.

"We are trying to be proactive to get some things going. But it's going to cost dollars and we have to go to our growers to make sure it is something they also perceive value in."

The first district meeting will be held Tuesday night at 7 p.m. at the Fox Island Elite Seed Farm boardroom in Alberton. The next one will be Thursday at the Loyalist Lakeview Resort in Summerside.