PRESQUE ISLE – Trucks bearing potatoes from Prince Edward Island are expected to start rolling across the U.S.-Canadian border Monday after an agreement was reached this week between the countries’ potato industries.

According to the plan, the Houlton port of entry is the only point in the United States where the P.E.I. potatoes may enter the country.

Restrictions were placed on the importation of P.E.I. potatoes last fall after the potato wart fungus was found in one field on the island province. P.E.I. potato growers refused to accept the restrictions, which also regulated how the island spuds could move around Canada.

But with spring planting season right around the corner, P.E.I. farmers are looking for financing for this year’s crop at a time when a portion of the 2000 crop is still in storage.

“Bankers and creditors needed to see that border open,” said David Lavway, government relations liaison for the National Potato Council.

Ivan Noonan, director of the P.E.I. Potato Board, agreed, saying that financing was a “big concern.”

“Lending institutions have been good, but they have to look out for their shareholders, too,” said Noonan.

Wayne McKinnon, communications manager for the P.E.I. Agriculture Department, said some growers may have difficulties with financing and may not be planting because of the wart issue.

The island province is the largest potato-producing area in Canada, planting about 109,000 acres last year. In the latest agreement, which affects only the 2000 crop, a washing requirement was dropped for P.E.I. potatoes being shipped throughout Canada.

However, a sample inspection requirement at the border was added for potatoes being shipped to the United States. Tubers also must be inspected in the storage building before they are graded and packed.

The rest of the restrictions, which had been in place for months, require that the potatoes also must be washed, treated with sprout inhibitor and packed in containers of 50 pounds or less.

U.S. Department of Agriculture inspectors are ready at the Houlton port, according to Anna Cherry, a USDA spokeswoman. “They’ve been in place for a while,” Cherry said. “This has always been the plan.”

Canadian federal inspectors began work Thursday night on the storage, or bin, inspections, according to Noonan.

It’s unclear how much of the remaining spuds will be shipped to the United States. Island industry officials estimated about 25 percent of the crop is left. “It depends on the buyers,” said Noonan. “Our quality’s good, but we don’t have enough potatoes to make a difference.”

A Canadian report estimated that the provincial industry lost $30 million as a result of the wart problem.

The long-term effects on the P.E.I. potato industry may not be immediately known. McKinnon said island acreage is expected to be down this year due to the wart issue. In addition, there’s uncertainty about how the 2001 crop will be handled, according to McKinnon.