1607 Badger Common'Tater

Badger Common’Tater

July 2016

THE VOICE OF WISCONSIN'S POTATO & VEGETABLE INDUSTRY

Crop Protection Issue INTERVIEW: Wayne Solinsky, Sales Manager, Jay Mar, Inc.

Volume 68 Number 7 $18.00/year $1.50/copy

HIGH-CAP WELLS UPDATE DNR responds to Attorney General opinion NATIONAL RESEARCH COUNCIL Report says GMO crops safe to eat CROP PROTECTION SALES TREND UPWARD Fastest growing segment for top ag retailers

Jay Mar, Inc. self-propelled spinner applies 90-foot spread pattern with every pass.

Roberts Irrigation • www.robertsirrigationWI.com 1500 Post Road, Plover, WI 54467 • (715) 344-4747 2022 W. 2nd Avenue, Bloomer, WI 54724 • (715) 568-4600

Rick Kantner Chris Lockery Paul Katz

Inventory • Replenishment Services • Handle all freight concerns • Long-Range Planning •

Transportation: Ted Kowalski

Mitch Bushman Maria Yenter • Bob Dobbe John Hopfensperger • John Eckendorf Jerome Bushman (FL - WI) Mike Gatz, Jim Stefan and Rick Kantner (Milwaukee) Sam Saccullo (All fruits and vegetables) Mike Whyte (Michigan) Mike Carter CEO

800-826-0200 715-677-453 3 • Fax: 715-677-4076 R o s h o l t ,

W i s c o n s i n

On the Front Cover: Jay-Mar’s self-propelled spinner is used to apply dry fertilizer to both in-row crops, and for pre-plant and in-season broadcast applications. Photo courtesy of Jay-Mar

Badger Common'Tater

8 Badger cOMMON’TATER INTERVIEW: WAYNE SOLINSKY, JAY-MAR, INC.

Jay-Mar, Inc. Sales Manager and WPVGA Associate Division Board President Wayne Solinsky details the company’s strengths in providing crop protection products and recommendations. Shown here, a customer’s truck is being loaded with liquid fertilizer.

Departments: ALI’S KITCHEN................... 65 AUXILIARY NEWS.............. 60 EYES ON ASSOCIATES....... 56

16 BADGER BEAT Research and progress in managing Potato Virus Y

20 CROP PROTECTION SALES TREND UPWARD Ag retailers tackle weed control, increase revenue

28 NOW NEWS Fertilizer industry study shows its impact on jobs, economy and food supply

MARK YOUR CALENDAR..... 6 MARKETPLACE.................. 37 NEW PRODUCTS............... 48 NPC NEWS........................ 53 PEOPLE ............................ 46

Feature Articles:

PLANTING IDEAS................ 6

42 Hancock Ag Research Station Celebrates 100 Years

TATER BIN......................... 58

22 HIGH-CAP WELLS UPDATE DNR Responds to Attorney General Opinion 26 Stepping stones to Success Scholarships Awarded

4

BC�T July

POTATOES USA NEWS...... 62

WPIB FOCUS .................... 34

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Antigo, WI • 715-347-0521 | Plover, WI • 715-341-3445 | 800-236-2436 | info@jay-mar.com WPVGA Board of Directors: President: Mark Finnessy Vice President: Eric Schroeder Secretary: Gary Wysocki Treasurer: Josh Mattek Directors: Steve Diercks, Rod Gumz, Ron Krueger, Wes Meddaugh & Andy Wallendal Wisconsin Potato Industry Board: President: Heidi Alsum-Randall Vice President: Richard Okray Secretary: Bill Wysocki Treasurer: Keith Wolter Directors: John Bobek, Cliff Gagas, John T. Schroeder, Tom Wild and Dennis Zeloski WPVGA Associate Division Board of Directors: President: Wayne Solinsky Vice President: Zach Mykisen

Secretary: Cathy Schommer Treasurer: Casey Kedrowski Directors: Dale Bowe, Nick Laudenbach, Sally Suprise & Joel Zalewski Wisconsin Seed Potato Improvement Association Board of Directors: President: Eric Schroeder Vice President: Bill Guenthner Secretary/Treasurer: Jeff Fassbender Directors: Dan Kakes & Charlie Mattek

WPVGA Staff Executive Director: Tamas Houlihan Managing Editor: Joe Kertzman Director of Promotions & Consumer Education: Dana Rady Financial Officer: Karen Rasmussen Executive Assistant: Julie Braun Program Assistant: Danielle Sorano Coordinator of Community Relations: Jim Zdroik

Wisconsin Potato Growers Auxiliary Board of Directors: President: Paula Houlihan Vice President: Lynn Isherwood Secretary/Treasurer: Gabrielle Okray Eck Directors: Kathy Bartsch, Deniell Bula, Patty Hafner & Sheila Rine

WPVGA Office (715) 623-7683 • FAX: (715) 623-3176 E-mail Address: wpvga@wisconsinpotatoes.com Website: www.wisconsinpotatoes.com Like Us On Facebook: www.facebook.com/WPVGA

Mission Statement of the WPVGA: “To assist WPVGA members to be successful through education, information, environmentally sound research, promotion, governmental action, and involvement.”

Mission Statement of the WPVGA Associate Division: “Our mission is to work in partnership with the WPVGA as product and service providers to promote mutual industry viability by integrating technology and information resources.”

Badger Common’Tater is published monthly at 700 Fifth Avenue, Antigo, Wisconsin 54409 Subscription rates: $1.50/copy, $18.00/year; $30/2 years. Foreign; $30/year; $50/2 years.

Telephone: (715) 623-7683. Mailing address: P.O. Box 327, Antigo, Wisconsin 54409.

Or, subscribe free online: http://wisconsinpotatoes.com/blog-news/subscribe/ ADVERTISING: To advertise your service or product in this magazine, call (715) 630-6213, or email: Joe Kertzman: jkertzman@wisconsinpotatoes.com. The editor welcomes manuscripts and pictures but accepts no responsibility for such material while in our hands.

BC�T July

5

Mark Your

Calendar

July

9 PARDEEVILLE TRIATHLON

Powered by Wisconsin Potatoes Event www.pardeevilletri.com 13

ASSOCIATE DIV PUTT-TATO OPEN GOLF OUTING Bull’s Eye Country Club Wisconsin Rapids, WI

13-15

2016 NPC SUMMER MEETING Hyatt Centric Park City Park City, UT

21

ANTIGO FIELD DAY Langlade County Research Station Antigo, WI

21

NORTHERN PLAINS POTATO GROWERS ASSN. GOLF OPEN Park River, ND

28

HANCOCK FIELD DAY & CENTENNIAL CELEBRATION Hancock Ag Research Station Hancock, WI

30

ALMOND TATER TOOT Almond, WI

29-31

PMA FOODSERVICE CONFERENCE Hyatt Regency Monterey Hotel & Spa Monterey, CA www.pma.com/events/foodservice

31-8/4

2016 PAA ANNUAL MEETING Amway Grand Plaza Hotel Grand Rapids, MI www.experiencegr.com/mipotato

august

Planting Ideas What a whirlwind! And I’m not just talking about the late spring storms Wisconsin and much of the country experienced. There has been a lot of news, some of it quite good, coming out of the potato and vegetable industry lately.

A month after Wisconsin Attorney General Brad Schimel issued a legal opinion, on May 10, regarding high-capacity wells, the Department of Natural Resources (DNR) announced plans to follow his lead and start reviewing permit requests for high-capacity wells. For more on Schimel’s opinion and the DNR’s response, see the feature story in this issue.

Also extremely noteworthy is a line from a long-awaited, 408-page report from the Committee on Genetically Engineered (GE) Crops, as charged by The National Academy of Sciences, Engineering and Medicine.

Among many things, the report, authorized by Congress, says, “The use of insect-resistant or herbicide-resistant crops did not reduce the overall diversity of plant and insect life on farms, and sometimes insect-resistant crops resulted in increased insect diversity.”

Meanwhile, House Republicans continue to take on WOTUS and their fight on the Waters of the U.S. rule. And the House passed “Zika,” a bill blocking EPA pesticide permits, though the White House opposes the bill, which will head to the Senate for conference. For more on these initiatives, see “NPC News” in this issue of the Common’Tater.

13

ANTIGO TATER TROT Antigo City Park Antigo, WI

20

WAUPACA AREA TRIATHLON South Park Waupaca, WI

20

POINT DUATHLON UW-Stevens Point Stevens Point, WI

Speaking of the fertilizer industry, the July Common’Tater is the crop protection-themed issue, and there’s a feature article on crop protection sales trending upwards, with related products being the fastest growing segment for the nation’s top ag retailers.

25

NORTHERN PLAINS POTATO GROWERS ASSN. FIELD DAY Larimore, Inkster, Hoople, ND

26-27

BARNESVILLE POTATO DAYS Barnesville, MN

It’s only my second edition as Managing Editor of the Badger Common’Tater, and as you can tell, I’m having fun. It’s been a whirlwind.

I need to catch my breath!

27

SILVER LAKE TRIATHLON Silver Lake Park Portage, WI

SEPTEMBER 12-17

POTATO BOWL USA Grand Forks, ND

Another study, outlined in “Now News,” underscores how the fertilizer industry positively impacts U.S. jobs, the economy and the country’s overall food supply. Also in Now News, find out how four words rewrote the BayerMonsanto deal after Bayer had placed a $62 billion bid for Monsanto.

Please email me with your thoughts and questions. If you wish to be notified when our free online magazine is available monthly, here is the subscriber link: http://wisconsinpotatoes.com/blog-news/subscribe.

Joe Kertzman

Managing Editor jkertzman@wisconsinpotatoes.com

Schroeder Bros. Farms, Inc. WISCONSIN “ONLY THE BEST” CERTIFIED SEED POTATOES REDS

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WHITES Atlantics Snowdens Superiors Pikes Mega Chip Lamoka

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Foundation & Certified Seed Potatoes

Interview

Wayne Solinsky, Jay-Mar, Inc. WPVGA Associate Division Board President

By Joe Kertzman, Managing Editor

Name: Wayne Solinsky TITLE: Sales manager/sales/consulting COMPANY NAME: Jay-Mar, Inc. COMPANY DESCRIPTION: Agriculture supplier providing crop protection products and everything from adjuvants, herbicides and pesticides to liquid and dry fertilizers, seed, equipment and parts LOCATION: Plover, WI HOMETOWN: Stevens Point, WI CURRENT RESIDENCE: Stevens Point, WI CROPS SERVICED: Potatoes, sweet corn, snap beans, peas, carrots, cucumbers, cabbage, table beets, celery, field corn, soybeans, wheat, rye, oats, alfalfa, hops, sunflower and more YEARS IN PRESENT POSITION: 23 PREVIOUS EMPLOYMENT: Self-employed farmer for 17 years SCHOOLING: Tech college with degrees in soil science, crop management, dairy science and dairy ration management CERTIFICATIONS: Certified Crop Advisor, Technical Service Provider, Nutrient Management Plan Writer, Commercial Applicator License and Commercial Driver’s License Activities/Organizations: Church treasurer, former member of Portage County Groundwater committee, Water Task Force committee, Wisconsin Potato & Vegetable Growers Association (WPVGA) promotions committee, Spud Bowl committee, Portage County Business Council, Portage County Ag Tour committee, WPVGA Associate Division President, Grower Ed Planning committee, vegetable Committee, and attends WPVGA Board meetings Family: Wife—Judy, daughter—Megan, son—Chris, daughter-in-law—Amy, granddaughter—Ayla, stepson— Glenn and stepdaughter—Katie Hobbies: Deer hunting (gun and bow), putting in food plots, fishing, boating, motorcycle riding, hiking, bicycling, golfing, visiting kids and granddaughter, walking, traveling, sightseeing and vacationing

8

BC�T July

When Wayne Solinsky and

his father had their own farming operation in the late 1970s, ‘80s and early ‘90s, they set up a partnership, and built their farm up from 320 acres and 60 cows to 700 acres and milking 130 cows, with about 170 head of young stock. A small portion of those acres were cash crops.

“My father was having major back problems and was almost paralyzed after his third back surgery,” Wayne relates, “so we decided to put the farm up for sale after having trouble getting farm help for several months and grinding it out, just the two of us.”

“Two days before our auction, he passed away from a massive heart attack. This was a very difficult time in my life,” he allows. “I was approached by Jay-Mar, Inc. to work for them, and the rest is history.”

A family owned, but more importantly family-oriented company, Jay-Mar holds their employees for a very long time, says Solinsky, who’s been with the operation for 23 years.

Photos courtesy of Jay-Mar, Inc.

“You don’t see this in a lot of other companies. I have been very fortunate to be working for such a great company,” he stresses.

A total agriculture supplier, Jay-Mar provides farmers with liquid and dry fertilizers, farm seed, crop protection products, custom application services, soil and tissue testing services, packaging, sprayer and fertilizer equipment, parts and storage tanks.

Jay-Mar also has a retail store that carries a full line of premium dog and cat foods and pet supplies; small animal feeds and supplies; lawn and garden fertilizers; soils; seeds and supplies; wild and domestic bird feeds, feeders and supplies; horse feeds and equine supplies; unique garden giftware; and wildlife feed plot seeds and fertilizers. The company features Purina Mills and Nutrena feeds.

Top: The Jay-Mar, Inc. retail store sells pet food, bird seed, lawn and garden supplies and more to the general public.

When it comes to crop protection, what are Jay-Mar’s specialties?

Most of the crop protection products that we sell and apply are for field corn, soybeans and hayfields. We are strong in crop protection recommendations and do an excellent job in coming up with effective control programs at a very cost effective price.

There are several modes of action for broad-spectrum control that do not allow weeds to become resistant. We have come up with our own mix of products for early post-emergence on corn that is inexpensive, effective and safe, and it has a lot of reps saying “Wow, that does work well.”

We have two truck-type sprayers that are great for this type of application.

Is Jay-Mar, Inc. solely a supplier, or also a manufacturer of fertilizers, adjuvants, agents, etc.? A shipper and warehouse? A farming operation, and if so how many acres? Explain.

We are a supplier of products in

some cases, but also a manufacturer of many products. We manufacture all of our blends, both dry and liquid products, and that also includes the special products like Pop-Up starters and foliars. If it can be made, we can make it.

We manufacture all of our surfactants, agents, penetrants and compatibility products, as well as growth regulators, foliars and micro-nutrient products. We ship these locally and throughout the United States.

Top: The Jay-Mar manufacturing building is where the company makes fertilizer blends, both dry and liquid, surfactants, agents, penetrants and compatibility products, as well as growth regulators, Pop-Up starters, foliars and micronutrient products.

We warehouse some of these products, and a lot of these we will make on the spot as they are needed or requested from our customers.

We also wholesale products, because we work with many companies as their wholesale supplier. We do not farm any acres.

CROP INSURANCE

continued on pg. 10

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Owner/Agent An Equal Opportunity EmployerThe potato plants Bottom: are coming into full 1-800-675-1829 bloom in this Heartland Farms, Inc. field photo.

BC�T July 9

Interview. . . continued from pg. 9

I understand that Jay-Mar has always been progressive in adopting proven new technology, and that you’ve diversified and expanded operations.

How So? Please explain in detail.

Jay-Mar has been the leader on a lot of different products over the years that we researched, tested and funded the research for, and that are now adopted and used by many of the industry crop producers.

One to start with is High-Calcium Pel-Lime. Way back the company producing it was Ampel. They’re no longer in business. We purchase ours from Calcium Products. We brought Pel-Lime in and started using it in comparison applications. We and an independent company called Arise Research Station did many years of testing.

The results were yield increases and maturity advancements. Whether for dairy farms with corn, soybeans and alfalfa, or our vegetable growers that like to maintain a 5.7 to 6 pH for potatoes, it is a great product to use with snap beans, peas, corn, soybeans and potatoes for calcium.

Pel-Lime also increases pH in the 10 BC�T July

root zone while not changing the whole field pH to keep it in the sweet spot for potatoes. We saw great improvements with all of these crops.

We were approached by Agrium to promote ESN (a polymer-coated urea), originally called Endure, which was used for golf courses.

They made some changes to the coating thickness and color, and we started doing a lot of research on the product.

Dr. Larry Bundy conducted four years of research on field corn in sands at Hancock Research Station as a pre-emergence application, and it outperformed post-emergence applications of our commonly used nitrogen products.

You can use 20 percent less nitrogen with this product and achieve the same results due to its efficacy in plant utilization. We did all the work getting it researched and accepted in the marketplace, and now everyone else sells and promotes it.

GETTING AN N-PLUS Another huge product development for Jay-Mar was N-Plus, also called N-Hib. Jay-Mar, Inc. did all the

research and promoting, and funding of the research through Dr. Palta, and now it is accepted and used by just about every potato and vegetable producer in the central Wisconsin area.

N-Plus enhances internal quality, and increases storage ability and size. For vegetable crops and corns, when applied at the start of blossom period, it will prolong the pollination period and help the plant withstand stresses to enhance a better pollination set, thus producing more crop.

It helps reduce the production of ethylene, which is produced during times of stress and tells the plant to abort blossoms because the plant thinks that it will not be able to support the fruit set. N-Plus tricks the plant into thinking that it is not Above: One of Jay-Mar, Inc.’s fertilizer tenders is being loaded.

OPPOSITE PAGE Left: The batch of starter fertilizer—10-34-0, ATS and water-soluble potash—is mixed. The water used in the mix is heated to ensure that the potash dissolves and to reduce mixing time.

RIght: Jay-Mar’s Randy Bean works to create a load of starter fertilizer.

under stress and to produce a much higher set of fruit.

We introduced an ahead-of-its-time surfactant that we still produce and call Chameleon. It is a superior surfactant that is a spreader, sticker, penetrator, anti-drift, anti-foam, ionic and anionic surfactant.

We introduced Myco-Apply, a

Mycorrhizae that puts hyphae (micro-fine hairs) on the root tip to improve and enhance the absorption of nutrients and moisture at a much more efficient rate.

I also understand you sell seeds, farm supplies, additives, soil amendments, etc. Please explain how all of this fits into the community in Plover, helps farmers and your relationship with farmers.

We have introduced growth regulators, foliars and other products.

We feel we are a frontrunner when it comes to leading with new ideas.

We carry four seed companies’ varieties, and this is a plus because we can pick and choose the best continued on pg. 12

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Interview. . . continued from pg. 11

varieties from each company and affix different pricing demographics to meet the needs of our customers, from big, aggressive farmers to food plot customers.

With the vast amount of products

that we carry, we have a fit for every farmer and customer that we work with. This gives Jay-Mar a tremendous amount of diversity and helps us to meet our entire customer base.

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How is the operation efficient and cost effective?

We are very diverse here at Jay-Mar Inc. We wear a lot of different hats so to speak. The fact that we can step in and do so many different jobs, we can save on manpower rather than have many more people hired to accomplish the same tasks.

Over at manufacturing and the fertilizer plant, most of the fabricating and operations setup is and was done by our skilled personnel rather than having to hire it out. On top of that, it is done to our needs and satisfaction, which makes a huge difference in getting it to run exactly the way we want it to run.

We are also unique in that we do have so many different products to promote to our customers.

This is what makes Jay-Mar, Inc. cost effective. We are diversified, we have our retail store, we work Left: Water-soluble potash is added to a liquid starter fertilizer batch.

RIght: Three of the large-batch mixers in the Jay-Mar manufacturing building are used to make pop-up starters, and have coils inside for heating or cooling batches, depending on what each recipe requires.

OPPOSITE PAGE Top: Jay-Mar’s 2016 family of full-time employees numbers nearly 30 in all.

with golf courses and turf, we manufacture products for every aspect of agriculture and retail, we are a wholesale distributor, we work heavily in our agriculture market, and we work with every and all sizes of customer.

and what benefits are there to the potato and vegetable growers?

As far as your involvement with the WPVGA promotions committee and being the Associate Division President, why are you involved,

I feel that by me getting involved in the different organizations and committees that I can do my part in helping promote our great

e Drive Drive 54467

You know, my father always used to say that if everyone stood on the sideline and did not get involved, no organization would ever get started or get anything done.

industry’s products.

There are so many misconceptions out in the public that we as a small core group need to voice our story, state the facts and inform the masses as to what the truths are.

We have a lot to be proud of with our efficiency in producing the amount of crops with very low water use per amount of yield and the quality that continued on pg. 14

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BC�T July 13

Interview. . . continued from pg. 13

consumers demand. I try to do my part to give back to our industry and support it the best that I can.

My goal is to do the best I can for the WPVGA as President and have a positive influence from my efforts. There has been a representative from Jay-Mar on the Board for the past 16 years, so we as a company have been doing our best to support our industry.

Does Jay-Mar have a storing, shipping, warehousing facility? How Large? What does it entail? How many trucks? Square feet?

We have storage for what we call raw ingredients, which are your basic products used to create the blends for both dry and liquid fertilizer starters and top-dresses.

We also have warehousing for seed feed and crop protection products, which we bring in for customers to fill their orders and for on-the-spot customer needs for delivery. Our manufacturing facility has its own Above: One of two liquid storage dikes, this one holds 32%, N+ and liquid potash.

MIddle: Jay-Mar manufactured its own jug-filling machine/canner that automatically fills six 2.5-gallon containers at a time. The black devices to the right are used to form and glue boxes. Just to the left of the filling machine, at the curve, is where caps are put on the containers using an air-powered torque wrench. The tops of the boxes are then glued shut and the boxes palletized.

Bottom: The image depicts one of Jay-Mar’s two dry fertilizer blenders and load-outs.

OPPOSITE PAGE RIght: Shown is where starter fertilizers and liquid potash are made.

14 BC�T July

supply of products used to create all of our specialty products that we manufacture.

Our warehouse is 22,500 square feet, and our retail store is about 7,800 square feet in size. Our dry storage is somewhat limited, with enough storage for a little more than 2,500 tons of product. Jay-Mar’s liquid storage has enough storage for more than 3,000 tons.

We need to manage our timing of products coming into Jay-Mar, which can be a problem, but Tony [Grapsas], our President, does an amazing job staying on top of inventories and scheduling product coming in to meet all of our needs.

We have 10 dry tender trucks for delivering dry products, 25 spreaders for smaller amounts and a self-propelled spinner for custom application. We have two truck sprayers to apply crop protection products, two semi-tankers, six tender trucks for liquids, 10 nurse tanks and six trucks for product delivery.

What do you believe are the most critical aspects of the operation?

What I feel sets Jay-Mar apart is our customer service, both product delivery and especially our crop

recommendation knowledge and the crop recommendations that our sales staff provide.

We excel at crop needs and the importance of timing of the correct products to maximize yields and minimize risk of loss of fertilizer.

We in Central Wisconsin work with a very diverse variety of crops, and the knowledge needed to recommend the correct products becomes extremely important.

We give that customer care.

You ask anyone who shops in our retail store, and they will quickly tell you that it is the customer care, treatment and that we go as far as carrying the product out to their

car for them.

Has your operation changed significantly in the last 5-10 years?

If so, how?

We have continually expanded our workforce and fleets to accommodate the needs of our customers. As planters and acres get bigger and bigger, it creates a higher need to provide the customer service that we take pride in providing.

How have you established Jay-Mar, Inc. as a favorite supplier?

Consistency, reliability, trustworthiness, customer service and connection/relationship we have with our customers.

COMPANIES

BC�T July 15

Badger Beat

Managing Potato Virus Y—Research Progress and a Management Checklist

By Russell L. Groves Department of Entomology, University of Wisconsin-Madison

Over the past several years, our program has been very

fortunate to work with many good researchers focusing on solutions for the management of the viral pathogen, Potato Virus Y (PVY), in seed potato production.

In 2009, several of us were fortunate to receive support from the USDA’s Specialty Crop Research Initiative (SCRI) with a project titled, “Development of comprehensive strategies to manage Potato Virus Y in potato, and eradicate the tuber necrotic variants recently introduced into the United States.”

And the outcomes of this project have been numerous, to include improved diagnostics for pathogen detection and characterization; a clearer understanding of the changing genotypes, disease phenotypes, virus and selection; identification of genes that confer resistance to infection; and assessments of the heretofore undescribed economic impact of the virus on crop yield and productivity.

Taken together, these improvements have all contributed to a far greater understanding of the ever-changing pathogen and a greater ability to effectively control the disease through diligence in management, combined with tools to provide greater surveillance of the pathogen.

recent success in securing additional funding, again through the USDA SCRI, with a new project titled, “Biological and economic impacts of emerging potato tuber necrotic viruses, and the development of comprehensive and sustainable management practices.”

Outcomes of this project have most certainly contributed to our

The current project involves 30 researchers from nine potato-

16 BC�T July

Above: The plant leaves show asymptomatic signs of being infected with Potato Virus Y (PVY).

producing states and expands the research focus, which now includes investigations of Tobacco Rattle Virus (TRV) and Potato Mop Top Virus (PMTV), in addition to continued investigations with PVY. The seed potato industry continues to identify the aphid-vectored PVY complex (different genotypes of PVY) as its most serious disease problem, and it is extremely concerned about two emerging soil-borne tuber necrotic viruses, TRV and PMTV, vectored by nematodes and protozoans, respectively.

REDUCE OVERALL DISEASE INCIDENCE The entire national potato industry is looking for ways to reduce overall disease incidence in seed potatoes below allowable and economic thresholds, and to minimize the serious threat that tuber necrotic strains of the viruses pose to the seed

and commercial industries.

New technologies and new management approaches for seed certification and on-farm control are needed to limit the spread of these damaging, tuber necrotic, vectorborne viruses before they impact a majority of seed potato production fields and cause significant yield and quality problems for commercial growers.

In our earlier project, the seasonal phenology of the primary PVY, aphid vector species were determined in relationship to PVY incidence and patterns of spread in the field.

Here, we determined that approximately four species of aphids appeared to correlate well with the timing of PVY spread, and these included the bird cherry-oat aphid (BCOA: Rhopalosiphum padi), the potato aphid (PA: Macrosiphum euphorbiae), the green peach aphid (GPA: Myzus persicae) and the soybean aphid (SBA: Aphis glycines).

Among these species, both the PA and the GPA were consistently rare in abundance and emerged later in the production season (mid to late August), and their lack of occurrence seems due to the now widespread and consistent use of at-plant, systemic, neonicotinoid insecticides (e.g. Admire®, Belay® or Platinum®).

Next, the phenology (or timing of flight) of these species were determined from an analysis of the North Central Region’s Aphid Suction Trap Network (http://traps.ncipmc. org/), and the flight patterns were modeled to be able to predict the onset of their flight activity.

For our purposes, it is more important to know when aphid flights are about to begin, as opposed to the peak, in order to have cropprotection tools (refined paraffinic oils including Aphoil® and Stylet Oil®) in place when the peak does occur. In Wisconsin, the onset of BCOA flight occurs earlier in the crop season and later in mid-August, whereas SBA

A: R. padi phenology

B: A. glycines phenology

Figure 1: Flight phenology of the bird cherry-oat aphid (A) and the soybean aphid (B) in Wisconsin was determined from data provided by the NCR’s Aphid Suction Trap Network. Onset of flight for BCOA occurs early in June and can last through the month, with another peak occurring in mid-August. Flights of SBA begin in early July and can last through the production season.

flights were initiated in mid-July and can last for four to five weeks through the remainder of the seed crop (Figure 1).

Agricultural Imagery Program, and each agricultural field identified as a field management unit (FMU) over an eight-year (2006-2013) interval.

FIELD MANAGEMENT UNITS

Using the USDA Cropland Data Layer, the crop identity planted in each FMU was estimated from the majority pixel type (more than 65 percent identity) and classified by crop identity (e.g. soybean, forage, potato, small grain).

In the current project, field-scale data has been collected and compiled for the discrete potato seed production area surrounding Antigo, Wisconsin (Figure 2). Digitized fields were generated from the National

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BC�T July 17

Badger Beat. . . continued from pg. 17

Analyses were then performed to compare the proportion of surrounding landscapes with pre- and post-harvest virus readings.

The Wisconsin Seed Potato Certification Program long-term dataset (http://labs.russell.wisc.edu/ seedpotato/) was then used for these analyses to look for patterns in the landscape that explain increased risk for PVY. Not surprisingly, the only significant landscape variable that correlated with a high risk of PVY in any given seed lot was the proximity of other potatoes.

This outcome was consistent with first principals of virus management, specifically to locate susceptible seed lots away from adjacent potatoes, especially commercial acreage.

Other significant variables that emerged from this analysis included the specific variety. It is well known that certain varieties are extremely difficult to maintain free of PVY, and the length of time these lots remained on the farm certainly increased the risk of PVY. For many years, seed potato certification programs succeeded in maintaining PVY levels at low and acceptable levels. However, the occurrence of new PVY strains in Wisconsin, the widespread planting of symptomless varieties and the increased abundance of late-season aphid vectors require a more diversified management strategy to successfully control PVY in Wisconsin potatoes.

Recommended management practices focus on preventing the disease by planting uninfected seed, reducing the attractiveness of the growing crop to migrating aphids and reducing the likelihood that infectious aphids will feed on the crop.

Following is a checklist of items that all seed potato producers must consider: 18 BC�T July

Figure 2: Digitized agricultural fields generated from the National Agricultural Imagery Program (https:// www.fsa.usda.gov/programs-and-services/aerial-photography/imagery-programs/naip-imagery) are identified as unique field management units in Langlade County, Wisconsin, 2012. Unique parcels to crop were identified using the USDA’s Cropland Data Layer (https://www.nass.usda.gov/Research_and_Science/ Cropland/SARS1a.php), 2012.

✓ Exclude PVY from the farm.

Buy seed certified to be free of PVY (and other pathogens) and classified as either foundation or certified. ✓ Be selective in choosing varieties to plant. When possible, plant resistant varieties. There are several moderately resistant cultivars currently available for production that do not require the same degree of current-season protection. ✓ Avoid planting asymptomatic varieties. Asymptomatic varieties are susceptible potato varieties that allow PVY to replicate and move throughout the plant, but show only mild disease symptoms.

✓ Reduce bare soil around potatoes.

The color contrast between plant material and bare soil has been shown to attract aphids, causing more aphids to alight in the potato canopy. Specifically: •D on’t separate cultivars with bare ground or drive alleys.

•R educe planter skips.

•R ogue only when fewer than three plants in a row need to be removed. Removing three or more adjacent plants has been reported to increase aphid alignment in a field. ✓ Plant a barrier crop. A barrier crop is a non-PVY susceptible crop planted as a border several yards

wide around a potato field (no gap should exist between the barrier crop and the potato crop). ✓ Top-kill early. The major vector(s) of PVY often occur late in the growing season. Killing potato vines prior to the major aphid flights may prevent late-season virus infections, a strategy known as avoidance in time. For this strategy to be effective the vines in the field must be completely killed, otherwise dying plants will attract aphids. ✓ Use behavior-modifying foliar sprays.

• The systemic neonicotinoid insecticides have proven very valuable in controlling many of the potato colonizing aphid species (e.g., GPA and PA), which

can increase late-season spread.

• Because many of the aphids responsible for PVY spread are transient (non-potato colonizing) species (e.g. BCOA), products that interfere with probing should be considered. These foliar sprays deter aphids from feeding and include the highly-refined mineral oils containing paraffinic oils. Initiate applications shortly after emergence from the soil with weekly applications. With asymptomatic, PVY problem varieties (e.g. Russet Norkotah, Silverton Russet, etc.), apply oils twice weekly after July 10th—the onset of elevated risk as determined by phenology models.

• Apply to dry canopy, and do not irrigate immediately

after oil application.

• Use an appropriate water volume (gallons/acre) to achieve complete coverage on a developing potato canopy—15-18 gallons per acre (gpa) may be sufficient to obtain sufficient coverage when you have 60-75 percent canopy closure, but you will likely need more when you have a full, closed canopy (e.g. 25-30 gpa).

• Use the correct nozzles to get the proper droplet sizes for good coverage (hollow cone tips operating at 40-50 psi).

• When oil is used, apply through vine killing. If vine killing takes 10-14 days for plants to desiccate, then these plants can still become infected.

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BC�T July 19

Crop Protection Sales Trend Upward Three years running, crop protection products are fastest growing segment for nation’s top ag retailers

By Eric Sfiligoj An old sports adage says that “two in a row is luck, and three in a row is a trend.” Based on this line of reasoning, the crop protection products category has definitely shifted into trend territory, according to a CropLife magazine survey.

Since 2013, the nation’s agriculture (ag) retailers have witnessed a rebirth in their crop protection product sales.

Prior to that time, revenues for the category annually waxed and waned, but rarely kept pace with the rest of

the tracked crop inputs/services that make up the CropLife 100 survey.

chemistries primarily replaced with a single product, glyphosate.

This meant market share for the segment, which led all categories during the early 2000s, steadily dropped from the mid-40-percent range to less than 30 percent of market share as of 2012.

Yet, a funny thing happened along the way—Mother Nature fought back. Starting in the early 2000s and continuing for virtually every year thereafter, the number of weed species that developed resistance to glyphosate and other popular herbicides gradually grew.

At that time, many market watchers predicted that the percentage of crop protection products as a market share would fall even further with more and more crop protection

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20 BC�T July

By the start of the 2013 growing season, agronomists estimated that the number of farm areas infested with herbicide-resistant weeds had grown to more than 70 million.

Ag retailers also saw this problem becoming more acute for their grower customers. In the 2014 CropLife magazine survey, 41 percent of respondents indicated that herbicide-resistant weeds were Above: For years 2013-2015, sales of crop protection products grew at a faster rate than any other market segment, according to CropLife magazine’s survey of the top 100 largest ag retailers in the U.S.

CropLife

a “major problem in many of the fields we service.”

100

For the 2015 CropLife 100 survey, the percentage had grown to 51 percent.

REGAINING WEED CONTROL Naturally, this increasingly difficult situation caused many grower customers to reevaluate their herbicide programs, adding new products to the mix in an attempt to regain weed control.

products category led all others when it came to growth, topping C R OinP sales.

P R OSignificantly, TECTION $10.1 billion this marked the first time that the category surpassed double-digit billions of dollars in revenue.

The sales figures represent a healthy 8.6 percent increase from the $9.3 billion in sales the category recording during the 2014 growing season.

Crop Protection:

Better still, market share for crop protection products in the ag retail sales mix increased once again, growing from 31 percent in 2014 to 33 percent today.

sooner in season.

“Many leaf diseases in corn, such as gray leafspot and northern corn leaf blight are diseases that we typically don’t see popping up in fields in places such as Indiana and Illinois until closer to the end of July,” said Andrew Farrell, commercial agronomist for Mycogen Seeds at a Dow AgroSciences event. “But they showed up this year in early July.”

So overall, sales in the three major segments of the crop protection “Growers understand the implications products category—herbicides, increasing populations of resistant fungicides and insecticides—recorded weeds can have on their operations nice gains for the nation’s top ag and are becoming more proactive by Considering the kind of year 2015 retailers. applying full third range of tools year, the For athe straight crop protection products category was the fastest ended up being in many parts of the to fight resistance,” says Jeff country,top thisag performance growing segment for the nation’s retailers.by the crop According to the 2015 survey results, Carpenter, corn and soybean herbicides recorded increased sales protection products category was herbicide portfolio manager for for 63 percent of respondents, down particularly continuing for virtually every year the trackedimpressive. crop inputs/services that

BY ERIC SFILIGOJ DuPont Cropemsfiligoj@meistermedia.com Protection. from 75 percent in 2014. In contrast, up the CropLife A make WASHOUT IN 2015 100 survey. This thereafter, the number of weed species thedeveloped other two segments showed that resistance to glyphosate meant market share for the segment So with the weeds problem in full For much of the spring, excessive revenue gains among more ag and other popular herbicides gradually old sports adage says that “two — which lead all categories during the force, theNcrop protection products rains in many portions of the retailers than inof2014. grew.

By the start the 2013 growing is luck, three in a row is early 2000s — steadily dropped from category in as aarow whole has apparently a trend.” Based upon this line of the mid-40% range to less 30% for season, agronomists estimated that Midwest washed out the than chances Fornumber fungicides, 54 percent of 2015’s benefitted. of farm areas infested with thinking, the crop protection products agasretailers of 2012. At time, many market to this apply products for their the CropLife 100 ag had sales herbicide-resistantretailers weeds had grown to category shiftedgrew into watchers predicted that these percentIn 2013, saleshas fordefinitely the category grower customers. increases, up from 47 percent the more than 70 million. trend territory. ages would fall even further as more 8 percent, in 2014, crop protection to many market prior year. Likewise, insecticide Ag retailers also saw this problemsales Since 2013, the nation’s CropLife 100 Still, andaccording more crop protection chemistries product sales increased 9 percent, this meant thatwith many of the becoming were upmore for 49 percent of dealerships acute for their growerag retailers have witnessed a re-birth insiders, were primarily replaced a single and 2015 officially made it a growth In the 2014 in their crop protection product sales. diseases product,and glyphosate. crop pests that normally customers. and cooperatives in CropLife® 2015. In 2014, trend. magazine survey, 41% of respondentscould Prior to that time, revenues for the Yet, funny thing happened show upa during the end of Julyalong or only 45 percent of respondents

Trending Upwards

A

category waxed and waned, For 2015, theannually crop protection but rarely kept pace with the rest of

the way — Mother foughtmuch early August beganNature appearing back. Starting in the early 2000s and

indicated that herbicide-resistant make this boast. weeds were a “major problem in many

All Up

Weed Resistance Worries Many

The number of ag retailers that report herbicide-resistant weeds are a serious problem in their markets grew significantly in 2015.

All three segments of the crop protection products category showed nice gains in 2015.

WHICH STATEMENT BEST CHARACTERIZES HERBICIDE-RESISTANCE IN YOUR AREA?

FUNGICIDES

HERBICIDES

INSECTICIDES

IT IS NOT A PROBLEM 5%

22%

IT IS A MAJOR PROBLEM IN SOME OF THE FIELDS WE SERVICE

22%

IT IS A RELATIVELY MINOR PROBLEM

IT IS A MAJOR PROBLEM IN MANY FIELDS WE SERVICE

DOWN 35%

51%

Source: 2015 CropLife 100 Ag Retailers Survey

FLAT 11%

UP 54%

FLAT 10% DOWN 27%

UP 63%

DOWN 30% FLAT 21%

UP 49%

Source: 2015 CropLife 100 Ag Retailers Survey Base = 91 Base = 90

BC�T July 21 CropLife • December 2015 38

DNR Reacts Positively to Attorney General Opinion on High-Capacity Wells Wisconsin Attorney General Brad Schimel says DNR was overstepping its bounds on high-capacity wells

By Jim Massey, Editor, The Country Today, and Joe Kertzman, Managing Editor, Badger Common’Tater Nearly a month to the day after Wisconsin Attorney General Brad Schimel issued a legal opinion, on May 10, regarding high-capacity wells, the Department of Natural Resources (DNR) announced plans to follow his lead and start reviewing permit requests for high-capacity wells.

explicitly spelled out in state statute or rule.

In his 23-page opinion, Schimel said the DNR lacks broad authority to impose conditions on high-capacity wells based on their cumulative impact on state waters. He said the DNR cannot impose any condition not

Two key conclusions from the attorney general's opinion are that the DNR may impose conditions or requirements on high capacity well approvals only if the agency has explicit permission or an explicit

22 BC�T July

The attorney general opinion was in response to a February request from Wisconsin’s Assembly Committee on Organization to clarify the DNR’s power with regard to high-capacity wells.

requirement to do so in statute or rule; and the DNR does not have explicit authority to consider cumulative impacts or to impose monitoring requirements on highcapacity well approvals.

Above: The Department of Natural Resources lacks the broad authority to impose conditions on high-capacity wells based on their cumulative impact on state waters, according to an opinion issued by Wisconsin Attorney General Brad Schimel on May 10, 2016. Within a month of Schimel issuing his legal opinion, the DNR announced it will start reviewing permit requests for high-capacity wells that have been held up in a legal bottleneck.

As a result of the opinion, in addition to determining whether the proposed well meets well construction requirements, the DNR will review each high capacity well application to determine whether the proposed high capacity well: • is within a groundwater protection area (within 1,200 feet of a class 1, 2 or 3 trout stream or a designated outstanding or exceptional resource water); • may impact springs with flow greater or equal to one cubic foot per second; • will result in water loss greater than 95 percent; • will result in 10 or more feet of water level drawdown in the public utility well based on 30 days of continuous pumping from the proposed high capacity well or well system; and • will degrade safe drinking water

and the groundwater resource or impact public safety.

The applications that meet the criteria listed above will be subject to an environmental review process, and any approval will include conditions to ensure the well does not result in significant adverse environmental impacts and may require preparation of an environmental impact statement.

CONDITIONS MAY APPLY In addition, if any of these conditions is met, the DNR may include specific conditions in the high capacity well approval, which may include conditions as to location, depth, pumping capacity, rate of flow and ultimate use.

DNR officials have been reviewing high-capacity well applications to determine if the wells, combined with other wells in the area, adversely affect the state’s waters. Before

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Schimel issued his opinion, and before the DNR’s positive reaction to it, if the agency had determined the wells’ cumulative impact would be harmful, it could impose conditions on the wells or deny applications for well permits.

A state appeals court ruled in 2010 that the DNR could take that approach, giving the agency broad authority to regulate high-capacity wells and impose conditions.

The court ruling prompted the legislature to pass a law in 2011, Act 21, known as the Lake Beulah decision, that prohibits state agencies from imposing permit conditions that aren’t spelled out in statute.

The state Supreme Court upheld the appellate ruling later that year, giving the DNR broad highcapacity well oversight authority, but didn’t consider Act 21, because continued on pg. 24

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DNR Reacts Positively. . . continued from pg. 23

it didn’t become final until after oral arguments were complete.

applying for water-withdrawal permits.

The Supreme Court ruled unanimously at the time that the state constitution gives the DNR “the authority and a general duty ... to consider the impact of a proposed high-capacity well on waters of the state.”

Legislators said they hoped to clear up the issue when they asked Schimel for a formal opinion on the matter.

BOGGED DOWN WELL PERMIT APPROVAL Since then, potato and vegetable farmers and other businesses that rely on high volumes of water have said the DNR bogged down the high-capacity well approval process and created uncertainty for those

“State agencies are defined by statute,” says John Holevoet, Director of Government Affairs for the Dairy Business Association. “The extent of their powers and duties are found in the laws passed by the people’s representatives and signed by the governor.”

“Although this may sound like common sense, Act 21 and the attorney general’s opinion make clear that state agencies have only those

Above: Illustrated is a cutaway of typical area agricultural, municipal and residential wells.

24 BC�T July

powers explicitly delegated to them by statute or an administrative rule that is adopted pursuant to explicit statutory authority,” Holevoet adds.

“Attorney General Schimel’s formal opinion accurately reflects both the plain language of the law and the legislature’s intent when they enacted it,” says Tamas Houlihan, Executive Director of the WPVGA. “This opinion clarifies the fact that stage agencies can only act with clear direction from the legislature.”

Houlihan says the opinion does not invalidate state regulatory authority as long as it has been lawfully delegated. He went on to say that Wisconsin’s potato and vegetable

growers will continue with their progressive approaches to water conservation.

is if we’re going to have additional groundwater policy, it has to be done legislatively.”

“Wisconsin has been a leader in sustainable food systems for decades,” Houlihan says. “The most important resource in Wisconsin is its abundant and high quality supply of water. The Wisconsin potato and vegetable growers recognize the need for the preservation of water resources to ensure long-term sustainability of the industry.”

“Farmers and businesses are committed to complying with Wisconsin statutes and administrative rules. The attorney general’s opinion provides greater certainty and clarity for everyone working to protect our environment, while growing our economy,” Zimmerman adds.

GROUND ZERO ON GROUNDWATER POLICY Paul Zimmerman, Executive Director of Government Relations for the Wisconsin Farm Bureau, explains that the attorney general’s opinion has implications broader than the DNR. “The opinion talks about state agencies only having the authority the statute grants to them,” Zimmerman says. “A parallel can be drawn to any other state agency.

What this puts on the table for all sides of the groundwater discussion

“It reinforces that ... elected representatives create the laws of our state and not unelected bureaucrats,” Assembly Speaker Robin Vos, R-Rochester, says of the opinion.

“Next session, we’ll continue our efforts to pass meaningful and fair legislation that balances Wisconsin’s vital agricultural economy and our natural resources.”

Zimmerman explains that the attorney general’s opinion was meant as “guidance.” Some people will say it is just one lawyer’s opinion, but it is a very important opinion,” he says. “It is meant to help guide state agencies

and the public as to how to interpret the law.”

While a formal attorney general opinion does not create a binding legal precedent, it can be persuasive to the courts and is presumed to be correct as long as the legislature doesn’t pass a law contradicting it.

However, Zimmerman said the opinion won’t prevent someone who doesn’t agree with it from contesting a future high-capacity well decision.

“There’s still not clarity on what [the opinion] will mean for certain well permits,” he said.

Based on new information posted by the DNR, as well as on their Frequently Asked Questions page, if a non-Groundwater Protection Area well has been approved since Act 21 and the permit holder would like it re-reviewed in accordance with this guidance, then they should contact the DNR. The Associated Press contributed to this story.

BC�T July 25

Stepping Stones to Success

Scholarships awarded to exceptional students whose immediate families are members of the WPVGA

By Joe Kertzman, Managing Editor

Zack Wysocki

Madalyn Sowinski

Kayla Smith

The WPVGA Associate Division and Wisconsin Potato Growers Auxiliary teamed up to award deserving students whose families are members of the WPVGA more than $10,000 in scholarships.

The boards are also excited to announce a brand new scholarship this year—the Avis M. Wysocki Memorial Scholarship—created in honor of its namesake, Avis, a founding member of the Wisconsin Potato Growers Auxiliary and an integral part of the Wisconsin potato industry.

study mechanical engineering and agricultural business.

To remain objective, while evaluating the applications, the board members are not privy as to who the applicants are because their identity is taken off the applications, thus the awarding is done completely on the application itself and information provided therein.

ZACK WYSOCKI, winner of the Avis M. Wysocki Memorial Scholarship, is the son of William and Marla Wysocki of Plover. A graduate of Pacelli High School, Zack will be attending the University of Wisconsin-Platteville to

In addition to working at the Wysocki Family of Companies for six years, Zack is a member of the National Honor Society, Service Club and the Junior Senior Leadership Committee. In high school, he also volunteered for the Special Olympics of Wisconsin, Community Friends Hayride, as a bell ringer for the Salvation Army and various other charitable and community services and organizations.

SUPPORT YOUR FELLOW WPVGA MEMBERS When you need goods or services, please consider asking our Associate Division Members for quotes or explore what they have to offer. Together, we make a strong organization and appreciate how wonderful we are as a group.

26 BC�T July

Marissa Hartman

Melissa Wysocki

Macy Mancl

KAYLA SMITH is the daughter of Gary, a regional sales manager for Riesterer & Schnell, and Gina Smith of Bancroft. A student at UW-River Falls, Kayla has earned 48 credits toward an agriculture business major and a crop science minor.

of the National Business Honor Society and National Honor Society, and is a Eucharistic minister at St. Kunegunda Catholic Church. She has also done custodial work for Sowinski Farms and worked as a scale operator and in traffic control at Pitlik and Wick, Inc.

and chemical science major with a biofuels and chemistry minor.

She is a member of the Collegiate Farm Bureau on-campus committee; a recruitment chair, executive team member and volunteer committee member of Sigma Alpha; and a representative of the officer team for the Crops & Soils Club in the College of Ag, Food & Environmental Science.

MELISSA WYSOCKI, daughter of Dan and Bonnie Wysocki of Wysocki Produce Farm in Plainfield, attends UW-Eau Claire and has earned 118 credits as a marketing major with a Web design and development minor.

MACY MANCL is the daughter of Eugene, Vice President of Ron’s Refrigeration & Air Conditioning, Inc., and Catherine Mancl of Wisconsin Rapids. A graduate of Assumption High School, Macy will be attending Viterbo University for nursing, with a minor in Spanish.

Macy is a certified nursing assistant for Pine Ridge Assisted Living, and was a high school Student Ambassador, dance team captain, pep club member and track manager.

Melissa is a member of the University Honors Program; DECA, an international association of marketing students; the University Activities Commission films committee; and the Senior Honor Society Mortar Board, working with a variety of community events such as Kids in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Math).

MADALYN SOWINSKI, daughter of Paul and Theresa Sowinski of Sowinski Farms, Inc., in Rhinelander, is a graduate of Three Lakes High School and plans to attend St. Norbert College to study biology and business administration.

Class President in high school, Madalyn (Maddie) is also a member

Nika Wanserski

NIKA WANSERSKI, daughter of John and Carol Wanserski of Verona, is a student at UW-Stevens Point who has earned 148 credits as a paper

She was the Pima student of the year in 2016, has been on the Dean’s List with honors and high honors between 2012 and 2016, and is a member of Pi Eta Sigma. She has also won paper science merit and academic awards.

Nika has worked as a biofuels lab assistant and as a postgrad research assistant for W.I.S.T.; as a language lab associate and tutor for U.W.S.P.; as a process engineer intern, trial lead and in tissue production for Clearwater Paper; and most recently as an intern in the paper technologies division at Buckman, providing troubleshooting and maintenance of chemical products.

Marissa Hartman, daughter of Todd and Michelle Hartman of Hartman Farms, Inc., is a graduate of Antigo High School planning to attend Northcentral Technical College majoring in radiography.

Marissa is a member of the student council, DECA, the Fellowship of Christian Athletes, the National Honor Society and Future Farmers of America (FFA). She worked for four years as a farm laborer for Hartman Farms.

Congratulations to all the scholarship recipients and good luck to them in their future endeavors. The world is in good hands with these young adults as its future leaders.

BC�T July 27

Now News

County Materials Celebrates 70 years As the country’s infrastructure needs grew, so did County Materials Long before man ever walked on the moon, a small family-owned business began building and growing American communities from a rural farm in central Wisconsin.

Fast forward seven decades, and

this year finds that same company, Midwest-based County Materials Corp., celebrating its 70th year of serving as a national leader in the manufacturing of concrete construction and landscape materials.

Amid fluctuating economies, greater competition and challenging business environments, County Materials remained competitive by responding to the nation’s growing infrastructure needs. As cities expanded, the demand for more innovative concrete construction solutions increased.

From concrete pipe and culverts that provide effective storm water management to bridges that meet transportation demands, the company strengthened production capabilities and improved technology.

Its full line of aggregates, sands and soils are used in a variety of applications, including residential, agricultural, commercial and in highway construction.

Above: Proudly celebrating 70 years in business in 2016, County Materials earned a Henry H. Edwards Industry Advancement Award, in 1999, for innovations in precast technology used to manufacture concrete segments and construct a 1-million-square-foot underground library archive at the University of Minnesota.

Bottom: The company formed a Pre-stress, Precast and Pipe Division that expanded into larger commercial markets.

28 BC�T July

21,000 PRE-CAST SEGMENTS One notable example includes the Minnesota Hiawatha light rail tunnel, which required production of over 21,000 pre-cast concrete construction tunnel segments and 200 concrete arched wall and ceiling panels.

This was the first light rail transit system of its kind in Minnesota and County Materials played a critical part in its development.

“As the country’s needs grew, so did County Materials,” said Tim Sonnentag, president of County Materials Corporation.

“Greater production capabilities and continuous improvement in technological advancements led to our company becoming a leader in the industry.”

“Our commitment to lead with integrity and a sense of purpose that goes beyond the bottom line is as strong as ever, and we look forward to the next 70 years of innovation

Above: County Materials supplied 21,000 concrete tunnel segments and more than 200 arched wall and ceiling panels for the Hiawatha Light Rail Tunnel in Minneapolis/St. Paul, Minnesota. The project earned the company its second Henry H. Edwards Industry Advancement Award.

and service,” Sonnentag added.

About County Materials

The company is commemorating the milestone by planning special events in select markets and by launching a 70th anniversary Website and video dedicated to its history, tenacity and the employees that made it all happen. Visit http://countymaterials. com/70years.

Headquartered in Marathon, Wisconsin, where it was founded in 1946, County Materials employs more than 1,200 people in 40 locations, supplying products for growing communities across the country. Follow County Materials Corporation on LinkedIn for updates about the company's latest concrete innovations and charitable activities. For more information, visit www.countymaterials.com. continued on pg. 30

J.W. Mattek & Sons, Inc. N5798 STAR NEVA RD, DEERBROOK, WI 54424 Telephone: (715) 623-6963 • FAX: (715) 627-7245 • Email: jwmattek@gmail.com GROWER & SHIPPER

Foundation and Certified Seed Potatoes

50

Over Years Experience in Seed Production!!

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russets • Norkotah • Norkotah Line 8 • Silverton

623-6963 BC�T July 29

Now News. . . continued from pg. 29

How Four Words Rewrote Bayer-Monsanto Deal Script Monsanto President Brett Begemann uttered words that changed everything

By Tom Polansek and Greg Roumeliotis, Reuters "There is nothing there."

Monsanto Company President Brett Begemann uttered those words in late May to a small group of investors and a Reuters reporter when asked how the world's largest seed company he helps lead might fit with German drugs and crop chemicals group Bayer AG. Those four words, said on the sidelines of a New York conference, set off a series of events leading to the disclosure of Bayer's confidential $62 billion bid for Monsanto, the largest all-cash corporate takeover offer on record.

Bayer had sent a confidential acquisition proposal to Monsanto on May 10. Media reports surfaced two days later that Bayer was considering a bid.

Initially, neither company would comment on whether any talks were taking place—a common practice for many corporations that prefer to negotiate deals in private and only

tell Wall Street if they manage to come to terms.

But Begemann appeared to go a step further than simply declining to comment at the May 18 conference.

Monsanto's securities lawyer was concerned that his reply could be interpreted as a denial that any talks were going on, according to a person with knowledge of the situation.

POSSIBLE TAKEOVER The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission has strict disclosure rules to protect investors from being misled by companies. To avoid triggering SEC scrutiny, according to the source, Monsanto issued a statement a few hours after Begemann's comment to acknowledge that Bayer had approached the company about a possible takeover.

Bayer soon followed with its own statement. The negotiations have since been subject to intense investor scrutiny that has weighed on Bayer's

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A series of events led to the disclosure of Bayer’s confidential $62 billion bid for Monsanto, the largest all-cash offer for a corporate takeover on record. The Monsanto headquarters image was provided by Tom Polansek and Greg Roumeliotis, Reuters. An Associated Press file photo shows the logo of German drugs and crop chemicals company Bayer AG on a sign at the Airport Berlin Brandenburg, aka “Willy Brandt,” in Schoenefeld, Germany.

deliberations over how much it can pay, according to sources with knowledge of the talks.

Bayer shares, which fell modestly after the initial media reports, dropped as much as 10 percent the day after the company confirmed the takeover approach, as investors fretted over the impact of such an acquisition on its strategy and balance sheet. Some of Bayer shareholders spoke out against doing a deal.

To address those investor concerns, Bayer unveiled the terms: it had offered $62 billion in cash for Monsanto, and it would finance 25 percent of the bid primarily through a rights offering that would dilute existing shareholders.

Monsanto ultimately rejected Bayer's offer but agreed to hold further talks with Bayer to see if they can agree on better terms. The two companies will now try to carry out negotiations privately, without making further statements until there is an outcome, according to the sources.

GAP Water Samples in 3 Easy Steps!

AgSource Laboratories offers convenient water sample drop-off/pickup service STEP 1. Pick up water bottle supplies – Any time after May 31, stop by the UW Hancock Agricultural Research Station in Hancock, Wisconsin, or the Wisconsin Potato & Vegetable Growers Association office in Antigo during business hours, Monday through Friday, and get the supplies you need.

STEP 2. Drop off samples – Starting in June, head back to Hancock or Antigo to drop off your samples in the AgSource Laboratories-labeled refrigerators.

Hancock: Mondays noon to 4 p.m. or Tuesdays 8 a.m.

location because there is a maximum 30-hour sample life. Keep your samples cool.

Antigo: Wednesdays 8:30 a.m.-4:00 p.m.

Thank you to the Hancock Ag Research Station and the WPVGA office for partnering as local GAP water pick-up/drop-off sites. For more information, call Jean Bernius at 715-240-0444, AgSource Laboratories in Marshfield at 715-898-1402 or email marshfield@agsource.com.

STEP 3. Receive your water test results – Reports will be sent in 1-2 days via email or U.S. Post.

Be sure to collect water samples just before you head to your drop off

Insight FS Acquires Waupun Feed and Seed Agronomy, seed, grain and feed company is perfect fit for Insight FS family Effective April 1, 2016, Insight FS has acquired Waupun Feed and Seed, an agronomy, seed, grain and feed company based in Waupun, Wisconsin.

“We are excited to welcome Waupun Feed and Seed into the Insight FS family,” said Brian Koenig, Insight FS Retail Division Manager. “Our mission is to enhance our patrons’ long-term profitability by providing solutions to meet their business needs, and we look forward to bringing additional opportunities to the communities of Waupun and Brandon.”

Milan Vande Zande has accepted the position of Waupun Area Manager and continues to lead a team of 18 employees out of the two locations.

Insight FS, headquartered in Jefferson, serves patrons in Wisconsin and Michigan’s Upper Peninsula. Insight FS has nearly 300 full-time employees across five departments— agronomy, energy, feed, grain and turf.

Insight FS is part of the GROWMARK System, an agricultural cooperative doing business in more than 40 states and Ontario, Canada. GROWMARK owns the FS trademark, representing knowledgeable, experienced professionals acting with integrity and dedication to serve more than 250,000 patrons. More information is available at www.insightfs.com and www.growmark.com. continued on pg. 32

Insight FS expands its base of operations into Waupun, Wisconsin, with the acquisition of Waupun Feed and Seed.

BC�T July 31

Now News. . . continued from pg. 31

Now News. . .

Study Shows Fertilizer Industry’s Economic Impact U.S. sees gains in jobs, the economy and overall food supply The Fertilizer Institute spearheaded a one-of-a-kind study quantifying the fertilizer industry’s contribution to the U.S. economy.

Fertilizers are well known for their contribution to the world's food supply, but until now the economic value and jobs provided by the fertilizer industry have not been known.

The Fertilizer Institute (TFI) announced the release of a first-ofits-kind economic impact study that quantifies the fertilizer industry's contribution to the U.S. economy, as well as at the state and congressional district levels.

The study, conducted for TFI by John Dunham and Associates, found that 32 BC�T July

the fertilizer industry contributed over $162 billion and 515,900 jobs to the U.S. economy in 2014. The scope of the study includes the direct contribution, supplier contribution and downstream positive impact of the entire industry value chain, from manufacturers to wholesalers, retailers and goods and services suppliers.

impact of $46 billion.

The entire fertilizer industry directly employs nearly 85,000 people who produce over $68 billion in output.

The nation's fertilizer retailers alone support in excess of 43,000 jobs with a total annual payroll of $23 billion. Fertilizer manufacturers and wholesalers combined contribute another 41,000 jobs with a combined annual economic

"We are excited to be able to share this first-of-its-kind report, as it will serve as a valuable resource not just to those in the industry, but also to lawmakers and regulators here in Washington D.C. and around the country," concluded Jahn.

"We are proud of the economic contribution the fertilizer industry makes to the U.S. economy and the good jobs that it provides," TFI President Chris Jahn said. "The people we employ contribute to the economies of communities across the nation."

To learn more about the impact the U.S. fertilizer industry has on the economy, visit https://www.tfi. org/advocacy/fertilizerjobs.

Fertilizer: Feeding Crops While Growing the U.S. Economy Keeping Farmers Profitable

$215B

$204B CROPS, FRUITS, NUTS & VEGETABLES

ANIMALS, MEAT & MILK

Fertilizer provides the nutrients that farmers need to grow crops, and in 2014 the U.S. fertilizer industry made possible the production of $204 billion worth of vegetables, fruit, nuts and food for livestock.

43K

RETAIL JOBS

$162B

Retailers sell fertilizer and related services including agronomic advice to custom blending and application directly to farmers. Whether they are small businesses with one or two locations, or regional and national networks – including farmer-owned cooperatives, retailers have a positive economic impact in all 50 states.

16K

Food for livestock, grown with fertilizers, in turn was responsible for an additional $215 billion worth of meat, milk and other products from animals such as eggs.

ECONOMIC IMPACT

This includes the direct contribution, supplier contribution and downstream positive impact of the fertilizer industry on the U.S. economy.

TERMINAL & WHOLESALE JOBS

$8.4B

Wholesalers and terminal operators serve as a critical link between fertilizer producers and retailers. Companies in this sector offer larger scale purchasing power and storage facilities that help fertilizer retailers manage risk in the national and international fertilizer market.

FEDERAL TAXES

25K

$19.4B

MANUFACTURING JOBS

Nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium are all necessary for plant’s to grow, and all three are produced in the United States. Phosphorus and potassium are mined from natural deposits and nitrogen fertilizer is produced in a chemical process that relies upon natural gas as a feedstock.

TRANSPORTATION ECONOMIC IMPACT Fertilizers must be transported from manufacturing plants to wholesale facilities and ultimately retailers.

Modes of transport include rail, truck and barge.

GRAND TOTALS The fertilizer industry helps U.S. farmers grow $419 billion dollars worth of nutritious food in a sustainable manner. We are a positive economic force in communities small and large.

516K $36B JOBS

WAGES

$6.6B

STATE TAXES

Visit FertilizerJobs.org for additional information about the methodology and a summary of the results.

BC�T July 33

WPIB Focus WPIB Approves Increase in Wisconsin Potato Assessment The Wisconsin potato and vegetable industry has a long-running, successful relationship with the University of Wisconsin College of Agricultural and Life Sciences (CALS) and UW Extension. The give and take between farmers and allied industry with research and extension specialists is the epitome of the land grant concept that was created with the Morell Act 150 years ago.

The ability of the University of Wisconsin to support the research and extension infrastructure has been in jeopardy due to increasing competitiveness and limits on the state and federal funding. The potato research and extension team has been rebuilt since 2001 to include specialists in production, insects, weeds, diseases, soil fertility, breeding and seed certification.

This is also a preeminent example of the Wisconsin Idea, where the research and educational mission of the University of Wisconsin has been deployed for the advancement of the entire industry throughout the state of Wisconsin.

However, long-term secure funding is uncertain and would be insufficient to support critical faculty positions in UW CALS and Extension, with the likely result being loss of positions with key expertise.

Successes that highlight this relationship and these ideals can be seen in programs such as Healthy Grown, WISDOM, the Wisconsin Potato and Vegetable Storage Research Facility, SpudPro, the Annual Potato Grower Education Conference, Water Task Force and numerous others.

34 BC�T July

MAINTENANCE AND OPERATIONAL COSTS Furthermore, maintenance and operational financial support of UW Agricultural Research Stations at Hancock and Rhinelander and the Lelah Starks Elite Foundation Seed Potato Farm will continue to shift to the principle investigators, limiting the funding for graduate students

and active research projects.

On Thursday, June 16, 2016, the Wisconsin Potato Industry Board (WPIB) voted to allocate $250,000 from the 2015-2016 WPIB budget and increase the current Wisconsin potato assessment by 1 cent/cwt. (hundredweight) beginning July 1 to dedicate $500,000 annually for the next 10 years to a Wisconsin Potato Research Fund where funds are controlled and directed by potato grower representatives. The approved 1 cent/cwt. will bring the total Wisconsin potato assessment to a current rate of 7 cents/cwt.

The goal of the research fund is $10 million, with $5 million generated by Above: Additional assessment funds will be used for future faculty vacancies, operational and maintenance costs for agricultural research stations and will enhance the salaries for current faculty to maintain the competitiveness of the UW. Shown is the Wisconsin Potato and Vegetable Storage Research Facility at Hancock.

OPPOSITE PAGE RIght: A young researcher grades a new potato variety.

the WPIB and the balance through in-kind and/or private contributions.

The fund will be structured as a quasi-endowment and will have potato industry representatives as an advisory group, which will direct the funds to support areas that it determines to be its priorities. There are no operational details included in the fund, which allows the advisory group the flexibility to support changing priorities over time.

The new funding model will grow the existing UW potato research team into the future. It will support salary and fringe benefits for future faculty vacancies, operational and maintenance costs for agricultural research stations and will enhance the salaries for current faculty to maintain the competitiveness of the UW. Alternative financial support from industry and other sources will be necessary to maintain the partnership between the WPVGA and the University of Wisconsin.

ENDOWED CHAIRS IN POTATO RESEARCH AND EXTENSION The WPVGA collaborated with UW CALS to hire the potato breeding and genetics position. After nearly two decades of discussions regarding funding of the program, the WPVGA invested several hundred thousand dollars to pay salary support for

Dr. Jeff Endelman. This was done in the late 1990s when Dr. Jiming Jiang was hired and will likely happen in the future.

The UW potato team’s future must be secured for the economic and environmental success of the potato and vegetable industry. These trust fund resources can be matched with public funds to maintain critical faculty positions. The alternative is loss of expertise working in the potato industry and increased reliance on private consultants to address production challenges.

Trust funds return 4 percent on investment through the UW foundation, so the initial goal is $5 million to fund one full-time faculty position and/or provide support for multiple positions.

These funds could also be used to enhance current salaries of UW CALS and UW Extension faculty. Specialists currently make 60 percent or less than their industry counterparts.

Many are actively recruited to accept positions with other universities or private companies. UW needs resources to retain faculty beyond public funds.

RESEARCH FACILITY TRUST FUNDS The potato and vegetable industry has invested heavily in the construction of research facilities and equipment at Hancock,

Rhinelander and the Lelah Starks Seed Potato Farm.

Each entity has strategic value, but operational costs are increasingly being shifted to researchers.

Currently, financial support for agricultural research stations is equal to 50 percent of the grant funding WPVGA awards annually to principal investigators.

The WPIB’s “yes” vote to increase the Wisconsin potato assessment and ensure funding for research, faculty, facilities and equipment simultaneously ensures the economic and environmental success of the potato and vegetable industry. continued on pg. 36

Wisconsin Potato Assessment Collections: Two-Year Comparison Month

Jul-14

Aug-14

Sep-14

Oct-14

Nov-14

Dec-14

Jan-15

Feb-15

Mar-15

Apr-15

May-15

Jun-15

Year-to-Date

CWT

1,618,594.66

584,167.62

1,071,362.65

3,145,808.22

2,930,799.68

2,055,822.91

1,632,134.39

2,314,996.35

1,657,022.61

2,227,004.05

1,764,186.27

21,001,899.41

Assessment

$97,295.75

$35,049.99

$64,101.70

$188,748.83

$175,821.97

$123,346.96

$97,909.10

$138,906.57

$99,470.40

$133,643.78

$105,821.29

$1,260,116.34

Jul-15

Aug-15

Sep-15

Oct-15

Nov-15

Dec-15

Jan-16

Feb-16

Mar-16

Apr-16

May-16

Month

Jun-16

Year-to-Date

CWT

1,679,466.61

553,089.04

813,734.14

2,731,844.59

3,574,243.15

2,242,764.68

2,598,955.03

2,196,655.93

2,195,537.41

2,518,493.48

2,731,815.46

23,836,599.52

Assessment

$100,717.55

$33,240.32

$48,851.85

$163,910.77

$214,454.02

$134,565.79

$155,926.56

$131,803.69

$130,977.86

$150,127.66

$163,866.90

$1,428,442.97 BC�T July 35

WPIB Focus. . . continued from pg. 35

Diercks Elected to WPIB Board of Directors State potato growers elected three farmers to serve as directors on the Wisconsin Potato Industry Board in 2016.

Andy Diercks of Coloma Farms, Coloma, was elected to the board as an At-Large Director. Diercks replaces Dennis Zeloski of Muck Farms, Lake Mills, who completed his term of service.

Reelected to their positions are Clifford Gagas of Gagas Farms, Custer, in District 2, and Keith Wolter of Hyland Lakes Spuds, Antigo, in District 1. The terms of the newly elected directors begin July 1, 2016 and

expire on June 30, 2019.

The rest of the WPIB includes: President Heidi Alsum-Randall of Alsum Farms & Produce, Friesland (District 3); Vice President Dick Okray of Okray Family Farms, Plover (District 2); Secretary Bill Wysocki of Paragon Potato Farms, Bancroft (District 2); Tom Wild of Wild Seed Farms, Antigo (District 1); John T. Schroeder of Schroeder Brothers Farms, Antigo (District 1); and John Bobek of Trembling Prairie Farms, Markesan (District 3). Wolter currently serves as Treasurer on the board.

The Wisconsin Potato Industry

Andy Diercks

Board is made up of nine potato growers who have been elected by state potato producers. The Board is responsible for budget approval and managing nearly $1.5 million in grower-funded promotion and research money annually.

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Marketplace

By Dana Rady, WPVGA Director of Promotions and Consumer Education Above: Chef Christian Czerwonka of Christian’s Bistro in Plover, WI, is shown on one side of the Spudmobile trailer wrap sprinkling parsley on his dish, a baked russet potato boat, complete with a roasted vegetable medley and blue cheese.

Spudmobile Trailer, Complete with Wrap, Debuts at Wisconsin Growers Association Golf Outing There’s seldom a dull moment when it comes to potato promotions at the Wisconsin Potato & Vegetable Growers Association (WPVGA) and the events that are part of the program. Just when you think things have settled down, something new crops up!

June 2016

Badger er Common’Tat THE VOICE

INDUSTRY & VEGETABLE S POTATO Number 6 OF WISCONSIN' Volume 68

e Harvest Issu

$18.00/year $1.50/copy

INTERV IEW: Heartland Farms Wes Meddaugh, r Board Membe Newest WPVGA BADGER BEAT Stewards Program Wisconsin’s Water R ALLEVIATING HUNGE children starving Potatoes feed E WEEDS TROUB LESOM U.S. weeds and troublesome Most common

The Spudmobile trailer is the WPVGA’s newest addition to the “traveling billboard family.” While the trailer itself was purchased in the fall of 2015, the vinyl wrap completing its appearance was done on June 6, just in time for its first event appearance at the Wisconsin Grocers Association

Badger Common’Tater

THE VOICE OF THE WISCONSIN POTATO & VEGETABLE INDUSTRY

(WGA) Golf Outing in Elkhorn, Wisconsin.

The trailer received rave reviews from the more than 100 golfers representing various grocery stores in the state and Midwest. continued on pg. 38

Subscribe Today!

Whether you are a grower, industry partner or simply enjoy rural life, sign up to receive this prestigious publication in print version, delivered direct to your mailbox for $18/year (12 issues).

Heartland Farms harvester. windrowers and

wisconsinpotatoes.com/blog-news/subscribe BC�T July 37

Marketplace. . . continued from pg. 37

Above: Chef Jolene Lucci from The Back When Café in Wausau “offers” onlookers a delicious and healthy fingerling and baby red potato salad.

Right: John Hartman (left), of Contemporary Photography in Stevens Point, captures Chef Jolene Lucci of Wausau’s Back When Café at the trailer wrap photo shoot in Plover.

The wrap features two Wisconsin chefs who support state potato growers and buy local initiatives.

Chef Jolene Lucci of The Back When Café in Wausau is pictured offering a healthy and colorful fingerling/baby red potato salad dish on the driver’s side.

The passenger side shows Chef Christian Czerwonka (Christian’s Bistro in Plover, and Father Fats and El Jefe’s restaurants in Stevens Point) putting the final touches on his baked potato boat stuffed with roasted vegetables.

The photo shoot, conducted in early May, began at Christian’s Bistro to utilize the granite countertop and convenient “window,” which allowed for the desired perspective in the wrap design of the chefs preparing 38 BC�T July

and presenting healthy potato dishes.

The day continued at El Jefe’s for the image on the back of the trailer, which shows each chef hard at work in the kitchen. The brick wall and new amenities provide a modern, yet comfortable feel. As a result, the lasting impression is one that is down to earth, realistic and practical.

This kind of impact is important for consumers so they know the dishes presented to them aren’t out of reach in their own kitchens.

Besides the completed trailer, also on display at the WGA Golf Outing were the Wisconsin Spudmobile as well as the Powered by Wisconsin Potatoes Harley-Davidson motorcycle, which

Above: The peeled Wisconsin Potatoes logo shares billing on the front of the trailer with the phrase “In a field of their own” and WPVGA’s consumer website address— eatwisconsinpotatoes.com.

RIght: Chefs Jolene Lucci (left) and Christian Czerwonka (right) are hard at work preparing their potato dishes in the kitchen. This image was created during the photo shoot on May 2 and offers a unique 3-D perspective.

will be given away to the retail store with the best and most creative Wisconsin Potatoes display during Wisconsin’s Potatopalooza month in October. continued on pg. 40

36TH ANNUAL

ANTIGO TATER TROT

August 13, 2016 • 8:30 a.m. • City Park, Antigo ENTRY FEE: 10k/4 MILE: $20 (includes taters & T-shirt) $25 after 8/10/2016 1 MILE: $5 (includes taters; $10 for T-Shirt) For more information or to register online visit

www.antigotatertrot.com

With help from the following contributors:

1335 Western Avenue, Antigo

715-623-3307

custom embroidery & screenprinting

Schroeder’s Gifts • Culver’s • Antigo Daily Journal • Brickner’s of Antigo • The Trophy Shop BC�T July 39

Marketplace. . . continued from pg. 39

Walk Wisconsin Kicks Off Annual Powered

by Wisconsin Potatoes Events Potatoes are a wonderful complement to healthy and active lifestyles. For another year, WPVGA got that message out to the public by sponsoring the Walk Wisconsin event, held on June 4 in Stevens Point. Walk Wisconsin marks the first of WPVGA’s Powered by Wisconsin Potatoes events held throughout the summer and welcomes people of all ages and ability levels to non-competitively walk a full, three-quarter, half or quarter marathon distance.

The walk ends at Pfiffner Park in Stevens Point every year. Here are some images from this year’s event.

Above: WPVGA Executive Director Tamas Houlihan sports his Powered by Wisconsin Potatoes jersey while participating in the Walk Wisconsin event on June 4 in Stevens Point.

Middle: Carole Gagas (Gagas Farms, Stevens Point) receives her medal after completing her walk.

Bottom Left: Posted along the Walk Wisconsin route are interesting trivia questions and answers, such as on this sign, that encourage participants and their comrades along to the finish line. The sign answers the question, posted just prior along the route, “How many people walked on the Green Circle Trail the first day it opened?”

40 BC�T July

Powered by Wisconsin Potatoes Events Pardeeville Triathlon July 9 Antigo Tater Trot

August 13

Waupaca Area Triathlon

August 20

Silver Lake Triathlon

August 27

Point Duathlon

August 20

If you’re interested in any of the upcoming Powered

by Wisconsin Potatoes events, be sure to contact the WPVGA office at 715-623-7683 or wpvga@wisconsinpotatoes.com If you’re a previous participant, watch for reminder emails about registrations and deadlines.

If you’re a part of the Wisconsin potato industry and looking to stay active, look no further than WPVGA’s Powered by Wisconsin Potatoes events! Held annually, WPVGA pays for the registrations of participants who are also part of the potato and vegetable industry.

The Castle Rock Triathlon was cancelled this year. It’s currently unknown if the event will resume in 2017.

Check out our event line-up and find one that fits your schedule and hobby!

It’s a great way to stay healthy and promote a fantastic vegetable!

Lockwood 654 4-Row Windrower

Above: These Powered by Wisconsin Potatoes supporters, from left to right, Ruth Schmidt, Carole Gagas and Marcella Johnston, pose with their medals at the Walk Wisconsin finish line.

Telescoping Rear Cross, Right - or Left-Hand Delivery, Large Frame Design and Largest Gear Box in the Industry!

Opposite Page

715-335-6652

Bottom Right: Three young supporters greet their mommy at the finish line of Walk Wisconsin.

Contact Paul Cieslewicz

• Full service potato and tillage equipment dealer • Custom made hydraulic hose assemblies • Fully equipped service truck for on-site repair

8364 Monica Road • Bancoft, WI • Fax: 715-335-6653 BC�T July 41

Hancock Ag Research Station Celebrates 100 Years Celebrating its centennial anniversary in 2016, the Hancock Ag Research Station continues to impact industry

Founded in 1916, the Hancock Agricultural Research Station marks

100 years of partnership with Wisconsin agriculture, serving admirably in its roles of education, research and outreach. To celebrate, the Hancock Field Day & Centennial Celebration is planned for July 28th at the facility, including, among other activities, lunch, a field wagon tour, dinner and refreshments.

The origin of the Hancock Ag Research Station is a great example of partnership and trust between local members of a region in need of agricultural development. The seed piece for today’s station was the Hancock Experimental Farm Company, officially registered and administered by the Hancock Advancement Association.

42 BC�T July

The first board meeting was held on August 17, 1916 at the Hancock Village Hall. The meeting’s minutes clearly detail the community’s effort to establish a site for a University Experimental Farm.

By 1922, the University of Wisconsin (UW) officially took over what became the Hancock Branch Experimental Station. From 1922-

Above: The current (2015) Hancock Ag Research Station headquarters (HARS) and facility buildings.

1930, the new Hancock Branch Experimental Station developed a strong research and outreach program under the leadership of A.R. Albert, a soil science professor and superintendent. The result was significant growth in infrastructure.

These efforts aligned with the “Wisconsin idea,” a concept that is commonly attributed to Charles Van Hise, UW President from 1903-1918, who in a 1904 speech established, “I shall never be content until the beneficent influence of the University reaches every home in the state.”

In his book, The Wisconsin Idea, 1912, Charles McCarthy said the UW guiding principle was that education should influence people’s lives beyond the boundaries of the classroom.

Until the late 1940’s, the Hancock Ag Research Station was mostly dedicated to supporting research on sandy soil to demonstrate the agricultural value of these soils and

that agricultural activities could be carried while conserving soil and water. Through the ’70s, with the advent and development of irrigation, the rest of the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences (CALS) departments had increasing research presence at the station.

In 1969, the University of Wisconsin partnered with industry, businesses, the agricultural community and

Left: Shown are the earliest Hancock Experimental Farm Company buidings, 1921.

Right: The first dairy heifers took up residence at the Hancock Experimental Farm Company in 1921.

citizens in the Central Sands and other regions, all combining to contribute more than 60 percent of the resources needed to build the current office, space for a lab, three continued on pg. 44

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BC�T July 43

HARS Celebrates 100 Years. . . continued from pg. 43

potato and vegetable lockers and a conference room.

The research dynamics created in the ’60s led to the updated facility.

A generation of researchers like Superintendent Gavin Weis and Extension Horticulturist David Curwen continued the efforts of John Schoeneman, a potato extension specialist in the late ’40s, who addressed a multitude of potato

research and extension topics.

The increased support and partnership between the varied groups resulted in a legacy of several generations of outstanding research.

In 2006, a long cherished project, the Wisconsin Potato and Vegetable Storage Research Facility was inaugurated. This state of the art facility was fully funded

by growers and the industry, led by the Wisconsin Potato & Vegetable Growers Association.

To the present time, the station is dedicated to support research, student training and outreach activities of UW-CALS researchers, notably from the Departments of Horticulture, Plant Pathology, Entomology, Soil Science, Agronomy and Forest and Wildlife Ecology.

University of Wisconsin-Madison faculty and management work together with all groups to develop technology to decrease risks associated with storing potatoes in Wisconsin.

For the last 99 years, the Hancock Ag Research Station has been one of the finest field laboratories in the State of Wisconsin, where technology Above: The Hancock Branch Experimental Station facilities are shown as they stood in 1930.

Left: The Hancock Branch Experimental Station held a Field Day in 1922.

Right: Men conduct corn fertilizer research at the Hancock Branch Experimental Station in 1924.

Bottom: A.R. Albert, soil science professor and superintendent, gives a presentation during a Hancock Branch Experimental Station Field Day in 1930.

44 BC�T July

is tested before it impacts growers’ fields, industry and the environment, especially for Wisconsin Central Sands conditions.

The facility continues to be a launching pad to execute research and outreach projects of the UW-College of Agricultural and Life Science faculty, staff and students. More often than not, these ideas are born out of the interaction between faculty, staff and students with growers and industry from the State of Wisconsin.

Come and celebrate the unique opportunity in which Wisconsin potato industry, researchers, staff and students get together to exchange their experiences and have fun together for a few

hours in an informal setup.

The Hancock ARS Potato Field Day is partially sponsored by the Wisconsin Potato & Vegetable Growers Association and its Associate Division.

For any and all people interested in an update on the progress researchers have made, the Hancock Field Day & Centennial Celebration is a perfect opportunity to discuss the direction programs are headed, or just to relax and enjoy a fun day, good food and fellowship at the Hancock Ag Research Station.

Top Left: The Hancock Ag Research Station headquarters and facility building was erected in 1969 with strong financial support from neighboring counties, Wisconsin businesses and private citizens.

RIght: A ribbon-cutting ceremony for the Wisconsin Potato & Vegetable Research Facility, erected in 2006, included, from left to right, Skip Tenpas, deceased, formerly of Central Sands Buildings, Steve Diercks, Dennis Zeloski, CALS Dean Molly Jahn, former WPVGA Executive Director and current Bushman’s Potatoes CEO Mike Carter, UW Plant Pathology Professor Walter Stevenson and Superintendent Chuck Kostichka).

Bottom: Chancellor Rebecca Blank and CALS Dean Kate Vandenbosch visited Hancock in 2013 to discuss continually building relations between UW-Madison and potato and vegetable industry growers.

BC�T July 45

People Managing for Soil Health Chippewa County farmer sees value in cover crops Steve Siverling, a Chippewa County farmer located in Bloomer, Wisconsin, is a serious advocate and success story for managing soil health and using cover crops to benefit his farm, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA).

Siverling has been working with the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) since 2003 as an early adopter of the Conservation Reserve Enhancement Program, installing riparian and filter strip buffers along McCann Creek.

He’s also a participant in the Conservation Stewardship Program, extending a field border for water quality and wildlife protection, leaving standing grain for wildlife, using drift reducing nozzles, establishing pollinator habitat and planting multiple cover crop mixes.

Cover crops often provide multiple benefits in a cropping system. They 46 BC�T July

can prevent erosion, improve soil’s physical and biological properties, supply nutrients, suppress weeds, improve the availability of soil water and break pest cycles along with various other benefits.

You cannot open a farm paper or magazine without seeing an article on cover crops. The NRCS, which promotes cover crops and soil health, says that after people attend a cover crop meeting, ask for more farmer input/discussion and watch a video discussion by Dr. Joel Gruver, Western Illinois University Ag Professor, one question keeps coming to mind: Do cover crops pay off in dollars and cents?

“I have been planting cereal rye as a cover crop for around 20 years on post-soybean and chopped corn silage ground,” Siverling notes. “I’ve typically planted the cover crop around September 15, but as late

Above: Steve Siverling of Chippewa County, Wisconsin, uses cover crops, such as cereal rye after corn has been harvested, to increase soil health on his farm, according to the USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service.

as November 10 over the years.”

“To describe my soil and farm, my farm is on the edge of a glacial wash,” he notes. “Of the 350 acres I farm, about 80 acres are in hay, and the rest of the tillable land is split between corn, soybeans and a few acres of small grains, primarily oats, barley and/or cereal rye.”

BEST PRACTICES IN WATER QUALITY “The soil runs from 10 inches of top soil [on top of 10 feet of granite] to sandy loam, some clay loam and even the ultimate farmer’s dream— hilly, rocky and/or chronically wet!

McCann Creek runs through my property, and both the Department of Natural Resources [DNR] and the NRCS have made me very aware about best practices in water quality,” says Siverling.

“I have enacted many practices over the years to maintain or improve that

water quality,” he stresses. “I call myself a biological farmer. To me, that means taking care of the soil and trying to improve it.”

“My soil health endeavors started 20 years ago when I purchased 80 acres across the road from my farm.

After running soil tests, I found it contained less than 1 percent organic matter and the pH was around 5.5,” Siverling details. “At the time, I was a dairy farmer and my most important crop was alfalfa.

Attempting to grow alfalfa on this land simply wasn’t going to happen and I didn’t have the money to make improvements.”

“My agronomy consultants at the time talked about soil health and building soil structure, and I listened.

In 1996, I still did a lot of moldboard plowing. Forty acres were flat sandy loam. I divided that parcel into two sections: 20 acres of soybeans and 20 acres of corn,” he explains.

“When I dropped the plow into the earth, it was like plowing concrete.

The ground broke and then rose up like blocks. On the soybean ground, I put a ton of high-calcium lime,” Siverling relates. “The corn ground received manure. In the fall, after the corn was chopped and the beans were harvested, the entire 40 acres were planted with cereal rye.”

“Sometimes the rye was drilled, and sometimes distributed with a fertilizer spreader. I switched the 40-acre field back and forth between corn and beans for about 10 years,” he says. “I planted rye every year after the bean crop and spread manure every winter and spring onto the incoming corn ground.”

“I became aware of how the ground worked during tillage—it became mellower. Through the years, some dry periods came during growing seasons. At first, the crops took a hit because of the drought,” Siverling explains.

GREENER CROPS, HIGHER YIELDS “Later on, after implementing cover

crops, I had another dry period, but the crops remained greener and yields didn’t drop as much. Five years and another soil test later, the pH was at an even 6.0 and the organic matter was over 1 percent,” he says.

“About that time, there was an article in a farm paper explaining for every 1 percent more organic matter your soil has, the more water-holding capacity the soil would have,” he notes.

“I had agronomists tell me that cereal rye does not produce nitrogen, and they are correct. What cereal rye does accomplish well is sucking up the nitrogen in the soil for a slow release when the primary crop is growing,” he remarks.

“In addition, the rye roots help break the soil and supply air into the ground. The most important benefit I see is that cereal rye supplies food for microorganisms, especially earthworms. Earthworms navigate the soil; their waste, or worm castings are very high in nitrogen,” Siverling says.

“A combination of rye, slowly rotting down and feeding the microorganisms in the soil, combined with the slow release of nitrogen, helps crops grow during the season,” he concludes.

“The most recent soil test done on the field showed organic matter to be 2.5 percent and the pH was 7.0.

Needless to say, I can grow a beautiful crop of alfalfa now,” Siverling says.

“Another factor I have noticed and want to highlight is the quality of the grain that comes off my fields.

The test weight of my corn is up in the 54−58-pound range, when many other farmers are getting a 50−52-pound average. This has allowed me to sell corn at a premium, at times 15 cents over market,” he remarks.

“The food-grade soybeans are usually at the top of their protein scale with good test weight, which means no deductions from the food-grade premium,” Siverling explains.

CREDIT WHERE DUE “Do I give all the credit to cover crops?” he asks. “Not all of it, but the cover crops help build the organic matter in my soils, which results in healthy, productive soils. In return, I grow better quality crops with less inputs, especially with purchased fertilizer.”

“This year, I’m working with a seed company to do an experimental cover crop plot on my farm. We planted six different cover crop mixtures into rectangle plots with a cereal rye, barley and forage peas mix around the remainder of the field,” Siverling details.

“The idea is to conduct a yield check on the corn in fall 2016, and see if there is a difference in yields using different cover crop mixes,” he says.

“This could potentially help quantify the benefits of certain cover crops.”

“I am very interested in various combinations of cover crops. For us farmers in Northern Wisconsin, we are limited in what we can use because of the length of our growing season,” he explains. “Subsequently, I decided to fly on 80 acres of cover crops into standing corn on August 28, 2015.”

“I used a mixture of 30 pounds of cereal rye, 30 pounds of barley, and 2 pounds of brassicas per acre. Am I going to be able to get a dollars and cents return-on-investment for this?

I don’t know, and only time will tell.

Here’s hoping,” he says.

“Steve is an active member of our NRCS farmer network with cover crops in Chippewa County and has done a great job networking with other farmers and helping NRCS advance the soil health movement one farm at a time,” said Tammy Lindsay, Chippewa County NRCS District Conservationist.

Contact a local NRCS service center or visit www. wi.nrcs.usda.gov/ to learn more about soil health, cover crops and the technical and financial assistance available through the NRCS. BC�T July 47

New Products

John Deere Debuts High Capacity Nutrient Applicator a more rugged, comfortable, high-volume, variable-rate applicator.

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To help ag service providers and large-scale producers apply fertilizer and lime to more acres per day during short, busy application seasons, John Deere introduces the F4365 High Capacity Nutrient Applicator.

and features an IVT transmission.

These machines integrate the latest in technology, including a new Generation 4 CommandCenter™ Display with SpreadStar™, AutoTrac™ and Section Control at your fingertips.

This new machine offers increased capacity with a 330-cubic-foot New Leader dry spinner spreader that can apply fertilizer at rates up to 1,100 pounds per acre and lime at rates up to 6,600 pounds per acre. Another important feature is the machine’s ability to apply up to four products at variable rates in a single pass, with spreader widths of 60 to 90 feet.

The machines are also equipped with JDLink™ Connect with Service Advisor Remote and wireless data transfer to connect your fleet. AgLogic is available to optimize the machine with the tendering fleet and maximize productivity.

The F4365 High Capacity Nutrient Applicator is powered by a John Deere PowerTech™ PSS 9L engine 48 BC�T July

All this is designed to ensure accurate product placement and make it seamless and easy to collect and transfer important data.

“We’ve designed the F4365 to be the best-in-class high capacity nutrient

applicator in terms of performance and productivity in the field,” says Dave Mulder, product manager with John Deere Crop Care.

III cab, making it more comfortable and quieter for operators spending long days running over rough field conditions.

INCREASED UPTIME IN THE FIELD

Plus, the company has improved seat swivel and added cameras to give operators better visibility of the field, of the dry box and the rear spreader pattern. These new machines have a 46 mph road transport speed and up to a 30 mph application speed, reducing the time it takes to get between fields and over fields.

“We’ve improved the overall durability, ride quality and operation of this machine, and extended service intervals to make service and maintenance easier—all to increase uptime in the field,” Mulder adds.

In addition, John Deere has enlarged and enhanced the operator environment with a CommandView™

“The versatility, dependability and

productivity of the F4365 applicator is what sets it apart from other self-propelled applicators,” Mulder says. “Service providers and largescale producers can cover more acres faster, and in greater comfort, with the ability to apply up to four different fertilizers at variable rates in a single pass.”

For more information on the new F4365 High Capacity Nutrient Applicator, contact your local John Deere dealer or visit JohnDeere.com/ag.

Reinke Welcomes Ranch Systems

as ReinCloud Ready product partner, now offering RS300 field-monitoring device.

Reinke introduces Ranch Systems as a new ReinCloud Ready™ product partner. Through this new partnership, Reinke offers the RS300™, a field-monitoring device focused on soil moisture, weather and water metering stations.

to ReinCloud, where it can be displayed and accessed alongside data from mechanized irrigation systems. The data is collected, stored and can be analyzed and presented through an easy-to-use dashboard.

The RS300 allows users to collect field data that can be accessed through ReinCloud.

The RS300 is a cellular-based device that requires an appropriate cell signal.

“The partnership with Ranch Systems enables us to bring to market an advanced line of daily field management and monitoring equipment that can be used worldwide,” says Reinke Product Manager Cody Bailey.

“Knowing what the user wants to monitor is the most important part. From soil moisture to water metering to a complete weather station, we partnered with ReinCloud to provide data solutions that the grower needs,” noted Ranch Systems President and Founder Jacob Christfort.

“This gives users the ability to access and use data regarding weather and soil moisture that is crucial to their operation, helping them to make informed decisions regarding their irrigation management,” Bailey explains.

Data from the RS300 is sent

CELLULAR-BASED DEVICE

ReinCloud allows growers to manage and monitor their irrigation system, analyze soil moisture data, check the weather and more from a single mobile Web application.

For more information on the

Above: Reinke unveils the RS300 field-monitoring device, accessed through ReinCloud, that collects field data and focuses on soil moisture, weather and water metering stations.

ReinCloud data services platform, visit www.MyReinCloud.com.

About Ranch Systems Founded in 2005, Ranch Systems is an established high-technology company focused on wireless solutions for field monitoring and control in agricultural and environmental applications.

Based on their leadership position in the California market, they have been expanding worldwide since 2008.

Ranch Systems’ patented technology is unique in terms of its modularity and the breadth of solutions possible: from a single weather station to sophisticated meshed networks monitoring and controlling the entire growing and irrigation operation, including options like remote camera monitoring. For more information on Ranch Systems, contact Mike Bauer at 415-827-7880 or visit www.ranchsystems.com. continued on pg. 50 BC�T July 49

New Products. . . continued from pg. 49

Tong Showcased Latest Equipment

at UK’s Cereals event, including the Storemaker hopper cleaner machine.

Leading vegetable handling equipment manufacturer, Tong Engineering, once again exhibited at the United Kingdom's largest arable event, Cereals, to present its latest equipment range for 2016.

Exhibiting at this year’s event on stand 258, alongside the company’s marquee where light refreshments were offered to visitors of the event, Tong showcased its latest model—the Storemaker hopper cleaner machine.

“Following the success of Tong’s newest models of market-leading Caretaker mobile graders, the Storemaker is built with all the latest technologies and features that have proven popular on our Caretaker graders,” says Nick Woodcock, Sales Manager at Tong Engineering.

Like new models of the Caretaker, the Storemaker offers the very best energy efficiency, with Tong’s all electric Blue Inverter Technology drive, as well as featuring the

company’s new generation EasyClean separator, with inverter direct drive motors on every shaft, ensuring minimal maintenance and refined control.

Another feature of the Storemaker is the option of Tong’s new and advanced Pro-Series control interface, offered as part of its AutoTouch HMI touch screen control.

MACHINE HEALTH STATUS REPORT With the added benefits of a new, larger display and easy to use graphical controls, the Auto-Touch HMI Pro-Series not only provides total touch-screen control of machine speed and settings, but it also boasts advanced diagnostics, including a machine health status report, plus precise fault detection and location of any machine faults or E-stop alerts.

Such features significantly reduce downtime and maintenance.

Complementing the latest EasyClean separator and Auto-Touch HMI

John Deere Equipment and FarmSight TM

advancements are a number of additional features on new Storemakers, including a heavy duty folding-side hopper design as standard for easy transport, as well as an upgraded drawbar and tailgate system for added strength and durability.

Trailer reversing sensors for quick and easy loading into the hopper are also an option on new Storemakers, making the whole loading process even more efficient.

“In addition to displaying the new Storemaker at this year’s Cereals event, we took the opportunity to discuss other product developments that Tong has brought to market this year, adding even more efficiencies to the crop handling process,” Woodcock relates.

“We are very proud to have brought a unique and exceptionally advanced optical sorting machine to the UK vegetable handling industry in the form of the Swiss-manufactured Visar Sortop, which is gaining much interest for its capability to offer fully automatic optical grading of crop without the need for manual sorting,” he says.

PRODUCTIVE CROP SORTING “This is giving vegetable growers and packers a new and advanced way of sorting their crop in a much more productive way,” he explains.

The total package begins with understanding your needs and providing world-class experience, by combining equipment, techology, and support from an industry leader in technology.

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“We are also set to introduce a new Cleaner Loader crop trailer for farmers and growers, which offers an in-field crop cleaning and loading solution that saves time, and makes crop loading in the field much more efficient,” Woodcock remarks.

“The Tong Cleaner Loader trailer allows crop to be cleaned in the field, meaning soil is removed and kept

50 BC�T July

Above: The Tong Engineering Storemaker hopper cleaner features a heavy duty folding-side design for easy transport, an upgraded drawbar and tailgate system as added strength and durability, and reversing sensors for quick and easy loading into the hopper.

in the field the crop was harvested from,” he stresses.

“This not only means that clean crop can then be loaded straight into bulkers at the field side, but it also significantly reduces unnecessary logistics and transport costs, while keeping roads cleaner and safer with the excess soil in the fields and not on the roads,” he expounds.

“We enjoyed discussing these latest equipment developments with farmers and growers from all over the UK at this year’s Cereals event, and welcomed customers old and new,” Woodcock concludes.

For more information on Tong's latest range of handling equipment visit www.tongengineering.com. continued on pg. 52 BC�T July 51

Loftness Releases Two Fertilizer Spreaders in conjunction with launching its FertiLogix line of products.

Loftness Specialized Equipment has launched its FertiLogix line of products, including two new 8-ton fertilizer spreaders. The FS800 standard spreader and RC800 highclearance row crop spreader combine durability, superior spread pattern and variable rate capabilities.

The FS800 spreader features a double-axle design with an integral adjustable-height hitch and 2.5-inchwide leaf springs, resulting in level operation and improved ride quality on uneven terrain.

The RC800 is a single-axle spreader with a 44-inch frame clearance for in-season applications, allowing operators to spoon-feed nutrients as the crop needs them. The RC800 includes an infinitely variable tread width from 80 to 120 inches to accommodate virtually any row spacing.

Both models are equipped with dual stainless steel spinners, which deliver a consistent 40- to 60-foot-wide spread pattern using a 100 percent

Fresh from Loftness Specialized Equipment is the FS800 spreader featuring a double-axle design with an integral adjustable-height hitch and 2.5-inch-wide leaf springs.

overlapping triangular pattern.

The spreaders come standard with a positive mechanical conveyor drive, which eliminates the slippage problems of competitive friction wheel drives. They can also be equipped with an optional hydraulic

Fewer Nematodes, More Potatoes Broad spectrum nematicide Controls all stages of nematode development (eggs, juveniles, adults) Apply as an in-furrow drench and/or post plant at hilling No fumigant plant required Residue exempt 4-hour REI, 0 day PHI For more information contact Certis USA at 800-250-5024 or visit us at www.CerisUSA .com Š 2016 Certis USA

52 BC�T July

conveyor drive for variable rate applications.

To help prevent fertilizer buildup and corrosion, flat surfaces are minimized throughout the spreader designs.

Also, the clean hopper interiors contain no gussets, plates or other obstructions for fertilizer to catch. An optional roll tarp can be installed to protect materials within the hopper from weather elements.

Other standard features on the FS800 and RC800 include a single bearing design, in which only a single part number is used for all driveline bearings.

A split sprocket configuration allows easy in-field replacement of worn sprockets without having to remove the wheel. Additionally, the integral lighting, which is cleanly mounted within the frame, is ASABE compliant and uses common 4-inch lamps.

For more information, call 800-828-7624 (U.S. and Canada) or email info@loftness.com, or visit www.loftness.com.

NPC News National Research Council Report Says GMO Crops Safe The Committee on Genetically Engineered (GE) Crops, as charged by The National Academy of Sciences, Engineering and Medicine and authorized by Congress, released an advanced copy of its report Genetically Engineered Crops: Experiences and Prospects.

The long-awaited, 408-page report addresses many of today’s swirling GE issues. A noteworthy line from the report states there is “no substantiated evidence that foods from GE crops were less safe than foods from non-GE crops.”

In addition, the panel said, “The use of insect-resistant or herbicideresistant crops did not reduce the overall diversity of plant and insect life on farms, and sometimes insectresistant crops resulted in increased insect diversity.”

In commenting on mandatory GMO labeling, the report stated that a voluntary non-GE label puts the burden on consumers to search for non-GE products and provides no information to consumers who are not purposely seeking the information but might be informed by the label.

The panel recommended that when evaluating whether new plant varieties should undergo pre-market approval for safety, the decision should be based on the extent to which certain traits are likely to pose a risk to human health or the environment, among other factors.

This is in line with the National Potato Council’s (NPC's) stance, as recently written in a letter to the USDA Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) regarding the

April 21, 2016 Sidney W. Abel Regulatory Services Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service 4700 River Rd Unit 147 Riverdale, MD 20737-1236 Re: Docket No. APHIS-2014-0054 Environmental Impact Statement on the impacts of possible revisions to the biotechnology regulations Dear Mr. Abel, On behalf of the organizations listed below that represent many of the producers of specialty crops in the United States, we offer the following comments submitted in response to the request for comments by the USDA Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) on the agency’s Notice of Intent (NOI) to prepare an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) on the impacts of possible revisions to the biotechnology regulations (7 CFR part 340). The process established by Part 340 is important to the specialty crop industry as it impacts the ability to utilize potentially important technologies that can improve

Above: The National Academy of Sciences, Engineering and Medicine, as authorized by Congress, published the consensus report Genetically Engineered Crops: Experiences and Prospects that examines a range of questions and opinions about the economic, agronomic, health, safety and other effects of genetically engineered (GE) crops and food.

impacts of possible revisions to the biotechnology regulations (see the letter included below).

the nutritional value and production efficiency of the fruits and vegetables we produce.

We oppose the NOI APHIS proposed working definition for " biotechnology" that would essentially define the initial scope of products that would be subject to any of the alternatives described in the Notice of Intent: Laboratory based techniques to create or modify a genome that result in a viable organism with intended altered phenotypes. Such techniques include, but are not limited to, deleting specific segments of the genome, adding segments to the genome, directed altering of the genome, creating additional genomes, or direct injection and cell fusion beyond the taxonomic family that overcomes natural physiological reproductive or recombination barriers.

This definition is much broader than what is found in current regulations and is entirely based on the process by which a new plant variety is developed. If applied to Part 340, this definition would require pre-market regulatory review of many modifications that could be achieved through conventional breeding. Such a change is not warranted and should not be pursued. With our advanced knowledge of the genome of a continued on pg. 54 BC�T July 53

NPC News. . . continued from pg. 53

tomato we could, for example, identify which tomato genes impact water use. With that knowledge we could use genes from a wild tomato variety that uses less water and insert them into commercial tomato plants in order to improve water use efficiency. While this type of cross-breeding (between otherwise compatible plants) could be accomplished using existing breeding techniques, doing so would take many, many years. Yet with advanced genome techniques, we will be able to save significant time and cost off the breeding process. Likewise with modern gene technology we are in a position to more accurately identify genes within a plant that control certain traits; thus rather than spending years or decades using traditional breeding techniques to "turn off" or "turn down" these genetic traits, we can do so in a more timely fashion. Historically, we have- as only one examplebred apples to be more or less sweet using traditional breeding techniques in which we identify apples with such a trait and then emphasize that trait, yet using current science we are able to make those types of alterations within plants more quickly. Nothing USDA is considering in this rulemaking should alter or inhibit this type of scientific advancement all of which is an evolution of existing breeding techniques using modern technology.

We believe that the current policies for evaluating the risks to health and the environment that may accompany the introduction of plants derived from biotechnology have been effective and have not been unduly restrictive in allowing innovative technologies to enter the market place. The current policies rely largely on the Coordinated Frame Work for the Regulation of Biotechnology (Coordinated Framework) established by the Executive Branch in 1986. The Coordinated Framework incorporated existing Federal laws to utilize the authority and expertise of established agencies to evaluate products developed using biotechnology. The evaluation of plants developed using biotechnology by the USDA is a clear example of why this approach has worked effectively.

Under this approach USDA applies its significant knowledge of growing plants in the environment to evaluate the safety of food products regardless of their technological origin.

Throughout the history of modern agriculture, farmers have needed to innovate to be successful and to satisfy the nutritional needs of a rapidly growing population. Innovation has allowed agriculture to achieve unprecedented success in meeting both food security and environmental challenges. In plant agriculture, advances in breeding new and improved varieties has been the cornerstone of this success. Our advanced knowledge of the genetic structure of fruits and vegetables allows improved varieties to be developed more directly and more consistently.

The use of biotechnology is only one aspect of the application of this new knowledge. We believe that oversight of this array of new enhanced breeding techniques must be rooted in the principle that Federal oversight is based on an evaluation of the potential risk from the introduction, and not the process, by which it was developed. Failure to apply that principle will result

54 BC�T July

in unnecessary costs and delays in bringing new products to the market place.

USDA should utilize its existing authority to conduct oversight of any new plant varieties in order to protect U.S. agriculture from the risks associated with the possible introduction of plant pests and noxious weeds. Significant pre-market oversight is only necessary when there is reason to believe that the new variety presents a risk to the environment based on a potential risk, not the development process. We believe it unlikely that new varieties resulting from many advanced breeding techniques will require any significant oversight since the resulting variety will be indistinguishable from varieties developed by conventional breeding techniques.

Finally, we urge the agency to conduct a robust process to obtain input from plant breeders and agricultural producers. We believe that their input will strongly support the idea that any changes to the current system should be minor and targeted and should allow more flexibility to utilize appropriate discretion on which new varieties require regulatory oversight. The long safety history and documented value of products developed through advanced breeding techniques including biotechnology strongly support this approach. Based on the current flexibility contained in USDA regulations and USDA’s significant experience in previous reviews of similar traits developed through biotechnology, it may be possible to eliminate the need for pre-market regulatory review for many products.

We appreciate the opportunity to provide these comments to the docket on USDA’s proposed changes. In coming years, farmers will need to provide more food to more people using less resources.

Innovation has always been critical to our industry and as it will be in the future. USDA should not make decisions today that make necessary innovations of the future more costly and difficult to achieve.

Sincerely, United Fresh Produce Association National Potato Council U.S. Apple Association Fresh Produce Association of the Americas Western Growers California Fresh Fruit Association Grower-Shipper Association of Central California Florida Tomato Exchange Georgia Fruit and Vegetable Growers Association Idaho Grower Shippers Association Idaho Potato Commission Empire State Potato Growers New York Apple Association Oregon Potato Commission Texas Citrus Mutual Texas International Produce Association Texas Vegetable Association Washington State Potato Commission Wisconsin Potato & Vegetable Growers Association

House Republicans Take on WOTUS On May 25, 2016, House Republicans continued their fight against the Obama administration’s environmental regulations. The House Appropriations Committee began working on an InteriorEnvironment spending bill that would block the administration's Waters of

the U.S. rule (WOTUS) and the limits on greenhouse gas emissions.

Additionally, on the House floor, lawmakers debated the Energy-Water spending bill that contained language similar to the Interior-Environment bill to stop the administration from implementing its WOTUS rule.

In a separate provision, the EnergyWater spending bill would roll back the endangered species protections that limit irrigation water supplies in California’s Central Valley. If passed, the White House has threatened to veto these measures.

House Passes “Zika” Bill Blocking EPA Pesticide Permits The House on May 24, 2016, voted to approve a bill (H.R. 897) that would exempt pesticide applicators from needing a Clean Water Act permit for spraying over water, which in 2009, an appellate court ruled was necessary.

introduced this measure as the Reducing Regulatory Burdens Act last year. The bill was called up in the name of helping to control the mosquito-borne Zika virus, and was rebranded as the Zika Vector Control Act.

Bob Gibbs (R-OH) originally

However, the White House opposes

Oak Ridge

this bill and said that state and federal agencies already have the ability to control dangerous viruses like Zika. The Zika Vector Control Act was part of a larger bill that was debated on the House floor, and will then head to the Senate for conference.

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Eyes on Associates

By WPVGA Associate Div. President, Wayne Solinsky, Jay-Mar, Inc.

Greetings Everyone, We went from everything being almost too dry this spring to, as of late, getting almost too much rain.

They always say if you don’t like the weather in Wisconsin, wait a minute.

The crops are really growing, though, with potatoes changing every day and looking great, and corn and soybeans off to a great start. It is fun to watch everything grow. It gives the farmer in everyone joy to see everything so

green and luscious.

One of our recent Associate Division Board meetings included scholarship applications review and evaluation, and the awarding of scholarships to the top recipients. Our eight board members and two Wisconsin Potato Growers Auxiliary board members (this year they are Deniell Bula and Gabrielle Eck) evaluated the applications.

What we did differently this year, especially with having an additional, high-value Avis M. Wysocki Memorial Scholarship to award the top recipient, was base our evaluations and judging on a ranking system that would give everyone an equal chance to evaluate each application and give a point rating, 1 to 5, in five categories.

The categories used to rank the applicants were: applicants being engaged in ag-related/ag-supported fields of study; their overall GPA’s (grade point averages); extracurricular activities; financial need;

56 BC�T July

and other initiatives (i.e. volunteer work, employment, etc.)

THOROUGH EVALUATION Next year we agreed to add one more category—an overall evaluative ranking, rating it on a 1 to 5 basis as well, for a total of six categories on which to rate applicants.

To remain objective, while evaluating the applications, the board members are not privy as to who the applicants are because their identity is taken off the applications, thus the awarding is done completely on the application itself and information provided therein.

The points assigned by the 10 board members in each of the five categories were then added up and totaled to determine the top applicants/winners of the scholarships.

The top vote/point getter would be awarded the Avis M. Wysocki Memorial Scholarship. That award went to Zack Wysocki and totaled $4,250 ($3,250 generated by proceeds from a silent auction held at the 2016 Grower Education Conference & Industry Trade Show and $1,000 donated by the Wisconsin Potato Growers Auxiliary).

out, it will be time for our golf outing, the PUTT-TATO OPEN, so I hope the weather is great to go along with great company and a great experience. Best of luck to all of our golfers.

As its name this year suggests, the Hancock Field Day & Centennial Celebration, July 28th at the Hancock Ag Research Station, coincides with the station’s 100th anniversary and an all-day celebration that includes lunch provided at mid-day and a great late-afternoon dinner and drinks following a field wagon tour.

So try to attend the Centennial Celebration put on for the public and growers in appreciation for their support. Everyone is busy this time of year, but it is worth your time to attend, and there is a lot of time and money put into organizing the Field Day, so please everyone, try to attend!

We need to let our voices and story be heard. We are producing more goods and services on less resources than we have ever done in history.

Farmers are the most efficient producers out there, and most of the public feels that the opposite is true.

I’ve included a sidebar with statistics backing up the fact that we’re producing more with less.

We, the WPVGA Associate Division, are here to help the industry, so if you have any questions, comments, ideas or concerns, please contact me or any of our board members so we can better assist you and represent you, our members, in the best way possible.

As always, thank you, and from me to all of you,

Wayne Solinsky

WPVGA Associate Division President

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The next six top scholarship recipients were awarded $1,000 each ($3,000 donated by the WPVGA Associate Division and $3,000 from the Wisconsin Potato Growers Auxiliary).

The scholarships went to Kayla Smith, Madalyn Sowinski, Nika Wanserski, Melissa Wysocki, Macy Mancl and Marissa Hartman. Congratulations to all of these fine recipients.

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By the time this July edition comes

BC�T July 57

Tater Bin

Porch Noise

By Justin Isherwood

I am an undiluted fan of porch noise, referencing noise as to not misuse the word music here. Once the porch was considered a major home appliance the same as the washing machine. The porch predated the radio and was probably killed off by the television.

Porch noise music wasn’t canned and processed. Porches coincided with a time when people could do for themselves, and even more so, do with others.

I never met the man in our town of Buena Vista, Wisconsin, known as “the fiddler;” he died long before I was born. His farm was just up the road from the house where my mama was raised—on the underside of a hump formed as County EE in Buena Vista climbs over the enclosing ridge.

As a farmer, Eddie Wanty didn’t amount to much, but as a porch fiddler he kept the community alive.

Any summer evening, also spring

and early fall, music was heard from his porch, sometimes even on a cold winter night when Grandpa Wanty decided to cut loose his fiddle.

By way of definition, fiddle music isn’t the same as what comes out of a violin. If you can saw wood to any advantage, you can probably play a fiddle, while the violin takes more delicacy.

The first chair violin of the Chicago Symphony Orchestra probably never played his instrument using knitting needles, or fishing line, nor the back side of a hacksaw blade.

Porch music was like that, which is to say homemade, with a milk can pressed to serve as a French horn, a washtub providing a decidedly good bass, pie pans and even plowshares chiming in with orchestration.

Only to add a scrub board, a vagrant guitar and derelict banjo, and porch music was approaching symphonic quantity if not necessarily quality.

I was a college kid when I came across Gary Benson, who later went on to a career as a theater professional. I knew him as that loworder animal called a banjo player.

LIKE-MINDED SOULS We set up on Friday afternoons on the porch of the Newman House where like-minded souls congealed with guitars, banjos, mandolins, the occasional flute, and I remember one insistent tuba.

58 BC�T July

Singing can calm the field, raise the tilth, speed the plough, confuse potato beetles. And it might work for weed control.

It was basically popcorn and banjos, and not so much that we played music as the music played us. The time period was that Vietnam thing, itself ripe with folk music, the plugged-in plywood guitar still a few years, and an amplifier, away.

Not that garage music is any less homemade than porch music, albeit angrier, but for porch music the words mattered because there was an insistent war on and you had to either side with it or against it and live with the decision.

Porch music was for those who liked to sing, where the chance to harmonize was a practical form of humanity, a moment of earnestness, an almost physical bond as voices blended and fit together.

Between headlands I will learn to play tablature. “God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen” via banjo is my first ambition, and until then I will attempt porch noise.

Since we live on a lonely gravel road that meanders Buena Vista, it doesn’t hurt anyone when I sit on my porch and attempt the banjo. Whether it damages the potato crop or stunts the corn I don’t know—Hancock has yet to research this.

My dad believed singing to the cows aided lactation, calmed the kickers, and shut-up the bawling calves. The tractors on whose cast iron spines I learned to drive didn’t have cabs, no power steering, power brakes, hydro or radio. Mowing 40 acres of hay

It wasn’t unusual for a porch session to include the same song six times in a row just to see how some variation went. J.S. Bach did this all the time and pretty much got away with it.

I never heard Grandpa Wanty play his fiddle from his Sunday morning porch, but I did hear Benson play his banjo from the porch of Newman House across from Old Main.

Banjos have a crystalline nature, a pie pan ring that can’t happen from a loudspeaker or earbuds. I’m not saying Bruce Springsteen can’t stir my blood or Johann Pachelbel calm my nerves, but making music on a porch is a different kind of nourishment.

between dew-off and even-tide was one long miserable chore unless you sang.

At this juncture I learned the benefit of Wesleyan-brand Christianity.

Those hymns from the old black book weren’t about my soul’s salvation, they were the long and sufficient verses to mow hay by.

The Sunday morning hymns I knew by heart to sing out loud to my field … the hay was gonna die anyway so it didn’t matter how well I sang.

If I have mostly bailed out on Christianity, I still pleasure in singing those hymns. Singing can calm the field, raise the tilth, speed the plough, confuse potato beetles. And it might work for weed control.

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PORCH INGREDIENTS I have attempted playing the banjo and mandolin on numerous occasions. Someday when I get autosteer for my tractor I will equip it with one of those porch ingredients, the guitar, banjo or mandolin.

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Auxiliary News

By Lynn Isherwood, Vice President, WPGA

May is Kids Dig Wisconsin Potatoes Harvest Party time.

Each May, the Wisconsin Potato Growers Auxiliary randomly chooses several of the schools participating in the Kids Dig program for a visit and to host a Harvest Party at each location.

This year we travelled to St. James school in Eau Claire, Fall River Elementary School and Woodside in Sussex. We also made Spudmobile visits to Stoughton schools in May and to several others in the month of April. We’ve been busy!

The Harvest Parties include a tour of the Spudmobile as well as helping students harvest the potatoes they grew in their classrooms. Then there are games such as a potato toss, potato sack races and carrying potatoes on spoons, passing the spuds from one spoon to the next.

All of the games are team oriented, and the prizes have potato themes.

During their visit to the Spudmobile, the students enter an exhibit area where they learn many facts about potatoes, including a "Did You Know?" section that explains how

60 BC�T July

potatoes were the first vegetable grown in outer space and other interesting facts.

The "Field to Fork” area shows the progression from potatoes being planted in the field to their arrival on the dinner plate, and which counties in Wisconsin grow potatoes.

There’s even a "TheaTator" where short movies that promote potato goodness are shown, teaching the

young viewers about the potato industry.

Another area inside the Spudmobile presents the history of Wisconsin potato farming with old photos illustrating what it was like to grow and harvest potatoes by hand.

Continuing through to the "Kid's Above: The Harvest Parties include helping students harvest the potatoes they grew in their classroom.

Corner" is a fun electronic potatoshaped table that has a number of games, with students seeming to enjoy the "Bug Game" best.

Each student leaves excited about what he or she learned and goes

home to share all they soaked in about potatoes during the Harvest Party. It’s a fun time for all and a worthy project for the Auxiliary.

Thank you to all of our volunteers who travel around the state with us to help make the events fun.

Left: Fall River Elementary School students pose in front of the Spudmobile at a recent Kids Dig Wisconsin Potatoes Harvest Party.

Right: Not letting the potato fall off the spoon isn’t as easy as it looks, but is all part of the fun of Auxiliary-hosted Harvest Parties held at schools across the state each May.

What do you expect from the seed potatoes that you buy?

The varieties that yo

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The early generation that you want.

The quality and yie ld you have come to that expect.

Wisconsin has it!

For a directory of Wisconsin Certified Seed Potato Growers or a free video, contact:

WISCONSIN CERTIFIED SEED POTATOES

Wisconsin Seed Potato Improvement Association, Inc. P.O. Box 173, Antigo, WI 54409 715-623-4039 www.potatoseed.org

View a directory of the Wisconsin Certified Seed Potato Growers on your smartphone.

BC�T July 61

POTATOES USA NEWS Potatoes USA Invites Foreign Chefs to Learn About Potatoes Potatoes USA brought 21 chefs from Mexico, the Dominican Republic, El Salvador, Japan, Korea, China, Taiwan, Hong Kong, Malaysia, Vietnam and the Philippines on a reverse trade mission (RTM) to the U.S. to learn about U.S. potatoes and products, and new and creative ways to put them on menus.

The RTM began with potato training in Idaho and then switched to a twoday training session at Le Cordon Bleu Culinary Institute in Portland, Oregon.

The final portion was the National Restaurant Association annual conference and trade show in Chicago.

In Idaho Falls, the international chefs visited a fresh packing shed and dehydrated potato processing facility.

The group also received intensive training on dehydrated potatoes 62 BC�T July

at Miles Willard Technologies.

They were amazed by the scale, sophistication and quality of U.S. potatoes and products. Before even getting into the culinary portion of the training, the chefs were already discussing ways to incorporate U.S. potatoes into their menus back home.

The RTM group next traveled to Boise where they met with Lamb Weston, the Idaho Potato Commission and the J.R. Simplot Company. They were impressed with the different frozen potato products and the wide variety of applications they can be used in.

Comments made by the participants included: “I will never think of potatoes the same again,” “I can’t wait to get home to share what I have learned” and “These ideas are exactly

what I need to set our restaurant apart.”

The 21 international corporate and R&D chefs put their newly acquired U.S. potato knowledge to use in Portland. Thanks to the assistance of the Oregon Potato Commission, the group had a two-day cooking workshop at the Le Cordon Bleu Culinary Institute.

The training began with cuttingedge culinary demonstrations using dehydrated, frozen and fresh potatoes followed by two opportunities to prepare dishes with U.S. potatoes and products.

Above: A Potatoes USA “reverse trade mission,” which involved bringing 21 chefs (20 shown) into the United States from all over the world to learn about U.S. potatoes, included a two-day training session at Le Cordon Bleu Culinary Institute in Portland, Oregon.

CLASSICAL POTATO PREPARATIONS The second day included training by a lead instructor on classical potato preparations and dishes. The international chefs really appreciated seeing a top level chef demonstrate these simple yet very difficult French potato dishes.

The culmination of the training was a black box challenge featuring all potato types and varieties, and the secret ingredients of artichokes, leeks, summer squash, lemons, oranges, apples, shrimp and scallops.

The chefs were divided into five teams made up of a mix of countries, and the blending of cultures and cooking styles resulted in five amazing potato dishes.

These ranged from potato ceviche to potato crepes wrapped around the vegetables and topped with a shrimp.

One memorable dish was a vertical potato salad that included four

The participants gained a new perspective and appreciation for the value, variety and quality of U.S. dehydrated, fresh and frozen potato products. varieties of fresh potatoes and five types of frozen cuts, all topped with a dressing made with dehydrated potatoes.

Most of the group then traveled to Chicago for the National Restaurant Association Show. This is an amazing event, and the chefs were very appreciative of this extra opportunity to learn more about U.S. food products, including potatoes, which they can feature in their restaurants, plus all of the other aspects of the restaurant business.

All of the chefs expressed sincere gratitude to participate in this “experience of a lifetime” and felt

that how they viewed and thought about potatoes had completely changed.

There was complete consensus that they could apply what they had learned in their restaurants and that they would be launching new potato dishes on their menus very soon.

The purposes of the 2016 International Chef RTM were successfully achieved. The participants gained a new perspective and appreciation for the value, variety and quality of U.S. dehydrated, fresh and frozen potato products. continued on pg. 64

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Potatoes USA News. . . continued from pg. 63

National Chip Program Adds Data Management System During the 2016 Potatoes USA Chip Committee winter meeting in Las Vegas on January 12th, the committee approved the development of a new Variety Data Management VDM system.

When complete, this system will complement the variety development work done in the National Chip Program by making the data, grower and processor feedback, and photos of raw and finished product accessible to the U.S. chip-stock industry sector.

Grower and processor feedback has been an important aspect of the program’s development, with

64 BC�T July

the goal to create a program that responds to the needs of the sector.

Even after the VDM system goes live in July, it will be critical for growers, processors and breeders to continue to provide recommendations for increased functionality.

While currently a work in progress, the Potatoes USA VDM system will become an important tool for future varietal development initiatives.

A full demonstration of its capabilities will be made during the Potatoes USA Chip Committee summer meeting in Park City, Utah, on July 12th. For more information, and to access the Potatoes USA Chip Program

VDM system, contact Potatoes USA Director of Research and Analysis Ryan Krabill by e-mail: ryan@potatoesusa.com.

About Potatoes USA Potatoes USA is the marketing organization for the 2,500 commercial potato growers operating in the United States. The organization promotes five main potato products: fresh table-stock potatoes, fresh chipping potatoes, seed potatoes, frozen potato products and dehydrated potato products.

The National Potato Promotion Board, dba Potatoes USA, was established in 1971 by a group of potato growers to promote the benefits of eating potatoes.

Today, as the largest vegetable commodity board, Potatoes USA is proud to be recognized as an innovator in the produce industry.

For more information on Potatoes USA’s mission to “Strengthen Demand for U.S. Potatoes” by creating positive change in the industry through innovative and inspiring approaches, please visit www.

PotatoesUSA.com.

Below: The new Variety Data Management System (VDM) will make data, grower and processor feedback, and photos of raw, finished product accessible to the U.S. chip-stock industry sector.

Ali's Kitchen Column & Photos by Ali Carter, WPVGA Auxiliary Member

Double-Stuffed TwiceBaked Taco Potatoes INGREDIENTS:

We all have days that tend to get a bit out of control, days that no matter how well we have planned the unexpected seem to sneak in to cause a bit of chaos and add to our to-do list. Before we know it the kids are hungry, it’s way past dinnertime, and we have no earthly idea what we are going to place on the table to feed everyone.

There is a way to get a nutritious and appetizing meal on the table quickly.

There is no need to call in a pizza delivery. I promise, this is simple. It tastes good. Your family will love it.

And once again the potato is the star here.

The longest part of this recipe is actually baking the potatoes, a simple process but not exactly quick. Here is where one of my little tips comes in handy—bake a bunch of potatoes on the weekend and use them throughout the week.

Chop them up for use as fried potatoes or in a breakfast bake (you all know how much I LOVE breakfast

for dinner), or stuff them with something cheesy and yummy and make a full meal out of them.

That’s what I did today. I had little time and found myself with a handful of baked potatoes ready to go, some cooked and seasoned ground turkey that I pulled from the freezer and a fridge full of taco toppings. In about 20 minutes I had dinner on the table and a happy family.

MEAL COMES TOGETHER EASILY If you do not have potatoes or meat precooked and available to you, that’s OK. This is still a simple meal and does come together easily. Just take the time to bake some potatoes and a few minutes to ready the taco meat.

And another tip—you may want to consider making a big batch of these since they freeze well. Wrap them individually in foil and then place them into a large zip-top plastic bag and pop them into the freezer.

When you need a quick lunch or dinner just pull out as many potatoes

6 large Russet (baking) potatoes 1 pound lean ground turkey ½ small yellow onion, chopped 1 packet taco seasoning ¼ cup water ½ cup skim milk ½ cup plain Greek yogurt 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese, divided 2 green onions, sliced 1 avocado, diced sa lsa and extra plain Greek yogurt for garnish before serving as you will need, allow them to thaw a bit and then place them on a baking sheet and into the oven at 350 degrees Fahrenheit for about 30 minutes.

On a completely unrelated note, about my profile picture this month, I love a potato field and look forward to some pictures once this field is in bloom. But, do you notice my quite inappropriate footwear? It seems that each time I decide to take an impromptu walk through a potato field I’m wearing the absolute wrong shoes.

Last year I recall tiptoeing through a field during harvest time wearing high heels as I took a friend on continued on pg. 66 BC�T July 65

Ali's Kitchen. . .

Advertisers Index

continued from pg. 65

a spontaneous tour. And today I found myself in flip flops. Maybe I should invest in an extra pair of boots to keep on hand in the trunk of my car?

Instructions: Preheat oven to 475 degrees. Scrub the potatoes and prick them several times with a fork. Bake for about 60 minutes or until soft. While the potatoes bake, place the ground turkey and onion into a pan and cook until onion becomes soft and the turkey is cooked through.

Add taco seasoning and ¼-cup water.

Cook for 1 minute longer and then remove the pan from heat. Once potatoes are baked, remove from

the oven and let them cool for a few moments until easily handled without burning your fingers.

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Using a sharp knife, remove a small bit of potato from the top of each one. Scoop potato pulp out and place in a large bowl. Add the plain yogurt and milk and mash this all together until it’s smooth. Then stir in the taco meat mixture and half of the shredded cheddar cheese.

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Stuff the potato/meat mixture back into the skins of the potato. They will be full! That’s OK, stuff in as much of that delicious taco meat and potato as you can.

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Once stuffed, place the filled potatoes onto a baking dish, sprinkle them with the remaining cheddar cheese and bake at 350 degrees for about 20 minutes until the cheese is good and melted and everything is heated through.

To serve, top with green onions, salsa, avocado and plain yogurt.

Enjoy!

More from Ali Carter You will find this recipe and many others on my blog “Life On Granite Ridge.”

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WPVGA Associate Division 16th Annual Golf Outing & Barbeque

WPVGA

Bull's Eye Country Club

Associate Division

Wisconsin Rapids

Wednesday, July 13, 2016 Platinum Sponsor:

Silver Sponsors: The golf format is a four-person scramble with a shotgun start limited to the first 36 foursomes. Sign up is a first-come basis.

The scramble begins at 11:00 a.m., registration is at 10:30 a.m. Cost is $75/ person which includes 18 holes of golf with cart. Proper golf etiquette is expected.

Lunch is available for all golfers that day courtesy of K&S Fuel Injection, Inc. The lunch barbeque is held immediately following golf and is open to everyone in the industry. Whether you golf or not.

Tickets are required. ‘Barbeque only’ ticket price is $15/person. Make checks payable to WPVGA.

Contact Julie Braun 715-623-7683

Lunch Sponsor: ✁ ❑ Yes! I will golf. I am registering ______ golfers.

Group Leader Name: _____________________________

(Fee for golf only is $75 per person. This does not include barbeque.)

Company Name: _________________________________

❑ I wish to order _______ Barbeque Tickets at $15.00 per ticket.

Address: ________________________________________ City, State, Zip: __________________________________

❑ I would like to sponsor a hole at the golf outing.

My donation of $_________ is enclosed.

Phone: __________________________________________ These are the people in my group: 1. ______________________________________________

Golf Fee: Number of Golfers x $75

$_________

Barbeque Tickets: Number of Tickets x $15

$_________

+ Hole Sponsor/Donation

$_________

Total Amount Enclosed:

2. ______________________________________________

$_________

Please return completed form and payment to: WPVGA • P.O. Box 327 • Antigo, WI 54409-0327

3. ______________________________________________

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