1704 Badger Common'Tater

Badger Common’Tater

April 2017

THE VOICE OF WISCONSIN'S POTATO & VEGETABLE INDUSTRY

Irrigation & Specialty Equipment Issue THE POTATO D.C. FLY-IN Lobbying for Agriculture WAYS TO ENSURE Potato Tuber Quality BIO-PESTICIDES & STIMULANTS Sustainable Crop Protection MAKING IT EASIER To Obtain IoH Permits

INTERVIEW:

Scott Polzin North Central Irrigation

A Valley 7000 series center pivot system from North Central Irrigation waters a cornfield in late June 2016.

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On the Cover: Offered by North Central Irrigation, the Valley 7000 series center pivot delivers precision irrigation via span length, overhang, booster pump, tire size, pipe diameter, crop clearance, and flotation and traction options. “I am proud to provide Valley Irrigation systems, parts and service to farmers throughout the state of Wisconsin,” says Scott Polzin, owner and president of North Central Irrigation, Inc.

8 Badger cOMMON’TATER INTERVIEW: Scott Polzin

Carrying on a tradition of serving the Central Wisconsin farming community, Scott Polzin, owner and president of North Central Irrigation, purchased the company from his father, Doug, in 2009. The truck (shown) is one of four vehicles set up for welding projects that occur during water hookups and when moving spans, installing sprinklers and repairing irrigation systems. Technicians can work off of the platform on top of the truck, which is 8.5 feet high, saving time in setting up a ladder.

Departments: ALI’S KITCHEN................... 65 AUXILIARY NEWS.............. 51 BADGER BEAT................... 47

20 SUCCESSES MOUNTING FOR BIO-PESTICIDE USE Bio-pesticides & stimulants help control pests/diseases

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NOW NEWS

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Event held with Bon Appétit features self-serve spud bar and creative potato dishes.

EYES ON ASSOCIATES....... 57 MARK YOUR CALENDAR..... 6 MARKETPLACE.................. 36 NEW PRODUCTS............... 61 NPC NEWS........................ 58

Feature Articles:

PEOPLE ............................ 42

14 POTATO D.C. FLY-IN: Growers address lawmakers in a unified voice 38 TUBER QUALITY: Meeting nutritional needs during cell development 52 AGROPERMITS helps farmers get equipment to and from fields efficiently

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

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SEED PIECE........................ 32 WPIB FOCUS..................... 46

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Badger Common’Tater is published monthly at 700 Fifth Avenue, Antigo, Wisconsin 54409

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 Spudmobile Assistant: Doug Foemmel

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

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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 April

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Calendar april 29 CRAZYLEGS CLASSIC RUN/ WHEELCHAIR/WALK Madison, WI

june 3 WALK WISCONSIN Pfiffner Park Stevens Point, WI 13-15 UNITED FRESH 2017 CONFERENCE & EXPO West Hall, McCormick Place Chicago, IL 17 FEED MY STARVING CHILDREN MOBILEPACK EVENT Noel Hangar Stevens Point, WI 23

SPUD SEED CLASSIC WSPIA GOLF OUTING Bass Lake Golf Course Deerbrook, WI Contact Karen Rasmussen, krasmussen@wisconsinpotatoes.com or 715-623-7683 to reserve space and/or sponsor the event

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Pardeeville, WI 12 ASSOCIATE DIV. PUTT-TATO OPEN GOLF OUTING Lake Arrowhead Golf Course Nekoosa, WI 16-18 PMANA (POTATO MARKETING ASSOC. OF NORTH AMERICA) MEETING Wisconsin Dells 20 HARS FIELD DAY Hancock, WI 27 ANTIGO FIELD DAY Langlade County Airport Antigo, WI

august 3-13 WISCONSIN STATE FAIR Milwaukee, WI

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Planting Ideas Sometimes it’s who you meet that leaves the biggest

impression or has the greatest effect on the outcome of any given day, week, month or year. The month of February proved to be one filled with many meet-and-greets, particularly at the D.C. Fly-In in our nation’s capital where growers and industry leaders from across the country converged on February 13-16.

The Potato D.C. Fly-In is open to all potato growers and agricultural partners who want to advocate for their industry, giving them an opportunity to help shape federal policies by meeting with Congressional lawmakers and staff.

I’m at far right in the image above, with, from right to left, Wisconsin Potato & Vegetable Growers Association Executive Director Tamas Houlihan, Lynn Dickman, a research agronomist for Heartland Farms, Inc., Rep. Mark Pocan (D-WI) and Larry Alsum of Alsum Farms.

To some it might sound like a taxing ordeal to attend events and meet people, but I’ve always felt that editors should be “people” persons, with inquisitive minds so they can ask the right questions and find out the truth behind public issues. Everyone has a story, and I love to talk to people.

Read all about the D.C. Fly-In in the related article herein, the growers and industry professionals who attended, keynote and guest speakers, topics and issues discussed, and Congressional lawmakers and staff who made themselves available. There are no nicer people—those heavily schooled in issues that affect them—than potato and vegetable growers.

I also met John Kelly, corporate agronomist and owner of Redox, Idaho, at an agronomic seminar hosted by AgGrow Solutions/T.I.P. and Redox in January. As a result of a conversation with Kelly after his presentation, he later penned a fascinating feature for me titled “Ensure Potato Tuber Quality” that considers plant nutrition, cell wall strength and integrity, soil structure, root development and much more. Read it also in this issue.

CORRECTION: In the March 2017 edition of the Badger Common’Tater, State Rep. Katrina Shankland (D-Stevens Point) was misidentified on pages 6 and 17.

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

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Interview

Scott Polzin, North Central Irrigation Inc.

By Joe Kertzman, Managing Editor

NAME: Scott Polzin TITLE: Owner and president COMPANY: North Central Irrigation Inc. LOCATION: Plainfield, WI HOMETOWN: Plainfield, WI YEARS IN PRESENT POSITION: 25 years PREVIOUS EMPLOYMENT: Mel’s Transportation Services, 1989-1991, and Polzin Farms, 1975-1989 SCHOOLING: High school ACTIVITIES/ORGANIZATIONS: Plainfield Fire Department, 1982-2003, and TriCounty School Board, 2002-2011 FAMILY: Wife, Candi, and daughter, Nicole HOBBIES: Traveling, scuba diving, off-roading/rock crawling Above: Scott Polzin, owner and president of North Central Irrigation, Inc. works from the main office in Plainfield, Wisconsin, which also houses the sales team, service managers and a parts department. The main building was built in 1970, with the parts and meeting rooms added on later.

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Founded in 1966 to serve the farming community of Central Wisconsin, North Central Irrigation, Inc. has two stores in Plainfield and Beloit, Wisconsin, and a staff of close to 30 qualified men and women serving customers in Wisconsin and Northern Illinois.

A fleet of 25 trucks is driven by CDL (Commercial Driver’s License) holders and state-licensed electricians. A Valley® Performance Plus dealer, North Central Irrigation carries center pivots, linear and towable pivots, corner arms and the latest in control and management technology, as well as a complete line of accessories and add-ons.

North Central Irrigation also provides parts and service for all other models of irrigation, including Reinke, Lockwood, Olsen, Pierce and Lindsey.

A service garage near the main office in Plainfield allows the company to repair its own vehicles internally and facilitate their customization.

That, in turn, helps to accommodate the unique needs of the service technicians so that they can perform their work more efficiently while in the field.

Owner and President Scott Polzin says, “We know the challenges facing

today’s ag industry and have the knowledge and experience to help you solve your irrigation problems.

We bring you the commitment, expertise and the finest irrigation products on the market today.”

I understand your father, Doug, purchased North Central Irrigation in 1991. What type of experience with irrigation did he have, and why do you think he made the business decision to buy the company? My father was a cash crop farmer from 1964 until 1989. He had irrigation on the farm from the start, first with hand lines, wheel moves and water

drives, and eventually Valley electric irrigators. The farm was sold in 1989 and my father became manager of North Central Irrigation. When he purchased the company in 1991, I came to North Central to be a service technician. I purchased the company from my father in 2009.

Competition is probably pretty stiff out there. What are you most proud of concerning the ownership of North Central Irrigation? I am proud to have had the opportunity to provide Valley Irrigation systems, parts and service to the farmers throughout the state of Wisconsin.

I feel fortunate to be a part of Wisconsin’s agribusiness.

even if we had to come up with the solution to their problem on our own.

We have highly skilled and trained technicians, parts specialists and sales/irrigation design people who are able to deliver a quality product to the customer. Our sales people don’t just give a price for an irrigator, but they also properly design a customer’s irrigation project from start to finish.

What are the biggest challenges in irrigation and servicing today?

I believe the biggest challenge for

Above: There’s enough garage space to park the four North Central Irrigation electrical service trucks and four building/project trucks inside at night.

me is finding and retaining the best qualified people. My employees’ biggest challenge is keeping up with the ever-increasing demand for new technology from our customers. They are constantly learning how to install, operate and maintain the latest new products being developed to improve irrigation use and efficiency. continued on pg. 10

What about as far as your service, customers, area you service, repairs? We offer sales of irrigation equipment, parts and service to the entire state of Wisconsin. We can repair and service any brand of irrigation equipment.

Are there aspects of sales and service that North Central Irrigation specializes in that maybe the competition doesn’t, and if so, what exactly? Or just that you take pride in? I am a service tech/mechanic at heart, so the service part of our business has always been of utmost importance to me. We have always strived to deliver to the customer whatever they have requested, BC�T April

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Interview. . . continued from pg. 9

Have the current issues with high-capacity wells and water conservation affected your business at all, and if so, how? Yes, some farmers have had to delay moving ahead with projects that will improve their productivity. Everyone is concerned about water issues. The farmer most of all needs and wants to have an abundant and safe water supply. The issues we have with water incent us to come up with new ways to more efficiently apply water to the crop where it is needed.

Do you have long-standing customers, and if so, why do you think they’ve stuck with you? We have built our customer base on offering a quality product, service in a timely manner and having the parts the customer needs when they need them. And we stand behind the work we do.

What have you learned in your years of business that helps you today? Try not to get too excited when things don’t go as planned. You can’t undo something that is done but you can decide how to proceed to get your positive outcome.

What is your sales area/territory, and has it expanded over the years?

Our sales territory has always been the entire state of Wisconsin. We have another location in Beloit, Wisconsin, and we have expanded into more dairy and grain areas in the state.

Has the company grown over the years, and if so, how and by how

many employees? Yes, NCI has grown. When my dad became the manager of North Central, there were about 17 employees. By 2009 when I took over there were around 20.

In 2013 and 2014 we were up to 50 people. We are now back to around 28 employees.

We have seven qualified service technicians at Plainfield and three technicians at Beloit. In 2000 we only had three technicians at Plainfield.

We have 10 field service people who build and repair systems, and there are eight more who finish out parts, and who are in sales and administration.

How has the industry in general changed over the years? Irrigation, like all other aspects of farming, has become high-tech. The controls of an irrigation system are no longer just mechanical switches and Above: The Valley ICON 10 is an example of the latest digital control panels North Central Irrigation offers with touch screens.

Left: Each North Central Irrigation electrical service truck is stocked with $30,000-$35,000 worth of inventory, which includes every part that could go bad on an irrigator so that service technicians can diagnose and repair systems in one trip to the field. There are eight trucks set up this way.

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components. Computerized controls and remote controls are the norm.

Those sophisticated controls, along with new, efficient and uniform sprinkler packages, allow today’s farmer to produce more using less water than ever before.

Do you deal in remote sensors?

Digital technology? We offer soil moisture probes, weather stations, rain buckets and other products that all can remotely send information to a user’s computer, tablet or phone to enable them to make better decisions about their irrigation use.

Have the number of farms dwindled and the acres of each farm grown?

How have the changes in the industry affected your business?

Yes, there are fewer individual farms than there used to be. The prices continued on pg. 12

Right: A Valley irrigation system applies water efficiently to a corn field in early July.

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Interview. . . continued from pg. 11

farmers get for their products forces them to become more productive with less inputs. Sometimes that is only accomplished by getting larger.

Fewer farms means there are fewer potential customers and requires us to be even better at delivering a quality product at a fair price than in the past.

has an abundant supply of water, and with the responsible use of this water, we will be farming for generations to come.

What does the future hold for irrigation in Central Wisconsin or the state in general? I believe the future is bright for farming and that there is great need for irrigation in Wisconsin.

Farmers today produce more food with less water than 10 years ago.

What does the future hold for North Central Irrigation? Where do you hope your company stands 10 years from now? We will continue to grow by finding new innovative products and services to offer our customers.

This has been a family owned and operated business since its inception.

My wife, Candi, has been a big part of the success of North Central. She was office manager and parts manager for several years.

I believe with new technologies such as variable rate irrigation, precision field mapping, data collection and others, we will be able to continue growing more with less. Wisconsin

Sean Timm joined North Central in 2007. His technical knowledge and dedication to North Central Irrigation is a major reason for our success over the last 10 years. Sean has become

12 BC�T April

Above: Used to tow and work on irrigation spans, as well as to auger holes, the 4x4 digger derrick truck is hooked to a trailer and outfitted with a man lift. The man lift is used to safely install sprinklers and end guns, and to work on tall overhangs.

Left: Though North Central Irrigation’s main office building in Plainfield was built in 1970, the parts room and counter was a 1995 addition.

Right: The Peterbilt crane truck with a Cat telehandler is hooked to a trailer. The truck and telehandler are used to unload and build new irrigation systems. The crane has a 17-ton capacity and will reach up to 80 feet, while the telehandler has an 8,000-pound capacity and will reach 36 feet.

like family to us, and with him, we will continue the tradition of a family owned business. We along with our dedicated staff will work to deliver the best product and service possible to our loyal and new customers for many years to come.

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D.C. Fly-In:

Advocating for Agriculture

Growers and industry leaders speak in a unified voice with lawmakers on Capitol Hill

By Joe Kertzman, managing editor, Badger Common’Tater If there’s one constant in the country today, it is that there are political issues to discuss and high stakes on the table for all parties involved. In this case, it was potato growers and industry leaders from across the country who converged on Capitol Hill for the D.C. Fly-In, February 1316, 2017.

The annual Potato D.C. Fly-In is open to all potato growers and industry partners who want to advocate for their industry in the heart of our nation’s capital.

Attending the D.C. Fly-In provides a unique perspective on how federal policies develop in Washington, D.C. and how they affect business, but more importantly, it gives growers the chance to help shape the process.

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A week unlike any other, growers speak with one unified voice to lawmakers, administration officials and regulators.

In addition to experiencing the history of Washington, D.C., attendees are given the opportunity to: • Master advocacy techniques to use during meetings with federal decision makers • Develop relationships with influential Congressional lawmakers and staff • Hear analysis and perspective from some of the nation’s top political experts • Gain invaluable experience as advocates for the potato industry

Congressional representatives and staff were available and out in full force. During scheduled events and speaker presentations, Rep. Suzan DelBene (D-WA) gave a Congressional perspective on potato trade and agricultural policies.

Rep. Dan Newhouse (R-WA) provided his Congressional take on not only the potato industry, but also specialty crop priorities. Fitzhugh Elder of the Senate Appropriations Committee explained Congressional priorities for potato research.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture Above: 2017 National Potato Council President Dwayne Weyers gave opening remarks and welcomed growers and industry partners to the Palm Court Ballroom of the Mayflower Hotel for the D.C. Fly-In.

(USDA) transition team was represented by Brian Klippenstein, who talked about agricultural priorities of the new administration.

Constitution is a call for a new American Constitutional Convention, touched on 23 specific major changes he would make.

The American Seed Trade Association was represented—Ph.D. Bernice Slutsky tackled “Regulatory Structure for Advanced Breeding Techniques.”

The American Farm Bureau had representation at the D.C. Fly-In— Patricia Wolff, who talked about “Opportunities for Tax Reform in the 115th Congress.”

John Keeling and Kam Quarles of the National Potato Council provided a key issues overview, and then, in a breakfast session before the Capitol Hill visits, went through pre-lobbying preparation.

HITTING KEY NOTES Keynote speakers included Charlie Cook, a renowned political analyst and publisher of The Cook Report, who covered the current political and legislative environment. Charlie has been a trusted voice on all things political for decades and a featured guest on myriad news outlets.

A second keynote speaker, Larry Sabato, whose book A More Perfect Above: Patricia Wolff of the American Farm Bureau Federation addressed the gathered crowd and the issue of opportunities for tax reform in the 115th Congress at the Potato D.C. Fly-In, Monday, February 13.

Right: The U.S. Capitol building served as a backdrop for the Potato D.C. Fly-In and an impressive reminder of why growers and industry professionals converged on the nation’s capital— to discuss issues that affect the agricultural community.

Representatives of the Grocery Manufacturers Association, CropLife America and the United Fresh Produce Association presented

analysis and gave informative speeches on a variety of topics affecting the potato industry.

Industry experts on tax, Genetically Modified Organism (GMO) disclosure and the Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA) also addressed the general sessions. Senior Senate Agriculture and Appropriations Committee staff focused on the 2018 Farm Bill and key spending issues that may affect the potato industry in 2017. continued on pg. 16

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D.C. Fly-In. . . continued from pg. 15

What attendees looked most forward to, and the main purpose of the D.C. Fly-In, was to meet with Congressional leaders and make their voices heard. Key issues were pinpointed and issue papers summarizing those topics circulated to small groups who met with lawmakers throughout the day on Wednesday, February 15.

Those key issues were Immigration Reform, Potato Research Special Grants, Regulatory Reform and Potato Trade Policy and Agreements.

VIABLE GUEST WORKER PROGRAM During Capitol Hill visits with Congressional lawmakers and staff, growers and agricultural professionals explained how the industry depends on a stable workforce, which must include a viable guest worker program and the opportunity to obtain legal work status for current improperly documented workers.

They discussed working with the appropriations committees in the House and Senate to secure funding

Top Left: Robert Guenther, a lobbyist and senior vice president of public policy for United Fresh Produce, Washington, D.C., said the fresh produce industry must work with new Republican leaders of the Senate and House agriculture committees.

Top RIght: John Keeling (left) and Kam Quarles (right) of the National Potato Council provided a key issues overview, and then, in a breakfast session before the Capitol Hill visits, went through pre-lobbying preparation.

Bottom Left: Jim Wysocki (left) of Wysocki Produce Farm Inc. goes over strategies and key speaking points for meeting with Congressional lawmakers and staff. The Wisconsin contingent seated alongside Jim includes, from left to right, Wisconsin Potato & Vegetable Growers Association (WPVGA) Executive Director Tamas Houlihan, Lynn Dickman, a research agronomist for Heartland Farms, Inc., Nathan Bula of Gary Bula Farms and Luke Wysocki of Wysocki Produce Farm.

Bottom RIght: Keynote speaker Charlie Cook, a renowned political analyst and publisher of The Cook Report, good naturedly covered the current political and legislative environment.

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for Potato Research Special Grants that support competitive potato breeding projects across the country.

of those businesses and a real threat to the creation of jobs and the growth of the economy.

Left: Rep. Suzan DelBene (D-WA) spoke at a breakfast session in the Grand Ballroom of the Mayflower Hotel during the D.C. Fly-In, giving her Congressional perspective on potato trade and agriculture policies.

Growers and associates described the regulatory burden on farms and other businesses and how it’s a growing concern for owners and operators

Regulatory reform issues covered the Waters of the United States, or WOTUS, rule (which has since been

Right: Congressman Mike Gallagher (R-WI) holds a potato given to him by WPVGA Executive Director Tamas Houlihan (right) while visiting Capitol Hill to advocate for growers. At left are Larry Alsum of Alsum Farms Inc. and Lynn Dickman, research agronomist for Heartland Farms, Inc.

continued on pg. 18

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D.C. Fly-In. . . continued from pg. 17

rolled back by President Donald J. Trump); the Worker Protection Standard; Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Pesticide regulation; agriculture guest worker reform and National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System permits.

the Trans-Pacific Partnership (also rolled back by President Trump), port improvement legislation and access to Mexico’s fresh potato market.

Trade policy topics covered the current global competitive landscape, future challenges, the North American Trade Agreement,

At the 2017 D.C. Fly-In, issues were discussed. A contingent of intelligent, driven and reasonable potato growers and industry professionals

The D.C. Fly-In concluded with offsite agency visits to the EPA and USDA to hear from officials.

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2017-02-27

8:38 AM

Left: During a Wednesday, February 15 breakfast session, Rep. Dan Newhouse (R-WA) provided his Congressional take on not only the potato industry, but also specialty crop priorities.

Right: At third from the left with the solid red tie, Congressman Glenn Grothman (R-WI) was kind enough to pose with, from left to right, Wisconsinites Lynn Dickman, Luke Wysocki, Nathan Bula, Larry Alsum and Tamas Houlihan.

stated their cases, lobbied for their causes and advocated for their fellow growers, and that’s exactly what they were there to do.

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Bio-Pesticides & Bio-Stimulants Help Control Pests and Diseases Successes are mounting in implementing sustainable crop protection practices

By Joe Kertzman, managing editor, Badger Common’Tater There is no denying it. The sustainable production wave has captured the attention of potato growers. Whether you are a conventional producer of process potatoes or an organic fresh market specialty producer, there have been some incredible successes with implementing sustainable crop protection practices.

A major component in this growing trend is the successful and strategic use of natural or biological products including bio-pesticides and biostimulants to help complement traditional crop management programs.

These innovative tools have been proven to overcome unique challenges such as mutational 20 BC�T April

resistance to synthetic chemistries and an ever-growing list of maximum residue limits.

Back in 2000, the United States was limited to only about 5,500 acres of organic potatoes. At that time, there were very few tools available to organic producers.

Then, bio-pesticide manufacturers invested time and resources to help address consumer demand for sustainably grown potatoes. They even formed an organization in Texas, BPIA (Biological Products Industry Alliance), with just five member companies to help spread the word about biological products and their effectiveness.

Jump forward to 2017. There are now more than 15,000 acres of

organic potatoes grown in the United States alone. There has been steady growth supported by a commitment of the biological products industry encouraging companies to continue developing effective, consistent and economical tools to help growers maximize the demand for sustainably grown fresh and process potatoes.

The BPIA is now a Washington, D.C. area-based trade association with almost 120 member companies Above: A research and development team at BPIA member company BioConsortia gather around a high-powered microscope to see the latest microbial discovery.

Opposite Page: BPIA Executive Director Keith Jones says the biological products industry is experiencing unprecedented growth as a result of consumer demand and increasing regulatory pressures.

ranging from small, innovative sole proprietors to large, international companies. Keith Jones serves as BPIA’s current executive director.

“The biological products industry is experiencing unprecedented growth as a result of consumer demand and increasing regulatory pressures,” explains Jones. “Our member companies have developed dependable, pioneering products for commercial agriculture, especially for potato growers.”

NEW TOOLS IN THE TOOLBOX It’s not only organic producers who are seeing the immense value and versatility that bio-pesticides and bio-stimulants offer, but also conventional growers who have turned to the new tools as insects and other pests become more and more challenging to overcome because of mutational resistance build-up to a limited number of

traditional products.

One example is LifeGard Biological Activator recently introduced by Certis USA at the 2017 Potato Expo in San Francisco. LifeGard triggers the plant’s natural defense mechanism to ward off early blight, late blight and white mold.

Research results conducted over the past 20 years indicate that LifeGard can be used in a rotational program to minimize chemical resistance while delivering equal or better disease control to maximize yields and quality.

“Bio-pesticide sales are surging and what was once old is new again,” says Tim Damico, BPIA Board member and co-chair of the association’s Specialty Markets Committee. According to Damico, Certis USA is offering Trident Bioinsecticide (Bacillus thuringiensis var. tenebrionis) specifically for Colorado potato beetle control.

“Bio-pesticides like Trident offer complex modes of actions for resistance management and improved environmental profiles for pollinator health,” explains Damico.

“Trident once was replaced by new chemistries; today its biological value continued on pg. 22

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Bio-Pesticides. . . continued from pg. 21

makes it new again.”

One area of the biological market that has really developed over the last decade is the use of beneficial soil inoculants that aid in soil structure, better utilization of soil fertilizer and nutrients, and preventing soil-borne pathogens throughout the growing season.

For example, TerraGrow Soil Inoculant, a new product from BioSafe Systems, provides potato growers with a unique seven-strain soil inoculant infused with a powerful growth stimulant package that has provided potato growers with strong plant response translating into

healthier yields and quality.

Another example of biologicals in the potato industry has been the entry of Majestene from Marrone Bio Innovations out of Davis, California.

Majestene is a nematicide that has proven effective in the control of nematodes in the potato fields of the Pacific Northwest.

ALTERNATIVE PRODUCTS In the spring of 2016, this biological nematicide entered the market

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just as another key nematicide was lost to users due to manufacturing challenges. With potato farmers seeking alternative products, Majestene was incorporated into a couple of large potato farms and shanked in at planting and then run through the center pivot irrigation systems.

Potato farmers in the area have been pleased with the results, now adding this biological to their programs this spring.

“With an industry under fire from environmental groups insisting that farmers work harder to reduce the chemical residues on their products, Marrone Bio Innovations is one of many companies in the bio-pesticide industry that is working to resolve these issues,” says Pam Marrone, Ph.D., CEO and founder of Marrone Bio Innovations.

Not only are growers utilizing these new technologies in the field, but food processors are also starting to see more and more promise in the use of biological products in postLeft: LifeGard Biological Activator triggers a plant’s natural defense mechanism to ward off early blight, late blight and white mold.

Right: Bio-pesticides undergo the fermentation process in the BPIA research and development laboratory.

harvest and storage applications.

biological products.

Consequently, BPIA recently expanded its membership categories to now include growers and food processors in addition to its traditional membership comprised of manufacturers, marketers and distributors of biological products.

The week of activities included the BPIA 2017 spring meeting, an International Biocontrol Symposium and the Biocontrols USA West 2017 Conference & Expo, which is a trade show geared towards growers, including potato growers.

SAFE POTATO STORAGE

VOICE OF THE INDUSTRY

Biological products, such as 1,4SIGHT, are a safer option for potato storage as opposed to the conventional carbamate chemical Chlorpropham.

1,4SIGHT is one product within a family of biocontrol chemicals produced by 1,4GROUP that enhances dormancy of the potatoes with a naturally occurring molecule.

BPIA is the voice of the bio-pesticide, bio-stimulant and biological products industry in the United States. Once associated more with organic farming, biological products have become an integral part of conventional agriculture, applied by growers together with synthetic agrochemicals in rotations or tank mixes.

The demand for gentler chemicals for potato storage has grown so much that 80 percent of the products sold by 1,4GROUP are now bio-controls.

The use of biochemicals can also enable large-scale storage facilities to reach their sustainability goals.

In addition, both the fresh and processing markets see the advantage to using bio-controls as a means to meet their customer demands for supplying safer food.

BPIA hosted a week-long program in Reno, Nevada February 27-March 3 to promote biological products and educate growers, food processors and the public about the many benefits of

Driven by consumer and regulatory demand, biological products usage is growing by an average annual rate of 15-20 percent, which is about five times the growth rate of synthetic agrochemicals.

The economics of biological products have also been encouraging manufacturers to invest heavily in this area, as these products can be discovered, approved by regulators and commercialized in a small fraction of the time and cost of synthetic agrochemicals.

One of the primary roles of the BPIA is to represent the biological products

Above: Majestene is a nematicide that has proven effective in the control of nematodes in the potato fields of the Pacific Northwest.

industry on Capitol Hill and with the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

The industry alliance conducts congressional and EPA visits several times a year for its member companies, and works to educate members of Congress and EPA officials as to the benefits of biological products from an efficacy, environmental and economic pointof-view.

With the new administration coming to Washington, the education role of the BPIA will be increasingly important.

For more information, contact BPIA, 201-394-2476, jamdursky@aol.com, www.bpia.org.

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Now News WPVGA Works with Neighbors to Protect Environment Phase 1 of Little Plover River Flow and Watershed Enhancement Plan begins The Wisconsin Potato & Vegetable Growers Association (WPVGA) is working in conjunction with the Village of Plover and other stakeholders to develop and implement a Little Plover River Flow and Watershed Enhancement Plan.

The plan will identify and implement solutions to improve Little Plover River stream flows and increase water retention within the Little Plover River Watershed.

“We welcome the opportunity to develop voluntary measures to improve flow in the Little Plover River watershed,” says Tamas Houlihan, Executive Director of the WPVGA. “The potato and vegetable growers look forward to building strong working partnerships with the broader community.”

“We appreciate the fact that the Village of Plover has initiated this project that recognizes both 24 BC�T April

the importance of stream flow enhancement and the real value and needs of agriculture in the area,” Houlihan stresses.

The Little Plover River Flow and Watershed Enhancement Plan will be prepared and implemented in three phases.

• Phase 1 includes data collection, site investigation and identification of potentially restorable areas, and was completed in March.

• Phase 2 will identify a wide range of solutions to improve stream flow and other conditions in the watershed, and will identify priority actions for implementation and is anticipated to begin in April.

• Phase 3 will include project development, design and implementation, and is tentatively scheduled to begin in the fall of this year.

“The WPVGA recognizes that the Little Plover River is an ecological, aesthetic and recreational asset to the Portage County community,” Houlihan says. “We also recognize that there are concerns related to the long-term viability of the river, and we support assisting in efforts to ensure the community’s values related to the river, including fishing, scenic beauty, habitat protection and water quality, are maintained.”

The WPVGA was founded in 1948 to assure its members success through education, information, environmentally sound research, promotion, governmental action and involvement. The members of the WPVGA are good stewards of the environment.

The WPVGA is committed to engaging in continuous improvements in agricultural environmental stewardship. WPVGA members are devoted to developing science-based solutions to environmental concerns, and firmly believe that science is a critical guide to the development of effective water policy in Wisconsin.

For more information, visit www.

WisconsinWaterFacts.com. continued on pg. 26

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Monsanto Donates Plant Research Center to UW-Madison 100,000-square-foot facility and its biotech portfolio become part of university

By Terry Devitt, UW-Madison University Communications A $10 million commercial biotech plant laboratory in Middleton, Wisconsin, which first opened in 1982 with the help of University of Wisconsin-Madison scientists, will soon become part of the university following a donation from Monsanto.

The facility, a labyrinth of greenhouses and laboratories where some of plant biotechnology’s first critical steps were taken, was officially donated to UW–Madison’s University Research Park by Monsanto in December 2016. It is to become the hub of the new Wisconsin Crop Innovation Center (WCIC).

“This gift will enable us to create a plant biotechnology facility unparalleled in the public sector,” says UW–Madison College of Agricultural and Life Sciences (CALS) Dean Kate VandenBosch. “We can

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Agracetus, the 100,000-square-foot facility and its plant biotechnology portfolio were acquired by Monsanto in 1996. Monsanto closed the facility in 2016 when it consolidated its research operations to the company’s St. Louis, Missouri headquarters.

The facility features 20 greenhouses encompassing 28,000 square feet, as well as 15,000 square feet of controlled environments—shade houses and light rooms—and 50,000 square feet of high quality laboratory space on 4.5 acres.

It is anticipated that researchers in the plant sciences from many corners of the UW–Madison campus, including agronomy, biochemistry and botany, among others, will use the facility to help develop and improve commercially important plant stocks and methodologies.

Above: Greenhouse lights glow in the dusk sky at the Wisconsin Crop Innovation Center (WCIC), an agricultural research facility at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, on Jan. 23, 2017. The facility is located in Middleton, Wisconsin, just west of Madison. Photo courtesy of Jeff Miller, UW-Madison

“The University of Wisconsin has a long and distinguished history as a hub of innovative plant science research and advancing agriculture,” says Tom Adams, vice president and biotechnology lead for Monsanto.

SCIENTIFIC ADVANCEMENTS “We at Monsanto are extremely pleased that our donation of this state-of-the-art crop research facility will contribute to this mission and further accelerate scientific advancements, ultimately resulting in more solutions for farmers across the world,” Adams adds.

The facility was donated to University Research Park, a UW–Madison affiliate, which will manage it under a lease to the university.

“This will energize the campus plant science research community.”

According to Kaeppler, crop species likely to be under the microscope at WCIC include corn, sorghum, soybean, and small grains such as oats, barley and wheat.

“The types of research projects include: improving crop nutrient efficiency, evaluating strategies to produce crops better suited for use as biofuels, enhancing crop disease resistance, and improving the yield and composition of crops grown in sustainable production systems,” Kaeppler says.

The facility donation comes as new genome editing technologies that make altering DNA significantly easier are poised to build on recent advances in plant science and commercial agriculture.

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regeneration, both of which can be addressed through the new facility and WCIC. A May 2016 report from the National Academy of Sciences notes that “the only characteristics that have been introduced through genetic engineering into [plants in] widespread commercial use are those that provide insect resistance and herbicide resistance.”

GENETIC CROP EXPANSION The advent of the WCIC, according to Kaeppler, is an opportunity to expand both on the genetic traits that might be conferred on crop plants, and also on the types of plants developed with genetic improvements.

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“This is an unprecedented opportunity to add capabilities and capacity we couldn’t otherwise afford,” says Shawn Kaeppler, a UW–Madison professor of agronomy and the director of the new WCIC.

Bottlenecks in the field, says Kaeppler, are genetic transformation—building desirable traits into plants—and plant

With the rapid advances in genomeediting techniques, plant DNA can be altered for crop improvements in more efficient and targeted ways.

Such things as tolerance to drought continued on pg. 28

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BC�T April 27

Now News. . . continued from pg. 27

and heat, increased crop efficiency and improved nutrient content are high on the list of traits plant biologists will be exploring.

The new facility, Kaeppler adds, will also abet an expansion of academic research, potentially opening new frontiers in plant science as commercial research and development tends to be more focused on widely-planted crops.

The WCIC facility will be used by university researchers beyond UW– Madison.

Transfer of the greenhouses and laboratories is being facilitated on campus by CALS, the Office of the Vice Chancellor for Finance and Administration, the Chancellor’s Office and the Office of the Vice Chancellor for Research and Graduate Education, with funding provided by the Wisconsin Alumni Research

Foundation.

“This is a very exciting opportunity,” says Marsha Mailick, UW–Madison vice chancellor for Research and Graduate Education. “It is a resource that can help us leverage research and educational opportunities in new ways, not to mention the valuable science that will help our state and its agricultural sector remain competitive.”

LANDMARK EXPERIMENTS The Middleton facility was the site of landmark experiments in the early days of plant biotechnology.

With the help of a “gene gun” invented by Agracetus researchers Dennis McCabe and Brian Martinell, researchers at the lab could blast plant or animal cells with microscopic gold beads carrying loops of DNA to

Above: Potted soybean plants grow under greenhouse lights at the UW-Madison Wisconsin Crop Innovation Center (WCIC). Photo courtesy of Jeff Miller, UW-Madison

create transgenic organisms.

The world’s first engineered soybean and cotton were developed at the facility, and through the work at Agracetus, the world’s first approved field trial of transgenic plants was conducted not far from the lab’s Middleton location.

Winston Brill, the UW–Madison emeritus professor of bacteriology instrumental in establishing Cetus in the early 1980s, says the work conducted at the Middleton facility was historic: “Agracetus was the first in the world to engineer soybean, first in the world to engineer cotton, first in the world to field-test a genetically engineered plant.”

Today, genetically modified crops are planted on nearly 444 million acres worldwide. Genetically modified soybean, the most commonly engineered crop plant, accounts for 83 percent of world production. In Wisconsin, engineered crop plants, mostly soybean and corn, are planted widely.

Wisconsin’s economic plant agriculture footprint is estimated at $3.6 billion annually, including production of $758 million in soybean and $1.4 billion in corn.

28 BC�T April

DATCP Clarifies Age Requirements for Pesticide Use Worker Protection Standard and certification/licensing regulations explained The Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection (DATCP) has been fielding questions from growers about changes to pesticide use laws— specifically to new requirements that pesticide handlers and applicators be at least 18 years old.

they apply to pesticide use. This includes:

It’s understandable if farmers are confused, because there are changes to two separate federal laws going on simultaneously.

• Rinsing pesticide containers

The two regulations involved are U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) rules—the Worker Protection Standard and Certification of Pesticide Applicators. In both cases,

• Mixing, loading and applying pesticides • Cleaning and repairing application equipment • Carrying open pesticide containers

WORKER PROTECTION STANDARD The Worker Protection Standard (WPS) applies to employees on the farm. Effective January 1, 2017, employees on a farm must be at least 18 years old to handle pesticides that carry the “agricultural use

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As examples, atrazine products would be restricted use, and products containing glyphosate would be nonrestricted use. Employees must also be at least 18 years old to enter areas treated with pesticides during the “restricted entry interval.” This time will vary depending on the pesticide, and is listed on the label.

There are also other changes to the continued on pg. 30

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Now News. . . continued from pg. 29

Worker Protection Standard, and it does apply to nurseries, greenhouses and forestry businesses, too. If you have questions, contact Jane Larson: jane.larson@wi.gov, 608-224-4545.

Enforcement is at least three years away. States have their own pesticide laws, which must be at least as stringent as federal laws; they can be more stringent.

CERTIFYING PESTICIDE APPLICATORS

In Wisconsin’s case, most of the changes to the federal law are things we already do, however, the age restriction will be new.

Farmers, their family members and their employees must be certified and licensed as private pesticide applicators if they use restricted use pesticides. This is not new. But under the new regulation, they will have to be at least 18 years old to be certified to use these pesticides.

Note, however, that this law is not yet in effect. The EPA has finalized it, but is working with the states to align state and federal regulations.

There are other changes to certification of pesticide applicators as well, including new provisions for commercial applicators. For information, contact Mike Murray, michael.murray@wi.gov, 608-2244551.

FAMILY EXEMPTIONS The EPA defines family members

as parents, children, step-children, foster children, spouses, in-laws, grandparents, grandchildren, aunts, uncles, nieces, nephews and first cousins, even if they are paid for their work.

Neither of these two rules applies to family members who handle or apply non-restricted use pesticides.

However, even family members who handle or apply restricted-use pesticides must be certified and licensed.

Please feel free to contact DATCP for more information, or visit the website for current requirements: www. datcp.wi.gov, and search for worker protection or private applicator.

Business Council Honors Heartland Farms Operation recognized for contributions to economy and community service Heartland Farms was singled out for honors on Thursday, February 2 at the Portage County Business Council’s Annual Dinner. The event was held at the Holiday Inn Hotel & Convention Center, Stevens Point, Wisconsin with a record crowd of nearly 400 people.

Each year Business Council members, guests and dignitaries gather to celebrate the best of the best in volunteers, businesses, education, government and non-profit organizations. The annual dinner is a celebration of accomplishments and an opportunity to recognize the achievements of the past year.

The Business Council granted Heartland Farms the Decree of Excellence Award based on the farming operation’s contributions to the area’s economic vitality, increase in local employment base and significant community service.

In 2016 Heartland Farms invested over $24 million in new infrastructure 30 BC�T April

to help ensure it continues to be a leader in the potato industry. The investment included a $7.5 million Farm Operations, Technology and Training Center that is the hub for new growth of the company, employees and the community.

The center is also used to aid in collaboration between private industry and public schools, from kindergarten through high school and including graduate programs.

The farming operation also invested in a new $4.5 million potato storage facility with a unique in-floor ventilation design that utilizes the latest technologies in climate control and energy efficiency to help ensure a quality crop for their customers with less waste.

STATE-OF-THE-ART GRADING SHED In addition, the farm built a new, world class $1.2 million grading facility. Technology in the grading shed makes it the most advanced

Above: Alicia and Jeremie Pavelski accept the Decree of Excellence Award presented by the Portage County Business Council to Heartland Farms for the operation’s contributions to the area’s economic vitality, increase in local employment base and significant community service.

shed in the world for grading potatoes going for potato chips.

Ongoing commitment to the community by the business and staff is evident through donations, involvement and support to many organizations, including, but not

limited to, the Portage County Business Council, Wisconsin Potato & Vegetable Growers Association, the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point Foundation and Saint Michael’s Hospital.

Heartland Farms and its owners committed $500,000 over a three-

year period for the Ministry Health Care Breast Care Center and a prorated donation to the Stevens Point Area Catholic Schools of $440,000 dollars over three years.

“Heartland Farms will serve as the solid anchor of this community for years to come. We look forward

to seeing what is next!” said Karen Schanock, director of Programs & Events for the Portage County Business Council.

The Portage County Business Council focuses on business retention and attraction, and employee retention and attraction to enhance the economic vitality of the region.

Tasteful Selections & Katie’s Krops Help End Hunger Young growers empowered to plant vegetable gardens and donate harvests Tasteful Selections, a specialty potato brand from RPE, Inc., concluded its fourth annual campaign with Katie’s Krops, a non-profit focused on empowering young growers to plant vegetable gardens and donate the harvests to the underserved in their communities.

As part of the annual campaign, a portion of the profits from specially marked bags of Tasteful Selections’ Ruby Sensation and Honey Gold potatoes, that were available October through the end of January, went to the nonprofit.

“Our goal is to make it easier for people to support those in need within their own communities,” says Russell Wysocki, president and CEO of RPE, Inc., co-owner of Tasteful Selections. “Our aim for this campaign was to raise awareness about the amazing work Katie has

been doing with Katie’s Krops and to invite our customers to take action and help us in the fight against hunger.”

Founded by the now 18-year-old Katie Stagliano, the idea for Katie’s Krops was conceived in 2008, when Katie grew a 40-pound cabbage and donated it to a local soup kitchen.

After seeing the impact of one large cabbage, Katie was determined she could do more to help those in need, and has been doing that ever since.

Above: Katie’s Krops, in conjunction with RPE, Inc. and its specialty potato brand, Tasteful Selections, focuses on empowering young growers to plant vegetable gardens and donate the harvests to the underserved in their communities. Katie Stagliano, shown in both images, founded Katie’s Krops, which has donated thousands of pounds of fresh produce to organizations helping people in need.

Katie’s Krops has donated thousands of pounds of fresh produce to organizations helping people in need, both from Katie’s flagship garden in South Carolina and by awarding grants to youth-led gardens.

Currently, there are 100 Katie's Krops gardens growing across the country in 32 states.

with RPE to empower youth to end hunger,” Stagliano says. “Their generous support has helped us create a sustainable solution to hunger. Working together we have empowered thousands of children to grow vegetable gardens across the country where the whole harvest is donated to individuals in need.”

“We are truly blessed to partner

“In 2016, our young growers grew and donated 26,000 pounds of fresh produce,” she adds. “This would not be possible without the support of RPE and our amazing sponsors.”

RPE and Tasteful Selections will continue to help Katie reach her goal of creating and maintaining 500 gardens across all 50 states by donating proceeds from packages of Tasteful Selections potatoes to help fund Katie’s Krops gardens.

BC�T April 31

Seed Piece Syngenta Opens North American Seedcare Institute Sophisticated research laboratories share space with classroom facilities

During the recent grand opening of the Syngenta Seedcare InstituteTM in Stanton, Minnesota, more than 150 industry leaders, government officials, Syngenta customers and employees toured the 38,000-square-foot, free-standing facility on Syngenta’s Stanton campus.

Syngenta’s Seedcare Institute features the most sophisticated laboratories in the agricultural industry and is one of the premier seed treatment research facilities in the world.

Five times larger than the former Seedcare Institute, formally established at Stanton in 2000, the new structure houses: • Research and development (R&D) labs • Labs for application, plant-ability, dust-off and quality assurance • Climate-controlled application and planter testing labs • Large-scale commercial application and performance area to simulate real-life experiences for customers • Modern customer classroom facilities • Seed warehouse • Office and meeting space “The Syngenta Seedcare Institute in 32 BC�T April

Stanton is a state-of-the-art research and training facility offering enriched seed treatment education, better collaboration opportunities with customers, advanced training and personal application support,” says Vern Hawkins, president of Syngenta Crop Protection, LLC, and region director, North America.

Syngenta invests more than $1.36 billion in R&D globally, or $3.7 million every day.

“Syngenta’s $20 million investment in seed treatment R&D at Stanton reinforces our commitment to helping farmers grow more while using fewer resources and protecting the environment — today and tomorrow,” Hawkins states.

EFFECTIVE FARMING TOOL Seed treatment is a valuable and effective tool for farmers. With seed treatment, a chemical or biological substance, typically a fungicide,

insecticide or nematicide, is applied in small and precise amounts to the outside of the seed prior to planting.

Seed treatment helps protect the seed and seedling against earlyseason insect pests and diseases that reside in the soil. And it helps the Above: At 38,000 square feet, the new Syngenta Seedcare Institute™ in Stanton, Minnesota, is five times larger than the former complex and promises to be one of the premier seed treatment research facilities in the world.

RIght: Syngenta Seedcare experts evaluate the application performance of a seed treatment recipe using a lab batch treater.

plant get off to a healthy start and develop a strong root system—the foundation of a strong, productive plant.

Syngenta’s Seedcare Institute in Stanton tailors seed-treatment recipes for individual customers, then scales up the recipes from the lab to commercial-size treaters. Syngenta can simulate various climate conditions at time of treatment and adjust recipes for different crops and seed treating equipment.

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The new Seedcare Institute will allow Syngenta to meet the increasing demand by farmers and seed companies to protect high-value seeds and seed traits. Seed treatment in North America accounts for more than 30 percent of the global market.

“As the seed treatment industry continues to evolve, we strive to consistently offer more sophisticated products and best-in-class service to our customers to better serve them,” says Ravi Ramachandran, Ph.D., head

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of Syngenta’s Seedcare Institute for North America.

“This facility can provide the intensive training needed by our seed company customers, ag retailers, applicators and farmers to fully realize the value of our seed applied technologies, best-management practices and stewardship,” Ramachandran adds.

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continued on pg. 34

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Seed Piece. . . continued from pg. 33

CUSTOMER TRAINING In 2015, the Seedcare Institute in Stanton trained 1,170 customers–368 percent more customers trained than the 250 trained in 2013. This is a measure of Syngenta’s commitment to customer education and stewardship, outlined in “The Good Growth Plan,” the company’s global strategy to sustainably feed a growing population.

Syngenta’s Stanton campus provides an ideal spot for The Seedcare Institute in North America. It houses Syngenta’s main corn-breeding research station, is close to the majority of U.S. corn and soybean acres, as well as many Syngenta customers, and is convenient to the Minneapolis Airport.

The new Seedcare Institute in Stanton could potentially add up to 10 jobs.

For more than 36 years, Syngenta has been a leader in seed treatment technology. This heritage dates back to 1979 with the introduction of Concep® seed safener, the first product of its kind for sorghum.

Syngenta currently operates 12 Seedcare Institutes globally. Together they serve as centers of excellence in product application, quality

Above: The Syngenta Seedcare Institute in Stanton, Minnesota, has state-of-the-art equipment to evaluate application performance of seed treatment products on a commercial scale.

management, training, seed science and product marketing support for its customers.

To learn more about Syngenta Seedcare, visit www.SyngentaSeedcare.com. Join the conversation online—connect at social.SyngentaUS.com.

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GolD rusH sPonsor $1,500 • Company Name and logo on two 12-foot banners placed in a prominent area on the course • Company name and logo in Badger Common'Tater • Verbal recognition and name on sign at event • Registration and dinner for four golfers

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oCCuPIeD Hole sPonsor $300 • Company name on hole sign • Rights to occupy a hole on the course and provide giveaways* *If alcohol is being served, it must be purchased through the golf course • Verbal recognition and name on sign at event

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Since 1998, this tournament raised over $50,000, which was donated to Wisconsin potato research.

BC�T April 35

Marketplace

By Dana Rady, WPVGA Director of Promotions & Consumer Education

Salad Bar Donation Brings Students Closer to Agriculture Taking things for granted is all too easy to do. Many of us don’t give a second thought to the food we eat, the clothes we wear or even the knowledge we have gained of certain trades or topics. That is, until we meet someone who doesn’t have food to eat every day, or a closet full of clothes to choose from or a person who has no idea about the topics of which we are passionate.

The latter is a good description of February 22, the day the Wisconsin Potato & Vegetable Growers Association (WPVGA) partnered with Lincoln Middle School in La Crosse, Wisconsin, on organizing a media day event after providing the school with a potato-friendly salad bar.

The media day consisted of a visit by the Spudmobile, grower presentations to each class by representatives of Nuto Farms and Gumz Muck Farms, an amazing lunch of actual Wisconsin russet baked potatoes from Nuto Farms, complete 36 BC�T April

with healthy choices for toppings, and print and broadcast media showing up to feature it all.

Arriving at Lincoln Middle School and speaking to teachers, the large impact the Wisconsin potato industry was having on students that day became quite apparent.

These students haven’t had many experiences exposing them to agriculture. It was a new experience for them to learn how vegetables like potatoes grow in soil and the process of how they eventually arrive on dinner plates. It all seems so simple, and yet it is easy to underestimate the number of people who are unaware of the environmentally-conscious processes Wisconsin farmers conduct on a regular basis.

BEST PART OF THE DAY? And what was the best part about this media day event? Lincoln Middle School students had access to all the information directly from the experts,

Above: Donated potato-friendly salad bars are stocked and ready for the lunch crew on February 22 at Lincoln Middle School in La Crosse, Wisconsin. They feature healthy toppings for the baked Wisconsin russet potatoes that would be served during lunch. They also feature a message from the school that reads, “Thank you Wisconsin Potato and Vegetable Growers Association!”

Right: Students had healthy options as toppings for their baked potatoes on February 22 during the salad bar media day event at Lincoln Middle School in La Crosse, Wisconsin. Toppings included broccoli, three kinds of meat, jalapenos, mushrooms, cheese, salsa, sour cream and roasted peppers.

the growers themselves, and they were having fun receiving it!

Unfortunately, it isn’t uncommon for them to be responsible for cooking their own evening meals. And if they don’t cook for themselves, the next meal they receive is often at Lincoln Middle School the next day.

faces and hands raised as they enthusiastically participated in discussions and asked questions. It is valuable to be affiliated with a school that desires to do more in exposing its students to agriculture.

And that’s a partnership worth appreciating.

Left: Tom Bulgrin of Gumz Muck Farms (left, front) and Mark Lieberherr of Nuto Farms (right, front) teach students of Lincoln Middle School about the Wisconsin potato industry during the salad bar media day event in La Crosse.

Right/Bottom: Mark Lieberherr stands next to the baked Wisconsin russet potatoes that came from Nuto Farms to help feed the students of Lincoln Middle School. Channel 8 TV in La Crosse interviews Mark during the salad bar media day event.

As groups of students experienced the Spudmobile and sat through grower presentations, they soaked up all the information they could. Upon leaving the Spudmobile, Nuto Farms provided each student with a bag of Kitchen Kleen Steamin’ Spuds along with suggestions on how to make them.

A simple donation proved to be highly beneficial in educating the students, creating a solid relationship with the school and drawing attention to the nutrition and versatility of America’s favorite vegetable.

It was also an educational experience that extended to those representing the Wisconsin potato industry. It was refreshing to see the students’ excitement in learning about the importance of agriculture and buying local.

It was wonderful to see smiling BC�T April 37

Ensure Potato Tuber Quality

Nutritional requirements for plants during tuber cell development are essential to quality

By John Kelly, corporate agronomist and owner of Redox, Idaho If there is a desire to improve potato tuber quality, a consideration of plant nutrition requirements during tuber cell development may be beneficial.

the individual cells is determined.

Stronger cells have higher potential for better harvest, storage and postharvest quality characteristics.

Many other factors besides nutrition play a key role in post-harvest tuber quality, such as variety, harvest handling, plant maturity, disease and environmental storage. This article will discuss only some nutritional considerations.

In addition, relative cell-wall strength is closely associated with many forms of both abiotic and biotic stress. A brief overview of some key nutritional requirements for optimum cell wall strength may be beneficial.

As cell development occurs in tubers, the relative potential strength of

Calcium is a key nutrient appropriately associated with cell wall strength and integrity. Calcium

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performs three key roles in crop production: 1. Cell wall strength. During cellwall development, calcium forms key compounds in the cell wall. Calcium assimilation into the cells must occur during key developmental periods and cannot be done later in the growing season.

The vast majority of calcium is assimilated in potatoes in a relatively narrow window of a few weeks.

The key timing for this period in potatoes starts at the hooking stage and continues through tuber set and development.

2. Soil structure. Calcium, because of its unique atomic weight, and because of its valence (di-valent— two positive charges), can attach to negatively charged colloids Above: Providing potato plants with the nutrients they need at key times during tuber cell development is a key to quality. The sprayer image was taken by Stephanie Fassbender on Kakes Farms in Bryant, Wisconsin, at sunset.

in the soil and attract and hold particles, effectively flocculating soil particles.

This strongly influences the root zone environment. Properly flocculated soils more readily achieve good air/water relationships, encourage optimum root development and promote positive microbial activity.

3. Root development. Soluble calcium must be present in the soil in adequate levels to facilitate root growth. Root tips must exert very high pressure to optimize growth in the soil. Calcium plays a key role in the relative ability of the root to grow and form properly.

How can it be determined if there is a crop calcium opportunity?

Crop Quality History – Do any tuber quality metrics indicate that there is a need to change current practices or inputs? Has a processor or marketer provided specific data?

Although moderate acidity is desirable in Wisconsin for disease suppression, a balance is required wherein calcium availability can be optimum.

Naturally, base saturation calcium will be lower if hydrogen, magnesium,

Soil Analysis – What data might indicate an opportunity?

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Different types of tests and different labs will give different data and should be used for comparison purposes and additional perspective.

Some of the key indicators are: High base saturation hydrogen.

Hydrogen accumulates on the soil colloids under acidic soil conditions.

Because hydrogen occupies these sites at the expense of calcium, and provides no benefit for soil structure, cell wall strength and root growth, it should be monitored.

Above: Good microbial activity in the soil results in better nutrient availability. Optimum soil chemistry, good air/water relationships, root growth and soluble soil humus are the factors that most strongly influence soil biology.

continued on pg. 40

SERVICE. SERVICE. SERVICE.

CHEMICAL EXTRACTIONS Most soils laboratories perform one of many types of chemical extraction soil tests. Since there are many types of extractions, it is often beneficial to continue using the method currently used for historical data.

potassium or sodium are high. There are no hard and fast optimum levels for base saturation that lead to optimum calcium availability because it is largely determined by parent soil material, water chemistry, relative soil humus content, cropping patterns

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Ensure Potato Tuber Quality. . . continued from pg. 39

and inputs.

Soluble Paste Extractions.

A specialized soil test utilized by many laboratories is the soluble paste extract. The only extracting agent is water under vacuum. This offers a unique perspective along with the chemical extraction to see readily available plant nutrients.

If calcium availability is poor and/ or other nutrients are in severe imbalance, this may offer some insight as to what inputs or practices will be beneficial.

TISSUE ANALYSIS What tests can be helpful? There are several types of plant tissue analysis: Petiole – Indicates nutrients in transit and widely used in the potato industry. Petiole analyses are useful tools for determining nitrate-nitrogen levels. They are

also used for other nutrients such as phosphorus, potassium and calcium.

Recent research and practical usage indicate that other methods are more accurate for nutrients other than nitrate-nitrogen.

Whole Leaf Analysis – This method is accurate for the measure of total nitrogen as well as other elements such as calcium. There are essentially two ways of doing a whole-leaf analysis, a wet test or dry ash test.

In general, the dry ash test will be the most accurate.

Chlorophyll – In-field tools can show relative plant metabolism. These will not offer specific nutrient levels but can show relative plant health and stress.

Photon Spectrometer – A new emerging technology that shows great promise, photon spectrometers are currently being studied primarily

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at universities for several reasons.

First, they are non-destruct and may eventually make their way into commercial laboratories and perhaps the field. Second, they can accurately measure all forms of nutrients down to an atomic weight of 14.

An important comment about plant material testing is that the tests should be used along with visual observations of plant performance.

They are excellent tools, but remember that a weak and dying plant can often give excellent tissue readings.

If calcium nutrition is determined to be a key limiting factor, what inputs and/or practices should be considered?

Great boron nutrition. Adequate boron nutrition is strongly linked to good calcium nutrition. Plants do not require boron in large quantities.

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Optimum boron supply will most likely be achieved by making light and perhaps frequent applications from hooking stage to the stage prior to tuber bulking. Just because boron is so beneficial, excessive levels are not.

Lime. If soil hydrogen is excessive, there is no substitute for calcium carbonate, or lime. If both calcium and magnesium are low on base saturation figures, then dolomite can be considered as well. These materials react with the hydrogen in the soil, displacing hydrogen on the soil colloid with calcium (or magnesium, in the case of dolomite).

Determination of rates involve the following factors: soil CEC (Cation Exchange Capacity), hydrogen levels, pH, liming inputs (purity and particle size) and soil placement.

Nitrogen management. Adequate nitrogen is required for formation of amino acids and proteins in the plant, and it is essential to every cell in the plant. However, excessive nitrogen can lead to excessive vegetative growth and weak cell development.

Optimum soil hydration. Excessive moisture in the soil is very detrimental to conditions that lead to optimum calcium uptake. Naturally, excessively dry soils will also not be conducive to good calcium nutrition.

Soluble calcium inputs. A plant can only take up calcium in the ionic, or soluble, form. Inputs that are readily plant available or will readily convert to plant available form, applied during peak calcium demand, can be very beneficial.

Anions. Calcium, as a positively

Above: Factors affecting tuber quality range from variety to harvest handling, plant maturity, disease and environmental storage.

charged cation, will be accompanied by a negatively charged anion in a stable fertilizer form. Make sure that the anion content will not harm, but instead will benefit, optimum production quality and yield under your conditions.

It is hoped that the above comments will offer perspective and be beneficial.

Cation management. The key nutrient cations are calcium, magnesium, potassium, zinc, iron, manganese and copper. These are all extremely important, but in-season applications in excess during critical calcium utilization stages can be detrimental to calcium uptake.

Soil biology. Good microbial activity in the soil results in better nutrient availability in the soil. The essential mechanism is the production of carbon dioxide, which results in the production of carbonic acid.

Carbonic acid helps to solubilize calcium compounds (like calcium phosphate) for plant utilization.

Optimum soil chemistry, good air/ water relationships, root growth and soluble soil humus are the factors that most strongly influence soil biology.

BC�T April 41

People maintenance, indoor and Reinke Recognizes Roberts Irrigation and outdoor displays, safety, retail environment, merchandising, as Top 10 Dealership professionalism, promotions and

Company also tapped as top five parts dealer, sprinkler retro dealer and more Reinke has recognized Roberts Irrigation, with locations in Plover and Bloomer, Wisconsin, as one of the top 10 highest-selling dealerships throughout the United States and Canada, in acknowledgment of the company’s marketing year success.

Roberts Irrigation was also recognized as the highest-selling dealership in the North Central Territory, a top five sprinkler retro dealer and top five parts dealer, and the company received a Diamond Reinke Pride award. The dealership was honored during Reinke’s recent annual convention held in Orlando, Florida.

“We congratulate Roberts Irrigation on this well-deserved recognition,” 42 BC�T April

said Reinke Vice President of North American Irrigation Sales Mark Mesloh. “We appreciate their ongoing commitment to Reinke and to their agricultural community.”

Reinke dealerships from across the United States and Canada gather each year to attend the company’s sales convention. The convention awards ceremony recognizes select Reinke dealerships for their hard work and dedication to sales and marketing throughout the past year.

The Reinke Pride awards are determined as part of an incentive program that distinguishes superior achievement levels according to an evaluation based on a dealership’s exterior and interior housekeeping

event participation, and market share.

About Reinke Reinke Manufacturing Co., Inc. is the world’s largest privately held manufacturer of center pivot and lateral move irrigation systems. Family owned since 1954, and headquartered in Deshler, Nebraska, Reinke develops products designed to increase agriculture production while providing labor savings and environmental efficiencies.

Reinke is a continued leader in industry advancements as the first to incorporate GPS satellite-based communications and touchscreen panel capabilities into mechanized irrigation system management. For more information on Reinke or to locate a dealership, visit www.reinke.com or call 402-365-7251.

Above: Reinke President Chris Roth (far left) and Reinke North Central Territory Manager Vern Hinnenkamp (far right) present, from left to right standing between Chris and Vern, Paul Roberts, president of Roberts Irrigation, and Barry Graham, Casey Kedrowski and John Herman of Roberts Irrigation with a plaque recognizing the company as a top 10 highest-selling dealership.

Lois Kakes Passes Away Lois Anne Kakes died February 2, 2017 at Colonial Manor in Wausau, Wisconsin, at the age of 86. She was born February 26, 1930 in Milwaukee, daughter of the late Fred and Elsie (Zappa) Neururer. She married Eugene Kakes on November 2, 1949 in Valparaiso, Indiana.

years. She enjoyed baking, genealogy, sewing, crafts, Christmas decorating, reading, camping and attending her grandchildren’s activities. She was a Gillis Go Getters 4-H Club leader and member of the Springbrook Homemakers Club and the local Genealogical Society.

Lois attended Oakwood State Graded School and graduated from Pulaski High School in Milwaukee, in 1948.

For her first job, she worked as a bookkeeper at L&H Manufacturing.

After her marriage, she raised her family and helped establish the family seed potato growing business, Kakes Farms Ltd., in Bryant. She also operated K’s Hobby and Craft shop in Antigo for 10 years.

Survivors include two daughters, Debra (Frank) Stainbrook of Antigo and Darcy (David) Blakemore of Ogden, Utah; a son, Dan (Vicki) Kakes of Bryant; a daughter-in-law, Jeanne Kakes of Neva; five grandchildren, Matthew Kakes, Megan (Justin) Michels, Aaron Kakes, Kaitlin Kakes and Joseph Blakemore; two great grandchildren, Dane and Emma Michels; and a sister, Mary Lahmann of Waunakee.

She was a member of Peace Lutheran Church, where she organized the annual harvest dinner for many

In addition to her husband and parents, she was preceded in death

by a son, David Kakes; two sisters, Claire Eastwood and Beverly Sharon; and two brothers, Fred Neururer and George Neururer.

A funeral service took place at Peace Lutheran, February 11, with Rev. David Karolus officiating. Interment followed the service at Elmwood Cemetery.

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POTATOES USA NEWS Potatoes USA Partners with Bon Appétit on Spud-Centric Event As part of a partnership with Bon Appétit, Potatoes USA and the magazine jointly hosted an event at the Bon Appétit Kitchens in New York City to showcase the versatility and

star power of potatoes in the kitchen.

Among the 50-plus attendees of the event were New York chefs, high-profile bloggers, social media influencers and Bon Appétit editors.

The event menu was comprised entirely of creative potato dishes, including purple potato coins with braised pork, potato blinis with smoked salmon and caviar, and even fresh fruit and herb infused cocktails made with potato vodka.

The highlight of the event was an inventive do-it-yourself potato bar featuring baked petite blue, red, yellow and fingerling potatoes,

44 BC�T April

Above: Potato dishes at the Bon Appétit/Potatoes USA event included potato coins with braised pork, potato blinis topped by smoked salmon and caviar, and a potato bar featuring baked petite blue, red, yellow and fingerling potatoes, and mini red potato latkes with gourmet toppings.

Bottom: Presentation of the gourmet potato dishes was well done, and the appetizers so delicious, it was impossible not to take advantage of photo opportunities.

and mini red potato latkes served alongside dozens of gourmet toppers like prosciutto, roasted peppers and crème fraiche.

The event also featured Chef Joey Campanaro of the Little Owl restaurant in New York City doing live cooking demonstrations of the latkes and other bites throughout the evening.

Guests enjoyed the many creative ways potatoes were used throughout the evening, and reported being inspired to try new ways of cooking with potatoes at home. The event has garnered over 70,000 impressions thus far with more to come.

Backpacks with Old USPB Logos Bring Joy in Burkina Faso Christian World Outreach (CWO) is one of several non-profit organizations to which Potatoes USA donated backpacks, aprons and other materials with the association’s outdated USPB logo (Potatoes USA was formerly known as the United States Potato Board, or USPB).

Making good use of the donation, CWO gave every student at their Village of Opportunity in Burkina Faso, Africa a backpack with a notebook to use in their school programs.

away and it’s a great gift for the young women! Some of the donated aprons were given to the cooks at our school and the rest will be used when we start our culinary program.”

Michael Jeter from CWO stated, “It was exciting to be able to give those

CWO is planning to give aprons and totes to the students at the women’s

Above: Students in Burkina Faso, Africa were happy to accept free backpacks donated

by Potatoes USA, even if they did have the association’s old USPB (United States Potato Board) logo on them.

vocational school program in Haiti as well. continued on pg. 46

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Potatoes USA News. . . continued from pg. 45

Technomic Tracks Food Service Trends United States. The $845 billion food service industry grew 1.6 percent in 2016, with the sectors of fast food/ quick service, fast casual, fine dining and convenience stores seeing the most growth.

Technomic, a research company dedicated to the food service industry, recently released its annual results report. Over half of the U.S. food dollar is now spent at food service versus retail, as more people go out to eat, rely on takeout or look for supermarket (convenient prepared food) options.

All sectors are expected to grow in 2017, with overall sales projected to be up 1.7 percent. The fastest growing segment should remain fast casual, with an expected sales

Food service is now also the largest sales channel for potatoes in the

increase of 6.1 percent in 2017, followed by an emerging sector, supermarket food service with projected 6 percent growth.

Noncommercial food service (e.g. health care, schools) is also a bright spot, and is expected to continue to grow at a steady pace. Fine dining, which has been down in recent years, is expected to grow 3.1 percent in 2017.

WPIB Focus Wisconsin Potato Assessment Collections: Two-Year Comparison Month

Jul-15

Aug-15

Sep-15

Oct-15

Nov-15

Dec-15

Jan-16

Feb-16

Mar-16

Apr-16

May-16

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

16,390,753.17

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

$983,470.55

Aug-16

Sep-16

Oct-16

Nov-16

Dec-16

Jan-17

Feb-17

Month

Jul-16

Mar-17

Apr-17

May-17

Jun-17

Year-to-Date

CWT

1,596,377.06

706,549.40

1,283,527.92

2,874,985.48

3,531,201.37

1,995,664.44

3,035,619.25

2,285,371.71

17,309,296.63

Assessment

$96,214.65

$46,392.12

$87,862.17

$200,067.53

$246,554.05

$139,662.51

$212,457.84

$160,044.60

$1,189,255.47

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.

46 BC�T April

Badger Beat

Fungicides for Potato Disease Control: Review and Updates for Production Year 2017

By Amanda J. Gevens, associate professor & Extension plant pathologist, University of Wisconsin-Madison Department of Plant Pathology

This year we have a “good problem” with the registration

of multiple new fungicides for disease control in potato. I call it good because a greater number of effective disease management tools is a positive thing.

It’s also a problem because there are several new choices that require some greater consideration in selection.

This article provides summary and commentary on recent and/or new fungicide registrations available for potato disease management through the lifecycle of the crop.

SDHI (Succinate dehydrogenase inhibitor) fungicides. SDHI fungicides were discovered more than 40 years ago. The first generation of SDHI carboxamides had a limited disease and application spectrum. Since

2003, modern generation SDHIs have been launched with increased spectrum and effectiveness, and newer SDHIs continue to be developed with seemingly further enhanced effectiveness.

The single site mode of action of SDHI fungicides places them at high risk for the development of pathogen resistance.

The question must be asked: How does a pathogen population become resistant (less effective in controlling disease) to a single site mode of action fungicide?

Fungicides are designed to kill pathogen populations, but they are not 100 percent effective, leaving a few individuals that are tolerant or resistant to the fungicide to survive continued on pg. 48

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

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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 April 47

Badger Beat. . . continued from pg. 47

and reproduce.

Survivors then persist as a greater percentage of the total pathogen population, making the population more tolerant or resistant to the fungicide. The end result is a population that can no longer be controlled by the specific selective fungicide.

This group (also referred to as Fungicide Name (Registrant)

the Fungicide Resistance Action Committee or FRAC Code 7) includes longer-standing potato disease fungicides such as boscalid (Endura) and flutolanil (Moncut, Moncoat).

Newer registrations include benzovindiflupyr (a.k.a. Solatenol) (with azoxystrobin in Elatus), penthiopyrad (Vertisan), fluopyram (with pyrimethanil in Luna Tranquility, also being the nematicide

Active Ingredients (FRAC group)

Diseases Targeted

Velum Prime), penflufen (with prothioconazole in Emesto Silver), fluxapyroxad (a.k.a. Xemium) (with pyraclostrobin in Priaxor) and sedaxane (with difenoconazole, fludioxonil and thiamethoxam in Cruiser Maxx Vibrance).

Key feature(s) of each of these newer registrations are listed in the table below.

Comments

Elatus (Syngenta)

benzovindiflupyr or solatenol (7) + azoxystrobin (11)

Silver scurf, black dot, Rhizoctonia

In-furrow application, highly effective in silver scurf and black dot field trials in Central Wisconsin

Vertisan (DuPont)

penthiopyrad (7)

Early blight, brown spot, gray mold, powdery mildew, black dot, white mold, Rhizoctonia

In-furrow for Rhizoctonia, foliar applications for other listed diseases

fluopyram (7) + pyrimethanil (9)

White mold, early blight, brown spot, Botrytis leaf spot, black dot, Ascochyta leaf spot, powdery mildew

Highly effective in trial and commercial fields, no cross-resistance to boscalid, penthiopyrad or fluxapyroxad as currently understood. Consider total usage of fluopyram for season if you are using Luna Tranquility and Velum Prime.

Luna Tranquility (Bayer)

Velum Prime (Bayer)

fluopyram (7)

Nematodes, white mold, early blight

In-furrow (2ee registration in February 2017), and chemigation applications can be made, nematode activity not fully understood. In our Central Wisconsin research trials, in-furrow treatment delayed early blight onset to first week in August in multiple years. Consider total usage of fluopyram for season if you are using Luna Tranquility and Velum Prime.

Emesto Silver (Bayer)

penflufen (7) + prothioconazole (3)

Black scurf, Rhizoctonia, silver scurf, Fusarium seed decay

Seed treatment, excellent Rhizoctonia and Fusarium control, good silver scurf control

Priaxor (BASF)

fluxapyroxad or Xemium (7) + pyraclostrobin (11)

Black dot, brown spot (black pit), early blight, Botrytis, late blight, leaf spot, powdery mildew, rust, white mold, Rhizoctonia, Fusarium, Pythium

Foliar, and in-furrow, soil-directed banded applications can be made, improved control of black dot and Rhizoctonia compared to azoxystrobin or pyraclostrobin alone in research trials

Cruiser Maxx Vibrance Potato (Syngenta)

Black scurf, Rhizoctonia, difenoconazole (3) + Fusarium, silver scurf, Seed treatment, increased yield and sedaxane (7) + fludioxonil Colorado potato beetle, potato significantly reduced silver scurf in (12) + thiamethoxam leafhopper, aphids, leaf miners, research trials insecticide (4A) psyllids, flea beetles

48 BC�T April

Cross-resistance patterns between SDHIs for different target site mutations are complex and may vary between pathogen species, SDHI used and location.

Since 2009, several states have reported resistance in early blight pathogen field populations (caused

by Alternaria solani) to boscalid (Endura), penthiopyrad (Vertisan) and fluxapyroxad (Priaxor). Crossresistance to fluopyram (Luna Tranquility, Velum Prime) has not been reported.

resistance. These findings underscore the need to strictly adhere to resistance management guidelines to prolong the life of the SDHIs.

late blight, black dot, Botrytis vine rot and early blight. Orondis Ultra is OXTP with mandipropamid (Revus) to manage late blight.

U15 fungicides. Oxathiapiprolin (OXTP), a brand-new fungicide active ingredient in Orondis (Syngenta), is highly active against oomycete or water mold plant diseases. OXTP is an oxysterol-binding protein modulator in pathogen cells inhibiting growth, as well as sporangia and zoospore germination.

There has been/will be a transition from sales of co-packs to pre-mixes of the Orondis formulations in 2017 (Opti and Ultra) and in 2018 (Gold).

Fluopyram resistance does not seem to be associated with the same pathogen genetic mutations known for being resistant to boscalid, penthiopyrad and fluxapyroxad.

OXTP is the only active ingredient in its FRAC group of U15 and there is no known cross-resistance to other fungicides. The fungicide is systemic, translaminar and will protect new growth from disease.

Different target site mutations confer different levels of insensitivity between the various SDHIs. Periodic monitoring of pathogen populations for reduced sensitivity to SDHIs has aided in early recognition of

Orondis Gold 200 is OXTP with mefenoxam (Ridomil) for soil application/in-furrow usage to manage pink rot and Pythium leak. Orondis Opti is OXTP with chlorothalonil (Bravo) to manage

Quinone outside Inhibitor or QoI fungicides. FRAC Group 11 fungicides were introduced in the late 1990s with kresoxim methyl and azoxystrobin, resulting in great, out-of-the-gate success for broad spectrum disease control. These fungicides block electron transfer at the Qo site in the cytochrome bc1 complex, preventing ATP formation.

Some QoI fungicides (i.e. azoxystrobin) have both translaminar and systemic activities while others (i.e. kresoxim methyl and trifloxystrobin) have just translaminar activity without systemic movement. continued on pg. 50

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Badger Beat. . .

Super Poly Tanks from AG Systems

continued from pg. 49

Such subtleties impact performance.

(Headline, Cabrio, Priaxor), fenamidone (Reason) and famoxadone (Tanos) continue to play an important role in broad spectrum disease control in potato.

difenoconazole. Vibrance Potato includes three fungicides, difenoconazole, sedaxane and fludioxonil, along with the insecticide thiamethoxam.

Since azoxystrobin (Quadris) went off patent in 2014, numerous generic formulations have been introduced to the marketplace with interesting This post-harvest application of names, such as Aframe, Azoxystar, Azoxystrobin is labeled for black dot, has provided a strategy for Azoxystrobin, Azoxyzone, Trevo, early blight, Cone powdery Tanks: 70 GallonsStadium to 12,000 Gallons Vertical Tanks: 16 Gallons to 16,000 Gallonslate blight, controlling silver and Fusarium Equation and Satori. mildew, black scurf/Rhizoctonia andstandard with total drain boltedscurf • Tanks come fitting • UV inhibitors molded in for longer tank life in stored potatoes.

In our storage silver scurf management.• Conical bottom with flat spot for total drainage • Easy to read molded in gallonage indicators Be sure to read the labels carefully trials at the Hancock • 18” lid is standard onresearch all large tanks 2” active or 3” outlets available on larger tanks to verify percent •of ingredient DeMethylation Inhibitors (DMIs) or Agricultural Research Station (HARS) • Molded in tie down lugs • Siphon tubes to help with drainage in the fungicide and associated FRAC Group 3 triazole fungicides.

Research • UV inhibitors moldedStorage in for longer tank life Facility, we also saw • 18” lid is standard on all large tanks application rate/acre. And remember Metconazole (Quash) and • Engineered welded steel stand available • Molded in tie down lugs for securing tanks significant pink rot and late blight that rotating between generic (Top MP, •Revus 3 - YearTop, warranty from date of with shipment • 3 - Year warranty from date ofdifenoconazole shipment control Stadium, due to the Quadris formulations does not count Quadris Top) provided potato with azoxystrobin component.

Don’t forget to pick up your Pumps, fittings, accessories and hose from Ag Systems. as a “mode of action” rotation. a fungicide mode of action that the www.agsystemsonline.com Earlier this year, Syngenta crop and its pathogens hadn’t seen Azoxystrobin resistance in the before 2008 with the release of Revus representatives announced that pathogen population is azoxystrobin Top from Syngenta and 2012 with the Stadium is to receive an expanded resistance, regardless of trade name. use allowance on seed potatoes release of Quash from Valent.

Cross-resistance occurs across FRAC for the control of silver scurf and Group 11 fungicides.

Cruiser Maxx Vibrance Potato Fusarium. Cross-resistance within a seed treatment and postQoIs such as azoxystrobin (i.e. specific fungus is generally thought to PULL TYPE SPREADERS, HIGH CLEARANCE SPREADER harvest treatment Stadium (both be present between fungicides within Quadris), trifloyxtrobin (Gem), 2002 CASE IH 3200B $95,000 this DMI group. fluoxastrobin (Evito), pyraclostrobin from Syngenta) also include W/NEW LEADER L2000G4 SPINNER BOX 5662 HOURS, 380/90R46 TIRES, CHASSIS SANDBLASTED & PAINTED, RAVEN VIPER PRO,SPINNER SPEED CONTROL

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Auxiliary News

By Ali Carter, Vice President, WPGA

“We are only as strong as our members.” I have

often heard our current WPGA President Paula Houlihan state these words.

And how right she is!

When Auxiliary members come together and share their enthusiasm and time, incredible things occur. It is the joint efforts of talented individuals that propel this organization forward, and I have the privilege this month of introducing you to one of those special individuals.

Jody Baginski has been involved with the WPGA for several years, and now shares here ideas and insights while serving her term on the WPGA Board of Directors.

Name: Jody Baginski Hometown: Marshfield, WI Current Residence: Antigo, WI Activities/Organizations: Membership clerk for the Boys and Girls Club of Langlade County; member of the WPGA, the Rock Dam Lake Association, Edgar Gas and Steam Engine Club and the American Quarter Horse Association; and an FFA alumni March 2017

Badger er Common’Tat THE VOICE

INDUSTRY & VEGETABLE S POTATO 3 OF WISCONSIN' e 69 Number

STRY WPVGA INDU !

SHOW ISSUE

Volum

$18.00/year $1.50/copy

Family: “I’m married to my wonderful husband, Bruce Baginski, and we have four cats.”

Hobbies: Camping, antique and flea market shopping, collecting antique and vintage Christmas decorations, and visiting state and county fairs “Why did I join the WPGA?” Baginski proposes. “I have been going to the State Fair and selling baked potatoes since 2000. I became co-coordinator of the baked potato booth at the fair in 2009.”

“What do I hope to accomplish while on the board?” she asks. “I want to continue to promote potatoes with a wonderful group of ladies!”

Badger Common’Tater

THE VOICE OF THE WISCONSIN POTATO & VEGETABLE INDUSTRY

PAVELSKI HAMERSKI AND of Fame Inducted into Hall HY GROWN UPDATE: HEALT & Acreage Expands in Scope $$ TRY COMM ITS POTATO INDUS ble Research For Potato & Vegeta N EMPLOYERS” “DEST INATIO Good Help Retain and t Recrui Muck hilled at Gumz Potato plants are Wisconsin.

Farms in Endeavor,

INTERVIEW:

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Above: New to the Wisconsin Potato Growers Auxiliary (WPGA) Board of Directors, Jody Baginski has been involved with the organization for a number of years, sharing her ideas and insights.

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). wisconsinpotatoes.com/blog-news/subscribe BC�T April 51

IoH & AgCMV Compliance Made Easy System for Helping Growers Obtain IoH Permits Upgraded AgroPermits addresses the need to get farm equipment to and from the fields efficiently

By Madhu Jamallamudi, AgroPermits Most growers and large farming operations are aware of and probably worried about the Implements of Husbandry (IoH) and Agricultural Commercial Motor Vehicles (Ag CMV) law created under the 2013 Wisconsin Act 377.

The free permits were created to bring some level of accountability to the farming community for the damage caused to roads by heavier farm equipment, while permitting maximum allowable weight limits to conduct efficient farm production.

The law allows higher weight limits for agricultural equipment, but requires operators to obtain free permits when exceeding specified weight and length limits. The law was a compromise between maintaining authorities that are responsible for providing high quality roads to the citizens and the agricultural community that is responsible for feeding the population.

However, both farmers and maintaining authorities faced significant challenges in practical implementation of the law due to the complex process involved. While the permits are free, the fines for not having a free permit are very expensive, ranging from $2,500 to $20,000 per citation.

52 BC�T April

Some in the agricultural community hoped that the law would go away

or wouldn’t be enforced so that they didn’t have to deal with obtaining the free permits.

GROWERS ON BOARD In fact, at the recent Wisconsin Potato & Vegetable Growers Association (WPVGA) Grower Education Conference & Industry Show in Stevens Point, Wisconsin, the grower community expressed interest in renewing the IoH law in the coming years and planned to lobby for it.

Their reasoning is that the IoH law provides a special exemption to growers to put more weight on the roads, and without it, they would lose that privilege. One must realize that the concern for potential road damage is real and the problem is not going to go away even if the IoH law goes away.

Above: A screenshot of the AgroPermits home page touts “IoH & Ag CMV Compliance Made Easy.”

AgroPermits owner and CEO Madhu Jamallamudi has been busy updating software for growers, making it more user friendly and efficient, with updates and permits accessible online and apps available for smart phones.

Left: Sample screenshots show the AgroPermits Smartphone App for obtaining IoH permits.

Above: Shown are sample routes drawn using AgroPermits software for Hancock Township to submit to a maintaining authority online.

Both sides may have to start from square one. In fact, similar discussion is happening in Nebraska regarding weights of the Implements of Husbandry.

Recent passage of IoH 3.0 and the indications from maintaining authorities to strictly enforce the law this year suggest that the farming community would be better off to obtain these free permits to comply with the law than to expose themselves to expensive fines.

the IoH and Ag CMV permits efficiently by offering Web and smart phone-based technology solutions.

“Belonging to a farming family, I understand that growers prefer to spend time in improving production efficiencies to feed the world than navigating complex regulations, filling

continued on pg. 54

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“I received a ticket for $17,000 last year because of the Implements of Husbandry law and ended up paying $8,000 after settling out of the court,” shares Brad Kremer, president of the Wisconsin Soybean Association.

AgroPermits is a technology service provider that aids growers, vehicle operators and maintaining authorities in applying for, issuing and managing

“And the townships, counties and law enforcement officials have limited time and plenty of urgent matters to attend to,” he adds.

Jay-Mar can give you that edge with innovative, proven technologies that help you maximize your potential this season.

The farming community seems to lack the time, resources and expertise needed to comply with the complex IoH & Ag CMV regulations.

“It is too big of a fine for a farmer to pay and it is sad to see farmers being treated as criminals. I am aware of a few custom operators who are really worried as they are not successful in obtaining needed IoH & Ag CMV permits to conduct their business,” Kremer adds.

out paperwork and worrying about legal compliance and penalties,” states Madhu Jamallamudi, president of AgroPermits.

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BC�T April 53

AgroPermits. . . continued from pg. 53

The AgroPermits system simplifies the process significantly for all the stakeholders and provides a viable platform to further solve the issues in a collaborative manner.

“We were concerned about the amount of time and effort required in weighing all of our equipment and filling out thousands of IoH permit applications at a time when our energy needed to be focused on

planting last spring,” relates Brian Wysocki of Heartland Farms, Inc. “Fortunately, AgroPermits service came to the rescue and relieved us of this burden by offering a simple and efficient process,” he says. “We can’t imagine processing all these permits manually without their help. We obtained all the necessary permits in time with minimal effort from our side. We are using AgroPermits

Above: AgroPermits President Madhu Jamallamudi (right) shakes hands with Mike Koles (left), executive director of the Wisconsin Towns Association (WTA) after giving a systems and software presentation to the WTA Board of Directors.

again this year to obtain all the IoH permits.”

The flowchart below shows the process involved in obtaining permits by an equipment operator using the AgroPermits service.

Process for Equipment Operators

54 BC�T April

A second flowchart illustrates the process involved in issuing the IoH permits by a Maintaining Authority using the AgroPermits service.

Jamallamudi says his AgroPermits service saves a significant amount of time, effort and money for IoH permit applicants when considering not only the costs associated with applying manually, but also the minimization of risks for getting tickets.

He lays out eight key points: 1. The AgroPermits data collection method and template simplifies the weighing process and reduces the time and effort needed to weigh the equipment by 90 percent.

2. Intended routes need to be described in each application. Just provide a .pdf file of route map and AgroPermits will take care

of creating a digital one for each maintaining authority.

3. AgroPermits will assess permit requirements, taking each maintaining authority’s regulations Left: Madhu Jamallamudi (right) is interviewed by the “Farm Babe of Wisconsin,” Pam Jahnke (right), who gives the Farm Report live from 5 a.m.-6 a.m. weekdays.

Right: The AgroPermits team signs up townships at the Wisconsin Towns Association Annual Conference. continued on pg. 56

Process for Maintaining Authorities

BC�T April 55

AgroPermits. . . continued from pg. 55

as well as axle weights, gross weights and lengths into consideration.

app provides driving direction to maintaining authorities through approved roads.

4. AgroPermits will take care of filling out thousands of pages of application forms and provides the final package for review before submission.

drive to each office and will be able to submit applications and solve potential issues by bringing township and grower leaders together to the table.

7. The entire process using AgroPermits is fully electronic, saving thousands of pages of paper.

5. No need to maintain big binders in each vehicle. Simply, use the smart phone apps to display the permits when requested by a law enforcement official.

8. Without the AgroPermits system, each maintaining authority would evolve its own interpretation of the law. This system will help evolve uniform interpretation of the law across the state.

6. Minimize the risk of getting expensive tickets when a driver gets onto a denied road accidentally. The smart phone

AgroPermits is working with the Wisconsin Towns Association to bring its system to maintaining authorities so that applicants don’t have to

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Excellent progress is being made, and AgroPermits will be doing a selective release of the system to a few townships soon with a wider launch later.

With planting season nearly upon us, if interested in using the AgroPermits service to obtain/issue IoH permits, visit www.agropermits.com, email sales@agropermits.com or call 870200-9080.

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EYES ON ASSOCIATES

By WPVGA Associate Div. President, Sally Suprise, Ansay & Associates

Hello everyone, With another Wisconsin Potato & Vegetable

I’ve served on the Associate Division Board for three years and was elected Associate Division president for the upcoming year. This is a huge honor and I have some pretty big shoes to fill as our past presidents have done an outstanding job, and I will do my best to follow suit.

agenda for the Grower Education Conference, titled “Bringing Value to Ag.” This was an opportunity for 10 select Associate Division members/ exhibitors to each conduct a fiveminute presentation on a product or service that is either new or newly relevant in light of current issues facing our industry.

I started my insurance career in the 1990’s and have worked in various lines of insurance. I began a new journey with Ansay & Associates five years ago as a farm and agri-business producer, and this is my true passion.

With the growth in WPVGA membership and show attendance, this presents an opportunity for the selected exhibitors to each summarize how their product or service benefits the grower, and it encourages more dialogue at the booth.

Growers Association (WPVGA) Grower Education Conference & Industry Show complete, a changing of the guard takes place. My name is Sally Suprise and I work for Ansay & Associates Insurance & Benefits Solutions.

I am married with four children and two grandchildren, and my family is my most valuable treasure. I raised my family in Plainfield, Wisconsin, and the kids were very involved in sports, music, FFA and of course 4-H. I have been involved in many aspects of the potato and vegetable growing industry and the rewards are great. I would like to take this opportunity to say thank you on behalf of myself and other Associate Division members for the opportunity to serve this great industry.

With the 2017 Grower Education Conference & Industry Show complete, this brings us to the start of another season. With that said, I believe we had record numbers in attendance this year, which is outstanding!

Our Associate Division held its second silent auction at the Industry Show, with proceeds of $1,942.01

going toward the Avis M. Wysocki Scholarship. Each year, the Associate Division and Wisconsin Potato Growers Auxiliary award $6,000 in scholarships to select students whose immediate families are members of the WPVGA. The Avis M. Wysocki Memorial Scholarship is an additional scholarship established in 2016 to honor Avis, who was a founding member of the Auxiliary and an integral part of the Wisconsin potato industry. This year’s winner will receive $2,940 in scholarship funds.

A huge thank you goes out to all who participated in the silent auction for your generous bids that help support a great cause.

KEEPING THE FUN GOING The 2017 WPVGA Awards Banquet was a huge success and enjoyed by all who attended. This year the drawings were selected and presented during the evening’s entertainment by Piano Fondue in hopes of keeping the fun going a little longer, and I believe we succeeded in that!

The Associate Division Board added a new breakout session to the Tuesday

Lastly, we have two out-going Associate Division Board members this year who have served their fouryear terms, Wayne Solinsky from Jay-Mar, who was our President last year, and Dale Bowe of Wisconsin Public Service. They will be greatly missed. Our two newly elected board members are Kenton Mehlberg of T.I.P. (Tatro Irrigation & Potato) and Paul Cieslewicz, owner of Sand County Equipment.

Please welcome your new board members and be sure to thank them for their commitment and contribution to the potato and vegetable growing industry.

I am looking forward to another year working with an outstanding industry!

Wishing you all safety, contentment and happiness,

Sally Suprise

WPVGA Associate Division President BC�T April 57

NPC News Tomorrow’s Leaders Trained at 2017 PILI The Potato Industry Leadership Institute cultivates the next generation The 2017 Potato Industry Leadership Institute (PILI) provided training to 22 potato growers and industry representatives in leadership development, public policy, marketing, team building and public communication.

The annual program, administered by the National Potato Council (NPC) and Potatoes USA, aims to cultivate the next generation of industry leaders.

The PILI was held February 9-16, starting in Bangor and Aroostook County, Maine, and concluding in Washington, D.C. In Maine, the class received an 58 BC�T April

overview of the local and national potato industry. Northern Maine potato grower Dominic LaJoie, NPC vice president of environmental affairs, provided details on the Maine growing season. A PILI alumnus, LaJoie also spoke on how the program has benefited him as a grower and NPC leader.

John Toaspern of Potatoes USA presented marketing insights, retail sales and the changes in consumer eating habits. He highlighted good news with world potato demand and potential new markets.

The participants toured local chipping producer Crane Brothers Farm. The class inspected the state-of-the-art

Above: Participants in the 2017 Potato Industry Leadership Institute include, front row, left to right: Lucas Wysocki, Wisconsin Rapids, WI; Jay LaJoie, Van Buren, ME; Lynn Dickman, Hancock, WI; Lindsey Dodgen, Denver, CO; Suzanne Price, Washington, D.C.; Lyla Davis, Monte Vista, CO; Brant Darrington, Declo, ID; and Matthew Skogman, Foster City, MI. In the second row, left to right, are: Braden Lake, Rupert, ID; Mike Larson, Rupert, ID; Sander Dagen, Karstad, MN; Russ Kehl, Quincy, WA; Nate Lancaster, Connell, WA; Jared Smith, Blanca, CO; and Kelly Kuball, Bakersfield, CA. In the back row, left to right, stand: Chad Platt, Kennewick, WA; Nathan Bula, Oxford, WI; Travis Meacham, Moses Lake, WA; Paul Streich, Kalispell, MT; David Fedje, Crystal, ND; and Scott Fenters, Klamath Falls, OR. (Not pictured is Jordan Reed, WA.)

storage facility and asked questions about crop rotations and production cycles.

A visit to McCain Foods showed where millions of pounds of fries, hash browns and other frozen potato products are processed. Participants stopped in the onsite lab, which regularly tests raw product for optimum color and quality. More than a third of Aroostook County’s potatoes end up at this processor.

NUCLEAR SEED FACILITY Another learning experience was touring Maine’s Early Generation Nuclear Seed Facility. The facility uses tissue culture and the latest hydroponic growing techniques to produce disease-free and virus-free mini tubers.

The Maine trip concluded with a visit to the U.S.-Canada border to hear from U.S. Customs and Border Protection on the movement of plants and animals between countries.

One goal of these gatekeepers is

to prevent pests and diseases from entering the United States.

During the Washington, D.C. segment, attendees demonstrated their culinary skills at a cook-off held to show the healthiness, convenience and diversity of cooking with potatoes. Participants created unique appetizers targeted at busy food enthusiasts.

The rest of the week featured public policy experts who explained the legislative and regulatory priorities of the U.S. potato industry. Attendees then practiced how to effectively deliver key messages to Congress.

To culminate the week, the class put their sharpened communications skills into use during lobbying visits to Capitol Hill. Participants partnered with their state grower delegations to deliver the industry’s messages.

Travis Meacham of Moses Lake, Washington, a graduate of the 2016 class, served as the group’s grower-leader. “The PILI program

last year gave me a strong foundation for returning to help this class maximize their experience. I saw how each participant advanced his or her leadership skills and became more invested in the potato industry,” says Meacham.

At the end of the event, the 2017 class elected Chad Platt of Kennewick, Washington, to serve as the 2018 grower-leader. The Institute is made possible each year through a major sponsorship from Syngenta and a supporting sponsorship from Farm Credit.

NPC Signs Rural Infrastructure Letter Joining more than 200 U.S. agricultural producers, rural businesses, rural communities and rural families, NPC asked President Donald J. Trump to support rebuilding infrastructure in rural America.

Calling on President Trump to

“provide leadership to ensure that rural America’s needs are addressed,” the coalition highlighted the unique infrastructure issues affecting rural communities where populations are less dense and distance between communities creates challenges.

The nation’s ability to produce food and fiber and transport it efficiently is a critical factor in U.S. competitiveness internationally.

Without sound, modern infrastructure, the country is in danger of losing its competitive leadership position.

continued on pg. 60

BC�T April 59

NPC News. . . continued from pg. 59

The Road to the Next Farm Bill Thursday, February 23 kicked off at least a two-year process to rewrite the Farm Bill. Senate Agriculture Committee Chairman Pat Roberts held the first hearing in Manhattan, Kansas. It lasted for three hours and spanned a variety of different programs under the expansive bill’s authority.

This was considered a listening session where members of Congress take input from the public about what they want to see in a new bill. The next field hearing will be in Michigan, hosted by Sen. Debbie Stabenow (D-MI), the committee ranking member. Once these traveling sessions are complete by late summer, the committees will begin the work of drafting, with the intention to complete their work by the current bill's expiration at the end of September 2018.

60 BC�T April

The cost of the current bill and the related amount of budget authority that is available to the committees to write the new farm bill will be a major factor in defining policy options. Three years ago, Congress passed a bipartisan farm bill that made a significant contribution to deficit reduction. This was the first time a Farm Bill voluntarily reduced spending before Congress began considering the bill.

Despite that great contribution, the committees get no credit for those past efforts and must start again based on the cost of the current programs. Once their overall budget amount is known, the level of ambition to increase or cut various programs will become much more clear.

Given the volatility of the process during the last Farm Bill rewrite, it

is hard to predict whether the full Congress will deliver a new bill to the President before the current one expires. Certainly, the committee leadership on both sides wants to have their work completed well in advance of that expiration date.

House Agriculture Committee Chairman Mike Conaway (R-TX) told the United States Department of Agriculture “Ag Outlook Conference” on February 23 that “there’s no reason whatsoever that we won’t get it done.”

NPC anticipates that specialty crops will have an increasingly important seat at the table for this upcoming Farm Bill. Research, nutrition, pest and disease prevention and consumer promotion will all be high priorities for the Specialty Crop Farm Bill Alliance and the potato industry specifically.

New Products

Potato growers looking to start strong with insect and disease protection while boosting RootingPower can rely on CruiserMaxx® Vibrance® Potato insecticide/fungicide seed treatment. Led by Vibrance RootingPower, CruiserMaxx Vibrance Potato combines available for their young crops while the power of three industry-leading fungicides for Rhizoctonia,boosting Helminthosporium their root healthand can rely on ® provides insect Fusarium protection. Additionally, Cruiser seed treatment insecticide CruiserMaxx Vibrance Potato,” says Kris This Pauna, Seedcare commercial protection against key insects and delivers the Cruiser Vigor Effect. product ascombination an insecticide/fungicide seed treatment that boosts will help potato growers enhance germination, increaselead, Syngenta.

“This combination will help potato vigor and improve stand establishment, while improving size and tuber “RootingPower.” growers enhance germination, distribution to maximize quality yields.

CruiserMaxx Vibrance Protects Against Insects & Disease Syngenta announces CruiserMaxx® Vibrance® Potato insecticide/ fungicide seed treatment is now available for purchase, following its registration by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. It contains Vibrance fungicide seed treatment, the latest addition to the Syngenta Seedcare potato portfolio.

Led by Vibrance RootingPower, the link between stronger roots and higher yield potential, CruiserMaxx Vibrance Potato combines the power of three industry-leading fungicides for Rhizoctonia, Helminthosporium and Fusarium protection.

Additionally, Cruiser® insecticide seed treatment provides exceptional protection against key insects, including Colorado potato beetles, aphids, potato leaf hopper and potato psyllid. It also delivers the Cruiser Vigor Effect, an increased level of plant vigor and health beyond the standard plant response to an insecticide.

“Potato growers looking to start strong with the most comprehensive insect and disease protection

increase vigor and improve stand establishment, while improving size

continued on pg. 62

Vibrance RootingPower is demonstrated by root mass and health.

CruiserMaxx Vibrance Potato

Untreated

Inoculated with Rhizoctonia. Treatments occurred April 25, 2016. Photos taken July 21, 2016. 88 days after application.

Variety – Russet Burbanks. Source: Qualls Agricultural Laboratory.

BC�T April 61

CruiserMaxx Vibrance Potato boosts RootingPower for healthy roots and stolons, which leads to increased nutrient uptake and water use

New Products. . . continued from pg. 61

CruiserMaxx Vibrance Potato aids in wound healing and suberization, and has excellent handling and application characteristics in all temperatures and treating conditions. It has low dust-off without the need for

Comprehensive Rhizoctonia control CruiserMaxx Vibrance Potato Inoculated with Rhizoctonia

additional polymers or additives.

For more information about CruiserMaxx Vibrance Potato, visit www.SyngentaUS.com/ CMVibrancePotato.

About Syngenta Syngenta is a leading agriculture company helping to improve global food security by enabling millions of farmers to make better use of available

resources. Through world-class science and innovative crop solutions, 28,000 people in over 90 countries are working to transform how crops are grown.

Syngenta is committed to rescuing land from degradation, enhancing biodiversity and revitalizing rural communities. To learn more, visit www.syngenta.com and www. goodgrowthplan.com. Follow the company on Twitter at www.twitter.com/Syngenta.

Vibrance Reduces Rhizoctonia Incidence on Stems and Stolons CruiserMaxx Vibrance Potato Percent Reduction in Rhizoctonia Incidence (%)

and tuber distribution to maximize quality yields,” Pauna declares.

100

80

75

60

50

40

20

0

Stem

Stolon

Percent reduction in Rhizoctonia incidence on stems and stolons versus Cruiser only.

All treatments inoculated with Rhizoctonia. Variety – Atlantic. Source: Syngenta trials. AZ.

Untreated Inoculated with Rhizoctonia

Vibrance Reduces Silver Scurf Infection on Tubers

Decrease In Percent Silver Scurf Incidence (%)

100

87

80

60

40

20

0

Source: Syngenta. WA.

62 BC�T April

CruiserMaxx Vibrance Potato Three weeks after harvest. Source: Syngenta. ID.

For more information, visit SyngentaUS.com/CMVibrancePotato.

For all the latest potato news, visit SyngentaUS.com/Potatoes.

Mix Credit® Xtreme with Phenoxy Herbicides Credit Xtreme is a patented glyphosate product offering Dual Salt Technology™, which combines both potassium and IPA salts.

IPA salts allow easier mixing with Phenoxy herbicides, even in hard water environments. The rapid uptake leads to quicker activity and being rainfast (adequately drying or easily absorbed by plant tissues to be effective after rain or irrigation), so you can apply it with confidence.

Potassium salts work fast to deliver extreme control on weeds like lambsquarters and velvetleaf, while offering excellent crop safety to glyphosate-tolerant crops.

Plus, with an acid equivalent of 4.5 pounds of glyphosate per gallon, your growers can apply less product as compared to other glyphosate products and achieve the same results, making storability more convenient for you.

For more information about extreme compatibility and control with Credit Xtreme, contact your Nufarm sales representative or visit www.nufarm. com. For specific application rates, directions, mixing instructions and precautions, read the product label. Please visit www.nufarm.com/us to download a full label.

Important: Always read and follow label instructions. Credit® and Dual Salt Technology™ are trademarks of Nufarm.

T-L Irrigation Debuts GPS Navigation Linear System T-L Irrigation Co., the exclusive manufacturer of hydrostatically powered pivot irrigation systems, is pleased to announce the availability of its GPS Navigation Linear System.

The GPS Navigation Linear System is the ultimate in design simplicity.

Featuring Real Time Kinematic (RTK) sub-inch accuracy, the package includes the base station, eliminating the need for a subscription. The system tracks multiple constellations, reducing the signal loss caused by tree lines and other obstacles, and there is no electronic interference from power lines.

cable or furrows with the associated installation and maintenance costs.

the optimum in Linear System management.

Combined with T-L’s continuous movement, low maintenance and the reliability of T-L’s exclusive hydrostatic design, the GPS Navigation Linear System represents

Contact T-L Irrigation Company, 800-330-4264, or visit the company’s website at www.tlirrigation.com to learn more. continued on pg. 64

The GPS Linear system can store up to four different paths for T-L Towable Ultra Linear Systems or T-L Pivoting Linears. It can also store up to nine intermediate waypoints if needed.

Operators get fast startup time (less than one minute), and real-time diagnostics so they can monitor the system’s performance. Safety is assured through low-voltage 24VDC (volts of direct current), and there is no buried wire, above ground BC�T April 63

New Products. . . continued from pg. 63

Machine Foil Wraps up to 20 Potatoes Per Minute Emerald Automation, LLC has solved the complex problem of designing a machine to wrap aluminum foil from roll stock around various shapes of potatoes at speeds up to 20-plus units per minute.

The one-of-a-kind machine features a handfed infeed conveyor that presents a potato into the loading area, and with the foil already in positon under the loading area, a potato is indexed forward to fall into position.

Once both the film and potato are present, a vertical pneumatic plunger gently pushes the potato down through the film into patented rolling belts where the film is tucked in and the rolling completed, depositing the wrapped potato onto a discharge conveyor.

Standard features include: • Speeds up to 20 wraps per minute • Roll stock as opposed to singlesheet foil pop-ups

Foil Knife

• Handles quantities from 60- to 110-count of potatoes • Variable-frequency drive foil advance

Product Infeed

Foil Feed Roller Wrapper Belts

Optional Perforation Roller

Wrapped Product Discharge

• Quick-change

knives and tuckers • Ethernet

communications • Cycle

Start ~ Cycle Stop Buttons ~ E-Stop • Heavy-duty

frame with powdercoated finish • Allan

Bradley controls • UL508

panel • Easy

access polycarbonate guarding • OSHA-approved

safety design • Back-up

roll holder for quick foil changes Call or contact Emerald Automation for a quote today. Emerald Automation, LLC, 9228 W. Clearwater Dr., Kennewick, WA 99336, 509-783-1369, or visit www. emeraldautomation.com.

Above: A rendering depicts the Emerald AF-20 potato wrapper.

Left: Shown is an Emerald AF-20 potato wrapper flow diagram in perspective.

64 BC�T April

Ali's Kitchen Potato Candy Easter Nests —Adorable & Delicious!

Column and photos by Ali Carter, Vice President, WPGA Auxiliary

Potato Candy Easter Nests

A few weeks ago, I was wandering around the grocery store, and while in the baking aisle, stumbled across a box of small chocolate cups.

I placed a few boxes of the dark chocolate version into my cart and knew exactly what I wanted to do with them.

share them with my children over the Easter holiday.

This morning I finally took some time to work through the idea in my head and create these little Potato Candy Easter Nests. I think they are absolutely adorable and can’t wait to

If you are unable to locate the chocolate cups in your local store, I did find and purchase some online as well.

By using boxed instant mashed potatoes, and these cute little chocolate cups, the candies were super easy to make and were completed and placed on a platter in my fridge in less than half an hour.

INGREDIENTS: 12 small chocolate cups ½ cup plain mashed potatoes (I used instant) 4 ounces softened cream cheese 1 teaspoon vanilla 1 ½ cups sweetened shredded coconut (divided) 1 -2 drops green food coloring Small jelly bean Easter candies

continued on pg. 66 BC�T April 65

Advertisers Index

Ali's Kitchen. . .

AG Systems- The Handler............. 50

continued from pg. 65

AG Systems - Sprayer Parts........... 40 Allied Cooperative........................ 39 Badgerland Financial.................... 15 Big Iron Equipment....................... 45 Calcium Products.......................... 27 Certis USA....................................... 3 Crop Production Services............. 25 David J. Fleischman Farms............ 33 Fencil Urethane Systems.............. 38 GZA Environmental....................... 17

Directions:

each of the chocolate shells.

Remove the mini chocolate cups from their packaging and place onto a tray. Set aside.

In a medium-sized bowl, combine the cream cheese, mashed potatoes, powdered sugar and vanilla. Mix well with a spatula. Add 1 cup of the shredded coconut to the potato mixture and combine well.

Spoon this potato candy mixture into

In a small zip-lock bag, place the ½ cup of shredded coconut and the 1-2 drops of green food coloring. Close the bag tightly.

Using your fingers, message the coconut in the bag to distribute the food coloring.

Sprinkle a little bit of the green coconut onto each filled chocolate cup, then place 2 or 3 jelly beans on top of that. Store in the refrigerator and serve chilled.

J.W. Mattek................................... 43 Jay-Mar......................................... 53 Lindsay Corp................................. 19 M.P.B. Builders, Inc....................... 22 Mid-State Truck............................ 23 Nelson’s Vegetable Storage Systems Inc.................... 26 North Central Irrigation................ 29 Oak Ridge Foam & Coating Systems, Inc................................ 34 Oasis Irrigation............................. 68 Roberts Irrigation . ......................... 2 Ruder Ware.................................. 11

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• Works with all major brands of GPS receivers and most brands of modems • RTK signal available anywhere within DigiFarm network • Extreme accuracy

United FCS...................................... 5 V&H Truck, Inc. ............................ 28 Volm Companies........................... 18 Warner & Warner........................... 9 Wick Buildings LLC........................ 41 WPVGA Associate Division Scholarships................................ 67 WPVGA Spud Seed Classic............ 35

Contact our Precision Farming Team today!

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WPVGA Support Our Members.... 46 WSPIA........................................... 47

66 BC�T April

ASSOCIATE DIVISION / AUXILIARY

Scholarships Now Available

The WPVGA Associate Division and Wisconsin Potato Growers Auxiliary are pleased to inform you of scholarships totaling $6,000, available to students at post-secondary institutions. The Associate Division and Auxiliary Boards of Directors will award the full $6,000, but may decide to award several smaller scholarships based on the number of applicants and their merits. The purpose of these annual scholarships is to provide financial assistance to students whose immediate families are members of the WPVGA. There is also a special additional scholarship that will be awarded to the top candidate among all applicants. The Avis M. Wysocki Memorial Scholarship was established in 2016 to honor Avis, who was a founding member of the Wisconsin Potato Growers Auxiliary and an integral part of the Wisconsin potato industry.

Through a fundraiser held by the Associate Division earlier this year, along with a special contribution from the Auxiliary, this year’s winner of the Avis M. Wysocki Memorial Scholarship will receive $2,940 in scholarship funds.

DUE BY

MAY 1, 2017 Obtain applications online at www.wisconsinpotatoes.com or, by calling the WPVGA office and asking for Julie.

(715) 623-7683 If you have any questions, please call Julie Braun at the WPVGA office.

PLEASE RETURN COMPLETED FORMS TO: Julie Braun WPVGA PO Box 327 Antigo, WI 54409-0327 or, Email Completed Form to: jbraun@wisconsinpotatoes.com

The scholarships detailed above can be used to defray educational expenses and are open to students in undergraduate and post-graduate programs. Applicants must be residents of Wisconsin and are eligible to reapply in subsequent years regardless if they have been previously awarded a scholarship.

The selection of a scholarship winner is based on the following criteria: • Merit – e.g. G.P.A., extra-curricular activities, etc.

• Financial need.

• Other information provided in the application.

• The recipient must attend an accredited Wisconsin school of higher education as a full-time graduate or undergraduate student.

• The recipient must meet the entry requirements of the selected accredited Wisconsin school of higher education (grade point average, etc.).

Some of the information requested in the application may be considered personal or confidential. You may choose not to provide such information; however, the selection committee making decisions requests information on your financial status since Associate Division and Auxiliary scholarships may be partially based on financial need. You are encouraged to complete the scholarship application form in a professional manner. The applicant must properly complete and type the formal application. Hand-written applications will not be considered. Remember, the application will be the only representation of you that the selection committee has a chance to see.

BC�T April 67

P.O. Box 327 Antigo, WI 54409

Non-Profit Org U.S. Postage Paid Stevens Point, WI 54481 Permit No. 480

CHANGE SERVICE REQUESTED

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