$22/year | $2/copy | Volume 72 No. 10 | OCTOBER 2020
THE VOICE OF WISCONSIN'S POTATO & VEGETABLE INDUSTRY
ASSOCIATE DIVISION DIRECTORY & BAGGING/ PACKAGING ISSUE
A TRUSTY TOOL IN FIGHT Against Colorado Potato Beetle BUILD A BETTER POTATO Through Its Core Genetics IMPACT TO GROWERS Of Proposed Tax Law COMPLETE 2020 WPVGA Associate Division Directory
INTERVIEW:
Marty Kolpack ThorPack, LLC
Alex Truszkowski of Nichino America, Inc. (right) credits Matt Selenske (left) of Allied Cooperative’s Pest Pros division and Wes Meddaugh (center), farm manager for Heartland Farms, as early adopters who incorporated Torac into their Colorado potato beetle spray programs.
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On the Cover: Harvesttime in Wisconsin found this trio standing in
a Heartland Farms potato field. From left to right are Matt Selenske of Allied Cooperative’s Pest Pros division, Wes Meddaugh, farm manager for Heartland Farms, and Alex Truszkowski of Nichino America. Selenske and Meddaugh use Nichino America’s Torac insecticide in their Colorado potato beetle spray programs.
8 BADGER COMMON’TATER INTERVIEW: Marty Kolpack, president of ThorPack, LLC, shared this image of the company booth setup at the 2020 Grower Education Conference & Industry Show in Stevens Point, Wisconsin. Offering packaging, equipment, parts and supplies, ThorPack was formed, in July 2005, by Kolpack and Richard Thorpe, with the company name being an amalgamation of their surnames.
DEPARTMENTS: ALI’S KITCHEN.................... 65 AUXILIARY NEWS............... 49 EYES ON ASSOCIATES......... 57
16 TORAC INSECTICIDE LABELED IN WISCONSIN Growers gain tool to fight the Colorado Potato Beetle
28 BADGER BEAT
Researchers update status of using remote sensing to detect disease in potato
43 NEW PRODUCTS
RPE, Inc. offers a new, premium “Golden Red” potato variety to consumers
FEATURE ARTICLES: 33 PERUSE & REFERENCE the complete 2020 WPVGA Associate Division Directory
MARK YOUR CALENDAR...... 6 MARKETPLACE................... 46 NOW NEWS....................... 54 NPC NEWS......................... 64 PEOPLE.............................. 24 PLANTING IDEAS.................. 6
51 LEARN ABOUT THE POSSIBLE impact to growers of proposed tax law changes
POTATOES USA NEWS........ 22
59 BUILDING A BETTER POTATO: The spud’s core genetic constitution is flexible
WPIB FOCUS...................... 45
4
BC�T October
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WPVGA Board of Directors: President: Rod Gumz Vice President: Bill Guenthner Secretary: Wes Meddaugh Treasurer: Mike Carter Directors: John Bustamante, Dan Kakes, Charlie Mattek & Alex Okray Wisconsin Potato Industry Board: President: Heidi Alsum-Randall Vice President: Richard Okray Secretary: Bill Wysocki Treasurer: Keith Wolter Directors: John Bobek, Andy Diercks, Cliff Gagas, John T. Schroeder & Tom Wild WPVGA Associate Division Board of Directors: President: Kenton Mehlberg Vice President: Paul Cieslewicz
Wisconsin Seed Potato Improvement Association Board of Directors: President: Jeff Fassbender Vice President: J.D. Schroeder Secretary/Treasurer: Jeff Suchon Directors: Roy Gallenberg & Matt Mattek
WPVGA Staff Executive Director: Tamas Houlihan Managing Editor: Joe Kertzman Director of Promotions & Consumer Education: Dana Rady Financial Officer: Karen Rasmussen Executive Assistant: Julie Braun Program Assistant: Jane Guillen Spudmobile Education & Outreach Administrator: Doug Foemmel Spudmobile Education and Outreach Coordinator: Dale Bowe
Wisconsin Potato Growers Auxiliary Board of Directors: President: Kathy Bartsch Vice President: Devin Zarda Secretary/Treasurer: Datonn Hanke Directors: Jody Baginski, Brittany Bula, Deniell Bula & Marie Reid
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
Secretary: Julie Cartwright Treasurer: Rich Wilcox Directors: Chris Brooks, Kristi Kulas, Sally Suprise & Justin Yach
Mission Statement of the WPVGA: To advance the interests of WPVGA members through education, information, environmentally sound research, promotion, governmental action and involvement. Mission Statement of the WPVGA Associate Division: To work in partnership with the WPVGA as product and service providers to promote mutual industry viability by integrating technology and information resources. Badger Common’Tater is published monthly at 700 Fifth Avenue, Antigo, Wisconsin 54409
Subscription rates: $2/copy, $22/year; $40/2 years. Foreign subscription rates: $35/year; $55/2 years. Telephone: (715) 623-7683 Mailing address: P.O. Box 327, Antigo, Wisconsin 54409 Or, subscribe free online: http://wisconsinpotatoes.com/blog-news/subscribe/ ADVERTISING: To advertise your service or product in this magazine, call (715) 630-6213, or email: Joe Kertzman: jkertzman@wisconsinpotatoes.com. The editor welcomes manuscripts and pictures but accepts no responsibility for such material while in our hands. BC�T October
5
MARK YOUR
Calendar
OCTOBER
15-17 26-27 29
PMA FRESH SUMMIT VIRTUAL due to COVID-19 coronavirus RESEARCH MEETING In-person and via Zoom, Heartland Farms Hancock, WI 1ST ANNUAL WPVGA ASSOC. DIV. TRAP & SKEET SHOOT Wausau Skeet and Trap Club, 1 p.m. Wausau/Brokaw, WI
6-7
2021 POTATO EXPO Gaylord Texan Resort & Convention Center Grapevine, TX
2-4 17-18 22-24 22-25
2021 GROWER ED CONFERENCE & INDUSTRY SHOW Holiday Inn Convention Center Stevens Point, WI INTERNATIONAL CROP EXPO Alerus Center Grand Forks, ND POTATO D.C. FLY-IN Capital Hilton Washington, D.C. NPC ANNUAL MEETING Marriott Metro Center Washington, D.C.
8-11 30-4/1
POTATOES USA ANNUAL MEETING The Brown Palace Hotel Denver, CO 60th ANNUAL WPS FARM SHOW Experimental Aircraft Association grounds Oshkosh, WI
21-23
UNITED FRESH CONVENTION & EXPO 2021 Los Angeles Convention Center Los Angeles, CA
31-6/3
11th WORLD POTATO CONGRESS & EUROPATAT 2021 POSTPONED one year due to COVID-19 coronavirus Ballsbridge, Dublin, Ireland
13 20-22
PUTT-TATO OPEN GOLF OUTING Lake Arrowhead Golf Course Nekoosa, WI FARM TECHNOLOGY DAYS Silver Spring Foods, Huntsinger Horseradish Farm Eau Claire, WI
11
ALSUM TATER TROT 5K & FALL FESTIVAL Alsum Farms & Produce Friesland, WI
JANUARY 2021 FEBRUARY
MARCH
APRIL MAY
JULY
SEPTEMBER
6
BC�T October
Planting Ideas Things happen for a reason.
That’s difficult to qualify sometimes, especially in an era of coronavirus, riots, wildfires and tropical storms, but this isn’t meant to be a heavy subject. In fact, it is supposed to add levity to the day. How can one not smile when seeing the image above of Linda Rather from Crop Care Specialists, who was hired by Okray Family Farms as a crop scout? “Linda runs the company [Crop Care Specialists] and is hired by us and many others in Central Wisconsin,” Dick Okray says. “The picture was taken in Plover with spuds in the field as she scouted for leafhoppers, aphids, Colorado potato beetles and the like. It’s a zany job, but someone has to do it. It’s still the best way to determine bug pressure.” The email from Okray came out of the blue and was simply meant as a means of sending a file photo for possible future use. I forgot about it while editing at least one issue of the magazine and did not rediscover the image until I was cleaning out emails. Lo and behold, I have a feature article this issue on Colorado potato beetle control and Torac Insecticide from Nichino America, Inc. According to some early adopters of the insecticide, not only does it offer control of Colorado potato beetle, but also leafhoppers. See the story, “Trusty Tool in the Fight Against Colorado Potato Beetle,” within. Other things happen for a reason. I had been wanting to interview Marty Kolpack of ThorPack, LLC, and this being the “Bagging & Packaging”-themed issue of the Badger Common’Tater, the opportunity presented itself. Marty was a willing participant and wealth of knowledge. His roots run deep in Wisconsin agriculture and the bagging and packaging end of the produce industry. I think you will enjoy his insights and information. The complete “Associate Division Directory” of the Wisconsin Potato & Vegetable Growers Association (WPVGA) is printed herein, including company names, representatives, industry segments, and their products, services and contact information. It is an impressive group and makes one proud to serve in the same industry as the participating businesses. Watch for one billboard on Interstate 41 north of Kaukana and another on I-39 one mile south of County Highway W near Bancroft, each featuring grower members of the WPVGA and their families, along with the message “Farmer Father Friend.” And while enjoying Green Bay Packers games, watch for the latest WPVGA Promotions Committee commercial. 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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NAMES: Marty Kolpack and Richard Thorpe TITLES: Marty is president of the company, and Richard, chief executive officer COMPANY: ThorPack, LLC LOCATIONS: Marty works in Bryant, Wisconsin, and Richard in Chippewa Falls, Wisconsin HOMETOWN (MARTY): Polar, Wisconsin TIME IN PRESENT POSITION: 15-plus years PREVIOUS EMPLOYMENT: Has been in packaging supplies/ equipment business for 31 years SCHOOLING: Northcentral Technical College FAMILY: Wife, Sandra; sons, Andrew and Matthew; and daughter, Alexandra HOBBIES: Hunting, fishing and hobby farming 8
BC�T October
Interview
MARTY KOLPACK, president, ThorPack, LLC
By Joe Kertzman, managing editor, Badger Common’Tater
Offering packaging, equipment, parts and supplies,
ThorPack, LLC was formed, in July 2005, by Richard Thorpe and Marty Kolpack. “I had worked for another packaging company prior to that and decided it was time to venture out and start a new business, also selling packaging equipment and supplies,” Marty, president of ThorPack, says. “I knew the industry well, including growers, packers, distributors, brokers, manufacturers and vendors,” he explains. “This is when I approached Richard Thorpe [chief executive officer of ThorPack] with my idea of forming a company.”
of knowledge about setting up a structure for business strategy, computer systems, banking formats and assisting in marketing ideas,” Kolpack says.
Having retired, in early 2005, from his position as chief information officer for a U.S. division of Siemens, Thorpe welcomed the opportunity to continue applying his background and expertise.
Above: ThorPack’s booth at the 2020 Grower Education Conference & Industry Show in Stevens Point, Wisconsin, was manned by, from left to right, Richard Thorpe, and Sandra and Marty Kolpack. Richard is the chief executive officer of ThorPack, LLC, Sandra an accountant/ bookkeeper, and Marty fills the role of company president.
“Richard brought a vast amount
“Richard and I have complemented
each other well throughout the years,” he adds, “both bringing our different talents to make ThorPack a successful company and what it is today.” Richard and Marty branded the company using their surnames, with ThorPack being an amalgamation of Thorpe and Kolpack. WITH A NAME LIKE KOLPACK … It is only appropriate and perhaps a foregone conclusion that, with a last name like Kolpack, Marty went into the produce packaging business. An independent packaging supplier, ThorPack is not bound by one parts or equipment supplier or price. The company offers netting, monofilament and industrial packaging, high-graphic and poly bags, multi-wall, vent-view paper bags, clamshells, jute bags and millet bags. Equipment includes form-fill bagging and sealing machines, wicket and bulk baggers, balers, clipping machines, robotic palletizers, weighing machines, heat sealers and net rucking machines. ThorPack supplies labels, including poly labels for mesh bags, clipping wire and wire ties, Schutte Clipps® bag closures, rubber bands, ProTape and dispensers, portable bag closers and polyester sewing thread.
reducers, bearings, chains, belting, sprockets and pneumatics round out the offerings. Marty was kind enough to answer some interview questions. I know you were a purchasing manager for Volm Companies. How did you transition into starting your own produce bagging and packaging business and why? With
The most popular varieties of these world-class hybrids are going fast.
Above: ThorPack, LLC President Marty Kolpack says JMC balers, such as the PolyPaper AB3000HS model shown in its entirety, are the finest on the market today. These machines can run poly or paper bags and are equipped with sewing machines or heat sealers.
a background in purchasing of consumer supplies and packaging equipment, I was used to dealing continued on pg. 10
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AC/DC motors, power supplies, gear BC�T October
9
Interview. . .
continued from pg. 9
with manufacturers from all around the world and not only negotiating partnerships, but also forming friendships. When I approached my potential manufacturers and vendors, they were excited to hear that I did not get out of the packaging business, so it was not hard to establish business ventures together. Your brother, Mick, works for Bushmans’ Inc., so you’re both in the potato industry. Did you grow up on a potato farm, or why the interest and involvement in the industry? My brother, Mick, and I grew up on a dairy farm and eventually worked for the same packaging company in the area. We both knew of all the potato farmers throughout the region, so it was not hard to develop friendships with the growers. ThorPack, LLC is also a member of the WPVGA Associate Division. Why is it important for you to support the association as a member? The WPVGA is a great organization, always staying on top of the issues facing potato and vegetable farmers, and trending subjects such as new packaging ideas, earth-friendly
Marty Kolpack assures that the Paper Vento bags with mesh windows run excellently on the ILAPAK VFFS (Vertical Form-Fill Seal) Vegatronic 1000 baggers.
packaging, water, diseases, fertilizers and equipment.
most accurate weighing and bagging machines produced today.
This allows the farmers to stay on top of all changes taking place. ThorPack is a proud supporter of the WPVGA organization.
We are a proud distributor for ILAPAK equipment. The company has manufacturing facilities around the world with service to back them up, and everything from weighing machines with 10 to 16 scales, to Wicket Baggers, Vertical FormFill Seal (VFFS) baggers, and onion clipping or rucking machines.
As a produce packaging supplier, who are the largest manufacturers that you represent and why? ThorPack sells some of the finest,
For potatoes and onions, ThorPack offers 30- and 50-pound mesh roll stock, as well as mesh roll stock balers such as the Upmann Model 1352 UPA Mesh Rollstock Bagger shown. The mesh roll stock is available in red, orange, purple, blue, white and other colors. 10 BC�T October
In Upmann bagging equipment, we offer mesh roll-stock baggers for the onion and potato industry. These machines are primarily used as master balers and are durable and easy to operate. Dewan heat sealers are versatile machines, and JMC balers are the finest balers on the market today. These machines can run poly or paper bags and are equipped with sewing machines or heat sealers. We also work with Verbruggen as a sales agent. The palletizers can be seen in all the large potato and onion sheds, and they are the elite palletizers on the market today. ThorPack supplies all potato bags such as 2-to-20-pound wicket or non-wicket poly bags capable of accepting and showcasing
up to eight-color print. We also supply onion packers with Vexar netting—extruded net and knitted soft net mesh bags, and mesh roll stock—from coast to coast. ThorPack offers graphic design assistance, and we have on-staff art designers. What does ThorPack have, whether products, service or both, that is unique to the industry? At ThorPack, we offer quick turnaround on orders or will assist in lining up service if needed to get equipment repaired. We are a firm believer in service after the sale and will aggressively work with our customers to get on-time deliveries, or repairs and parts. Do you carry products that aren’t readily available elsewhere? ThorPack offers a couple of different
Above: Schutte Clipps® bag closures are available from ThorPack for poly or mesh bags.
items that are new, one being the Paper Vento through NNZ USA Inc. This is paper roll stock material with a mesh window that runs excellently on the ILAPAK Vegatronic 1000. We also offer wicket all-mesh monofilament bags for onions or potatoes. They work excellently on all wicket baggers. The biggest complaint we hear from the packers is that other bags stick together on the sides when the bagger tries to open them. So, we have developed the wicket monofilament bag with an up to eight-color belly band. continued on pg. 12
BC�T October 11
Interview. . .
continued from pg. 11
Left: Even at 5 years old, Yi was studying hard! Right: Yi Wang (right) talks to potato grower Andy Diercks (left) of Coloma Farms while standing in front of a Spudnik AirSep Harvester. ThorPack carries and stocks everything from potato poly bags to monofilament wicket bags for onions, potatoes, brussels sprouts and more.
The material is soft on the product, and the bags do not stick together on the sides. The cost of these bags is much less than the competition’s,
and we have good lead times on orders. Your business office is in Chippewa Falls, Wisconsin, and your home
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and general sales office is in Bryant. Are those areas major hubs of your business, or did you expand to two locations? ThorPack Chippewa Falls is our corporate office and ThorPack in Bryant, Wisconsin, is a sales office. All sales are generated from our sales office in Bryant. Presently, we are looking at opening other warehouses in areas for stocking product and quick deliveries. What territory do you mostly serve? ThorPack sells throughout, but not limited to, the entire Midwest. We also sell in California, Washington, Texas and Colorado, and from New York down to Florida, so we basically sell throughout the whole country.
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Are potato and vegetable growers your main customers? We do not limit ourselves to supplying packaging to the potato and vegetable industry, but instead have expanded to other continued on pg. 14
12 BC�T October
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Interview. . .
continued from pg. 12
Whether lemons, limes or oranges, the ILAPAK Vegatronic 1000 VFFS Bagger can package them in Carry Fresh bags.
areas such as coffee, hemp, soils, small rocks and industrial filtration packaging. So ThorPack has targeted many other industries. Do other members of your family work in the business, and if so, who and in what positions? Presently there are four employees at ThorPack—Richard Thorpe, CEO, Marty Kolpack, president, Kathie Thorpe, bookkeeper, and Sandra Kolpack, accounting/bookkeeper. Do you enjoy working in the potato and vegetable growing industry in northern Wisconsin, and if so, why? It has always been a pleasure working with all my customers throughout Wisconsin, Minnesota, the Red River Valley and beyond.
“The biggest trend facing us today is compostable/biodegradable packaging. We work with large companies to meet the ongoing demand for more earth-friendly packaging.” – Marty Kolpack Something that may have gone away for a long time is the friendly handshake. Social distancing seems the be the new protocol. Traveling to see customers weekly has come down to a lot of emails, phone calls, texting and Zoom meetings.
There has never been a time that packers or growers haven’t taken a few minutes to chat with me, however COVID-19 has significantly slowed travel down since a lot of farmers are a little reluctant to have salespeople stop and visit.
Do you also serve fruit and other produce customers, and if so, who or what types of produce? We sell packaging in just about every fresh vegetable and fruit market, such as kiwi, nuts, apples, sweet potatoes and peppers, as well as the potato and onion market.
Part of being a good salesperson is to always keep your face in front of them (that way they won’t forget you), as well as maintaining a good working relationship.
What are your current challenges in the business? Lead times are always a challenge. Lead times can be long in some cases, and that goes for every distributor facing the same scenario.
14 BC�T October
All our customers are important, so we push hard for good lead times. Do you have any business or customer success stories to share? ThorPack was a startup company in 2005, not knowing if people would follow us or not. To our amazement, we were able to land sales immediately. Within the first few months, we were off and running, building a successful company from the ground up. It has taken a lot of determination and long hours at the office, but it has paid off. Have you seen business growth in the past decade or more, and if so, in what areas? Sales for the company have soared faster than ever expected in the 15 years we have been in business.
Equipment available from ThorPack includes form-fill bagging and sealing machines, wicket and bulk baggers, balers, clipping machines, robotic palletizers, weighing machines, net rucking machines and heat sealers such as the JMC FA4 Hot Air Sealer pictured.
Fifty-pound multi-wall vent view bags are made available from ThorPack to potato growers, packers and shippers.
What do you hope for the future of ThorPack, LLC? Our goal at ThorPack is to continue to provide our customers with the best products available and stay tuned to all the new trends in a changing market.
We will strive to be a great supplier for equipment and packaging supplies.
The biggest trend facing us today is compostable/biodegradable packaging. We work with large companies that manufacture these products to meet the ongoing demand for more earth-friendly packaging. Is there anything you would like to add, Marty, that I might have missed? ThorPack is proud to be
an associate member of the WPVGA and looks forward to serving all our past, present and future customers.
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BC�T October 15
a TRUSTY TOOL in the fight against colorado potato beetle
Torac can be used as a rotational chemistry within commonly used insect control programs By Joe Kertzman, managing editor, Badger Common’Tater The challenge of discovering new active ingredients to control difficult pests like Colorado potato beetle is something Alex Truszkowski of Nichino America, Inc. says crop protection companies invest much time and resources toward accomplishing. In 2018, Torac® Insecticide from Nichino America was granted a label expansion by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to allow use on potatoes in states east of the Mississippi River. Torac provides fast broad-spectrum control of potato psyllid, Colorado potato beetle, aphids, leafhoppers 16 BC�T October
and thrips. The active ingredient, tolfenpyrad, works by blocking cellular respiration and is effective on eggs, nymphs and adults. For effective resistance management, Torac should be used in rotation with insecticides of different modes of action. The University of Wisconsin-Madison along with Heartland Farms and Pest Pros, a division of Allied Cooperative, helped evaluate and optimize the efficacy and timing of Torac for controlling Colorado potato beetle on commercial farm acres.
“When Torac was finally labeled in Wisconsin three years ago, we were hopeful it would become another tool in the toolbox,” says Matt Selenske, division manager for Allied Cooperative’s Pest Pros division. ROTATION FOR PRESERVATION “We recommend rotating it once for first-generation potato beetle control in order to preserve the insecticides that we have been relying on heavily for some time now,” Selenske adds. A foliar contact insecticide, Torac can be used as a rotational chemistry with most of the commonly used insect control programs. Use rate is 21 fluid ounces per acre with a minimum spray volume of 20 Above: Chipping potatoes are windrowed at Heartland Farms using a Spudnik 6160 pulled by a John Deere tractor. Wes Meddaugh, farm manager for Heartland Farms, says his team started experimenting with Torac, in 2019, for control of Colorado potato beetle.
When Torac is applied tank mixed with PBO (Piperonyl Butoxide), it provides good control of Colorado potato beetle for a healthy crop.
Above: Shown here sitting in the back of his pickup truck, Alex Truszkowski, strategic account manager for Nichino America, Inc., says Torac provides fast broad-spectrum control of potato psyllid, Colorado potato beetle, aphids, leafhoppers and thrips.
gallons of water per acre by ground, or five gallons of water/acre by air. Maximum dosage is 42 ounces/acre per crop cycle.
with Torac has been proven to provide an additive effect to maximize control of Colorado potato beetles,” he remarks.
Meddaugh continues, “where he had used it with a PBO, and the crops and control looked better than what we had seen with our results.”
It is applied with an adjuvant and spreader to optimize uniformity of coverage and performance, with a maximum of two applications per crop cycle and at least 14 days between applications.
Wes Meddaugh, farm manager for Heartland Farms in Hancock, Wisconsin, says his team started experimenting with Torac in 2019.
“We applied Torac tank mixed with PBO and it looked pretty effective,” Meddaugh concludes.
“For best results, 21 ounces of Torac should be applied in late June or early July to control firstgeneration Colorado potato beetles,” Truszkowski says. “The addition of 5-6 ounces of exponent PBO [Piperonyl Butoxide]
“Early recommendations were to tank mix with an acidifier and a non-ionic surfactant,” he relates. “Our results were mixed, and some were poor.” CROPS AND CONTROL “Alex [Truszkowski] and I went and looked at one of Russ Groves’ trials at the University of Wisconsin Hancock Agricultural Research Station,”
Selenske concurs. “After some mixed results, the addition of PBO and an acidifying surfactant seemed to really help the efficacy, especially by air,” he says. “Application at the high rate works best.” “We have more success using Torac in a first-generation scenario, and next year we will try using it before continued on pg. 18
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BC�T October 17
A Trusty Tool in the Fight Against Colorado Potato Beetle . . . continued from pg. 17
applying Spinosad insecticides to try to take more advantage of its adult control properties,” Selenske states. He adds that Pest Pros has heard of very few mixing problems, and Torac’s efficacy does not seem affected by mixing with most common fungicides. “It definitely works better through the ground rig where you can run more water volume,” remarks Meddaugh, who says Heartland Farms has also applied it via plane. “Colorado potato beetle is a problem in the Central Sands and is only getting worse,” he stresses. LIMITED CHEMISTRIES “As our at-plant insecticide treatments lose efficacy and our
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continued on pg. 20
Above: Alex Truszkowski of Nichino America, Inc. (right) credits Matt Selenske (left) of Allied Cooperative’s Pest Pros division and Wes Meddaugh (center), farm manager for Heartland Farms, as early adopters who incorporated Torac into their Colorado potato beetle spray programs.
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A Trusty Tool in the Fight Against Colorado Potato Beetle . . . continued from pg. 18
Colorado potato beetle emergence window continues to lengthen, we are having to spray more,” Meddaugh relates. “Also, we are limited to the amount of different chemistries we can use to effectively control Colorado potato beetle.” Exirel and Minecto Pro (IRAC Group 28) were the latest insect control products prior to Torac (IRAC Group 21A) to be introduced to the market for Colorado potato beetle control. “Torac does represent a new insecticide mode of action, which certainly adds value to our insecticide rotation management programs,” says Dr. Russell L. Groves, UWMadison Department of Entomology. “Although it is not a new chemistry, it is a relatively new option for producers in the Midwest and eastern United States with recent label changes authorized by the
Nichino America was a Tuesday lunch sponsor at the 2020 Grower Education Conference & Industry Show in Stevens Point, Wisconsin. Michael Mosher of the Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection addresses the lunch crowd.
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beetle in early-to-mid June.
Torac has been evaluated in each of the last three seasons at the Hancock Agricultural Research Station, and Groves says it performs well when targeting early larval stages of the first generation of Colorado potato
“We also see value at this time of year in terms of providing good control of the potato leaf hopper,” Groves relates. Meddaugh says, where Heartland Farms placed Torac for firstgeneration Colorado potato beetle, his team is finding that it has decent potato leafhopper control as well. “If you’re in an area with Colorado potato beetle pressure, I would recommend trying Torac,” he says. “With so few tools for Colorado potato beetle control, it will bring in a new chemistry that is effective and also helps preserve the longevity of the chemistries we do have.”
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“Torac does represent a new insecticide mode of action, which certainly adds value to our insecticide rotation management programs.” – Dr. Russell L. Groves
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Potatoes USA News Potato Pizza Campaign Starts with Recipe Contest Potatoes and pizza pair well together, and there’s reason to promote it! Potatoes are America’s favorite vegetable, and on average, 43 percent of Americans eat pizza at least once a week, according to Technomic (a leading foodservice industry research firm). Both categories have excelled during the pandemic, but seldom do you see them together at leading pizza chains across the United States. However, most U.S. brand pizza chains in Asia carry at least one option with potato toppings or offer a potato side dish. With the rapid increase of pizza delivery, it is time potatoes get their fair share of representation on pizza chain menus in the United States. There are more than 95,000 pizza outlets across the country, with $46 billion in sales in 2019. The opportunity is immense. Because of this potential, Potatoes USA’s foodservice program is directing its efforts to drive potato usage on pizza menus.
To kickoff this new initiative, Potatoes USA Board members competed in a potato pizza recipe challenge during the Summer Meeting in July. Ten unique recipes were submitted for the contest, and the winning concept was voted for by fellow board members. WINNING COMBO The winning recipe was the Grilled Brat and Hash Brown Potato Pizza created by Mike and Ali Carter of Bushmans’ Inc. in Rosholt, Wisconsin, and their delicious creation is now available on www.PotatoGoodness. com for all to try! This challenge was a small taste of what the foodservice initiative has in store for chef operators. As part of the campaign to get more potatoes on national pizza chain menus in the United States, professional chefs and influencers will be engaged to generate excitement, and recipes, around the usage of potatoes on pizza. Simultaneously, research will be
conducted to better understand the operational hurdles that pizza chains face when trialing potatoes, and solutions and resources will be developed to promote long-term expansion. To provide chefs and the potato industry with menu concept inspiration for pizza menus, Chef R.J. Harvey, culinary director at Potatoes USA, developed nine various recipes that creatively use potatoes on pizza. For example, the Red, White and Brie Potato Pizza uses colorful fingerling potatoes and soft brie cheese; the American Smash Burger Pizza utilizes signature burger ingredients for a unique flavor combo; and the Sunrise Hash Brown Pizza can be served any time of the day, especially for breakfast! All these potato pizza recipes are on www.PotatoGoodness.com. They can also be quickly accessed and downloaded on www.PotatoesUSA.com. To further this effort, the foodservice program could use the potato industry’s support in the form of insights, connections and ideas. If your company would like to contribute or learn more about this initiative, please reach out to Kendra@PotatoesUSA.com.
22 BC�T October
Albertsons Safeway Highlights Potatoes Online
Online grocery sales have reached record numbers since March 16, 2020, and potatoes have followed the same trend at retail.
traffic to the Albertsons Safeway potato landing page and offered many insights to be used in future promotions with other retailers.
while Pavilion's consumers, located in the same area of the country, clicked on the recipes more on Pinterest.
While an average of 22 percent of consumers are purchasing all their groceries online, most are looking to retailers for education on websites.
As an example, market research for Vons ads in Southern California showed the highest number of consumers clicking on the recipe directly in their Facebook feeds,
For more insights on retailer engagement and social performance from the Albertsons Safeway online promotion, please reach out to retail@potatoesusa.com.
Potatoes USA partnered with Albertsons Safeway to educate consumers about fresh potatoes. The campaign ran from mid-May 2020 through the end of June and showed above-average engagement compared to similar campaigns for other products. The campaign included a customized landing page, shown above, on the Albertsons Safeway website highlighting the seven types of fresh potatoes. It also contained recipes, storage and handling techniques, and education on the different types of potatoes. The page helped consumers educate themselves and gave them easy access to their shopping lists to add potatoes. Consumers from all the Albertsons Safeway companies listed on the accompanying map were directed towards the landing page through targeted social ads featuring recipes on Pinterest, Instagram, Facebook and Snapchat.
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People Fishler Named Superintendent of HARS
Troy Fishler to helm 412-acre research farm in Wisconsin’s Central Sands Troy Fishler has been named superintendent of the Hancock Agricultural Research Station (HARS), University of Wisconsin (UW)Madison’s 412-acre research farm located in the Central Sands region of the state. Fishler, who started as superintendent on July 1, has been manager of the Potato and Vegetable Storage Research Facility (SRF) at HARS since 2014. He continues in that role while taking on management of the entire station, where research focuses on developing and evaluating ways to sustainably grow vegetables in the region’s sandy, fast-draining soils and highwater table, including more effective approaches to manage nutrients, pests and water. “I am excited to lead the great team we have in place,” says Fishler. “Our primary focus will be continuing to deliver the high-quality level of service that all our faculty, staff and potato industry collaborator friends have become accustomed to receiving
over the years.” Before coming to Hancock and HARS, Fishler spent almost a decade working for Frito-Lay’s potato breeding program in Rhinelander, managing the variety qualification process and supporting the company’s storage research facility, also located in Central Wisconsin. He possesses biochemistry laboratory experience and an agronomy field background. Among his internships was a summer focused on plant genetics at Agracetus, with the corporation’s former facility now housing the UW-Madison Wisconsin Crop Innovation Center in Middleton. “We are extremely fortunate to have someone with Troy’s talents and skillset as the next superintendent at Hancock,” says Michael Peters, director of the UW-Madison Agricultural Research Station (ARS) network. IDEAL CANDIDATE “His mix of experience in laboratory, commercial potato production and
storage, and research settings, makes him the ideal candidate to lead the station,” Peters adds. “We look forward to the great things he will accomplish working with the elite team of faculty researchers we have in the college.” Established in 1916, HARS is located about 30 miles south of Stevens Point and part of the UW-Madison College of Agricultural and Life Sciences’ 11farm ARS network. Hancock is home to field trials for a wide variety of crops, including potatoes, snap beans, sweet corn, beets, carrots, onions and other specialty crops, as well as field corn and soybeans. The 9000-square-foot storage research facility, built in 2006 through a gift from the Wisconsin Potato & Vegetable Growers Association and secured with assistance from potato growers, is used by researchers to study ways to curb losses and improve the quality of stored potatoes.
Troy Fishler, right, welcomes attendees to the 2018 Hancock Agricultural Research Station Field Day. 24 BC�T October
Laboratory tests and various potato quality assessments, including sugar
concentration, chip color, pressure bruise scoring, storage rot evaluation and more, are available to growers, industry partners and insurance companies on a fee-for-service basis. Commercial companies use these services to evaluate French fry and potato chip processing varieties, and growers use various tests to
guide business decisions for their operations. The station also features a five-acre display garden, the A.R. Albert and Villetta Hawley-Albert Horticultural Garden, carrying the name of the station’s first superintendent. Fishler is the 10th person to supervise
the station, succeeding Felix Navarro, who moved to private industry earlier this year. For more information regarding HARS, visit: https://hancock.ars.wisc.edu. To learn more about UW-Madison’s Agricultural Research Stations, visit: https://ars.wisc.edu.
PAA Names Honorary Life Members
Potato Association of America recognizes outstanding contributions to industry One of the most significant ways to recognize outstanding contributions to the potato industry and to the Potato Association of America (PAA) is the awarding of Honorary Life Membership. This is the highest award bestowed upon an individual by the PAA. Rich Novy, chair of the Honorary Life Membership Committee, is pleased to announce and congratulate the 2020 PAA Honorary Life Member inductees: Shelley Jansky, John Keeling, Jeff Stark and Richard Veilleux. In less unsettled times, this year’s four inductees would have been recognized at the PAA Awards Banquet in Missoula, Montana.
Named a 2020 Potato Association of America Honorary Life Member, Shelley Jansky has recently announced her retirement from the University of Wisconsin-Madison after a long and fruitful career as a research professor in the Department of Horticulture and with the U.S. Department of Agriculture. Jansky is pictured talking “New Directions in Potato Breeding” at the 2018 Hancock Agricultural Research Station Field Day.
However, with the cancellation of the in-person meeting due to COVID-19, the Board of Directors will be determining an alternate means of recognizing the 2020 inductees, with the Board’s decision to be relayed to membership. For a complete list of past and present honorary life members, visit https://www.potatoassociation. org/membership/honorary-lifemembers-list/. continued on pg. 26
Having retired from his position as chief executive officer and president of the National Potato Council (NPC), John Keeling (left) accepted a cheese hat from Wisconsin Potato & Vegetable Growers Association Executive Director Tamas Houlihan (right) at the 2019 NPC Summer Meeting in Wisconsin Dells. Keeling has most recently been named a 2020 Potato Association of America Honorary Life Member. BC�T October 25
People . . . continued from pg. 25
Nunes Chosen as 73rd Alice in Dairyland
Position involves educating public about importance of Wisconsin agriculture Julia Nunes has been selected as Wisconsin’s 73rd Alice in Dairyland. In this position, Nunes will work as a communications professional for the Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection (DATCP). Her job will be to educate the public about the importance of agriculture in Wisconsin.
social distancing and other COVID-19 precautions.
Nunes was selected as the 73rd Alice at the culmination of 2020 finals events held recently in Delavan.
During her teen years, she was heavily involved in her area Junior Holstein group and 4-H club.
Thanks to collaborative efforts between DATCP and the Walworth County Alice in Dairyland Committee (also the host of the 2021 finals), several adjustments were made to the 2020 Finals to accommodate
Nunes went on to study at the University of Minnesota-Twin Cities, where she was involved in the Gopher Dairy Club and Lambda Delta Phi Sorority.
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Nunes, of Chippewa Falls, grew up on her family’s registered Holstein dairy farm, where feeding calves and clipping dairy cattle for the county fair were just a couple of activities that helped shape her childhood.
FAIREST OF THE FAIR In 2017, she shared her knowledge of agriculture and the dairy industry while serving as the Northern Wisconsin State Fair’s Fairest of the Fair. Nunes interned at Redhead Creamery, where she sharpened her love of cheese. In 2019, she graduated with bachelor’s degrees in Agricultural Communication & Marketing and Animal Science, with minors in Agricultural & Food Business Management and Horticulture. Upon graduation, she accepted a position with Kinni Hemp Company in River Falls. “I will strive to be the role model that Alice in Dairyland was for me growing up,” Nunes says. “As Alice, I will explore Wisconsin’s agriculture and share my discoveries and knowledge gained with consumers and producers throughout the state.” Nunes began her work as Alice on July 6. She succeeds 72nd Alice in Dairyland Abigail Martin, of Milton.
Julia Nunes takes over as Wisconsin’s 73rd Alice in Dairyland, a coveted position that encompasses working as a communications specialist for the Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection.
As Alice, Nunes will travel more than 30,000 miles speaking at events and giving media interviews. She will also work with Dairy Farmers of Wisconsin to educate children across the state about dairy and agricultural products. Several other Wisconsin organizations contribute to making Alice in Dairyland visible and recognizable to the public, including the Kettle Moraine Mink Breeders Association, the Wisconsin Corn Promotion Board and the Midwest Jewelers Association. For more information about the Alice in Dairyland program, contact Interim Program Manager Debbie Gegare at 608-224-5116, or email Debbie. Gegare@Wisconsin.gov. Follow Alice online at facebook.com/ DATCPAliceInDairyland or twitter.com/ Alice_Dairyland.
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Badger Beat Status of Remote Sensing to Detect Disease in Potato By Amanda Gevens, chair, extension vegetable pathologist, professor, University of Wisconsin (UW)-Madison Department of Plant Pathology; Katie Gold, assistant professor and extension wine grape pathologist, Cornell University; and Phil Townsend, professor, UW-Madison Forest and Wildlife Ecology
Effective disease management in potato is of everincreasing concern with unpredictable weather toward the end of each growing season, evolving pathogens and limited control options. Precision agriculture, a farm management philosophy based on observing, measuring and responding to field variability and optimizing inputs while preserving resources, offers a path forward for potato growers to achieve their business and environmental sustainability goals. Precision technologies have supported the increase in agricultural productivity and sustainability while reducing unnecessary inputs by helping growers prescriptively distribute resources to areas most in need, rather than making blanket applications. Precision disease management in potato production systems has lagged areas such as precision nutrition and soil health management. The lag is due to the lack of research using tools powerful enough to understand the complex relationship between pathogen, plant and environment that would facilitate faster and more accurate disease 28 BC�T October
detection and monitoring. Our University of Wisconsin (UW)Madison research team working in this area includes Dr. Phil Townsend, forest remote sensing and spatial analysis expert, Forest and Wildlife Ecology; Dr. Katie Gold, former graduate student and agriculture remote sensing and extension wine grape disease expert, Cornell University; and myself. Together, we have been advancing plant disease detection strategies with use of hyperspectral sensors as tools for precision potato production. Our work demonstrated that hyperspectral sensors can be used for pre-symptomatic late blight
Above: Students of Dr. Phil Townsend, UW-Madison Department of Forest and Wildlife Ecology, conduct remote sensing exercises in a potato field.
and early blight detection, disease differentiation and discernment of late blight pathogen clonal lineages or strain types. DESTRUCTIVE DISEASE Caused by the water mold, fungal-like pathogen, Phytophthora infestans, late blight is a destructive disease of tomato and potato crops and has been a global concern in food crops for roughly 200 years. In Wisconsin, growers have periodically experienced this disease with at least four bouts of unique and severe outbreaks since initially reported in the early 1900s. The most recent bout began in 2009 with an introduction of new strains of the pathogen, one of which has been associated with tomato transplants that were moved around the country to potato and vegetable production regions from the southern United States. Since that time, there has been a predomination of just one relatively new strain of the pathogen, US-23, and the disease has continued to negatively impact tomato and potatoes, grown both in home garden and commercial settings, and in organic and conventional systems.
Late blight is shown on a potato tuber and foliage. Symptoms of potato late blight include leaf lesions beginning as pale green or olivegreen areas that quickly enlarge to become brown-black, water soaked and oily in appearance. Lesions on leaves can also produce pathogen sporulation that looks like white-gray fuzzy growth. Stems can exhibit dark brown to black lesions with sporulation.
The late blight pathogen is referred to as a “water mold” since it thrives under wet conditions. Symptoms of tomato or potato late blight include leaf lesions beginning as pale green or olive-green areas that quickly enlarge to become brown-black, water soaked and oily in appearance. Lesions on leaves can also produce pathogen sporulation that looks like white-gray fuzzy growth. Stems can exhibit dark brown to black lesions with sporulation.
The time from first infection to lesion development and sporulation can be as fast as seven days, depending on the weather.
to a physical stimulus, such as heat, light, sound, pressure or motion, and transmits a resulting impulse for measurement or action.
Indication of late blight infection prior to symptom and spore development greatly advances capacity to manage negative impacts of this disease and spread within and outside of a field.
Sensors can be used at a variety of scales, ranging from within the plant canopy, such as where a leaf wetness sensor might be placed, to aerial and spaceborne satellite infrared sensors.
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BADGER BEAT . . . continued from pg. 29
years due to increased availability and accessibility. Sensors are smaller, cheaper and easier to use than ever before, as are the computer chips needed to process their data. Light-based multispectral and hyperspectral sensors have emerged as effective tools for fast, nondestructive estimation of a variety of important traits in agricultural crops
such as nitrogen, water status, and recently, disease stress. The human eye can see light from just a portion of the overall light spectrum. Leaves appear to be green to human eyes because green light bounces off them and is reflected into the eyes. By using novel statistical and machine learning methods, researchers can train light sensors that can “see” more light than the human eye to effectively “read” leaf light profiles and measure important traits in potato, such as nitrogen content or the impact of late blight on foliage. These light sensors are based on the underlying physics of vegetative reflectance spectroscopy, which is the study of how light reflects off plant foliage. Light reflects off unhealthy plants differently than it does healthy plants. Things such as drought stress, nutrient stress and disease will cause Above: Late blight analysis is conducted in a potato field. Left: In the summer of 2018, the UWMadison research team working in remote sensing to detect disease in potato collaborated with Dr. Jaime Willbur, Michigan State University Potato & Sugar Beet Extension plant pathologist, generating a field canopy-level dataset from low levels of infection on an East Lansing research farm. Remote sensing equipment captured this image of the East Lansing farm.
30 BC�T October
light to reflect off plants differently long before the human eye can see any visible changes. PROMOTING POTATO HEALTH By better understanding how light reflects off stressed crops, researchers can develop ways to use sensors to better understand and promote potato health. Different types of light sensors measure different types of light, and depending on the sensor being used, researchers can learn different things about potato health. The five main types of light sensors are digital cameras, multispectral sensors, hyperspectral sensors, thermal sensors and laser-based sensors. Gold, Townsend and Gevens use hyperspectral sensors for their late blight detection work. The sensors used by the UW-Madison researchers differ from commercially available multispectral sensors in the range and quantity of light they measure. Digital cameras can be used to detect visible stress on crops, such as insect infestation and damage. Tools such as multispectral sensors and the Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI) can be used to see and analyze general crop stress, allowing growers to decide how to strategically send crop scouts to areas most in need of attention. Thermal sensors can be used to assess and quantify root disease
damage and water uptake. By using hyperspectral sensors that measure a wide range of light at small intervals, we laid the groundwork for future field detection and identification of late and early blight in potato. We have shown that it is possible to detect and differentiate late blight from early blight, as well as discern differences between late blight clonal lineages to lay the groundwork for field-based lineage identification.
process and accessibility for real-time decision making in the field. The future use of light sensors for precision potato management is bright and promising. Hyperspectral sensors are not yet commercially available for on-the-farm use, but this will change as more promising applications are shown. Future work with these powerful devices will determine the
feasibility of aerial and satellitebased hyperspectral-informed regional warning systems for disease stress that would improve current forecasting models. Such warning systems allow researchers to accurately know when disease is active and inform industry stakeholders. Continued investment and research continued on pg. 32
We have also shown that potato cultivars can react to early late blight infection differently. Our methods can be applied on naturally infected leaves taken from commercial production fields from multiple potato cultivars. FUNDING & SUPPORT We are grateful for funding from the Wisconsin Potato & Vegetable Growers Association, the Wisconsin Alumni Research Foundation and the Wisconsin Specialty Crop Block Grant program, which have all contributed to supporting our pre-symptomatic disease detection and differentiation algorithm advancements. The next step for our work is further validating aerial late blight detection. In the summer of 2018, we collaborated with Dr. Jaime Willbur, Michigan State University Potato & Sugar Beet Extension plant pathologist, generating a field canopy-level dataset from low levels of infection on an East Lansing research farm. When opportunities present themselves, we plan to collaborate with commercial growers to conduct additional validations in upcoming years to further advance the technology for field application. This will be an important step in determining and prioritizing future research to pave the path forward for commercially available early disease detection. The utility of this technology in practice relies on the speed of data collection, algorithm
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BADGER BEAT . . . continued from pg. 31
into precision technologies will help support industry goals of increased productivity, farm profitability and environmental sustainability. We are continuing to refine and validate an additional web-based disease forecasting tool that is part of the UW-Madison Division of Extension Disease & Insect Forecasting Network.
COLLABORATIVE EFFORT This work, funded by the Wisconsin Specialty Crop Block Grant program, supports a collaborative effort between the potato and vegetable extension programs of Drs. Amanda Gevens (plant pathology) and Russell Groves (entomology).
foliar disease Tomcast tools available, in addition to numerous insect pest tools.
Visit http://vdifn.net/ to see current potato late blight Blitecast and carrot
Blitecast and weather data appear when you click on any point or place on the map. This online tool is in addition to our long-standing UWPlant Pathology Blitecast Information Network that is driven by four inpotato-field weather stations in Wisconsin (Grand Marsh, Hancock, Plover and Antigo).
The colorized, gridded map provides disease forecast and risk generated from the North American Meso-scale weather model (NAM 12km) of the National Weather Service.
The accessibility and reliability of this network has been greatly enhanced in 2019, with capacity for real time availability of late blight and early blight forecasting tools as well as graphics to easily visualize in-season weather and disease risk trends (https://wivegdis.plantpath.wisc.edu/ dsv/). Further information on late blight and disease management recommendations can be found at the UW Potato & Vegetable Pathology website: https://vegpath. plantpath.wisc.edu/usablight.org and in the UW-Madison Division of Extension Publication entitled “Commercial Vegetable Production in Wisconsin,” publication number A3422, https://cdn.shopify.com/s/ files/1/0145/8808/4272/files/A34222020.pdf. The UW Extension Plant Disease Diagnostic Clinic continues to accept late blight potato and tomato samples for free diagnoses. My laboratory will continue to further characterize clonal lineage or strain type for positive samples. The clinic contact information and sample shipping practices can be found here: http://labs.russell.wisc. edu/pddc/. 32 BC�T October
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ALLIED COOPERATIVE KARMEN BERNACCHI ADAMS, WI (608) 339-3698 kbernacchi@allied.coop www.allied.coop FOCUS ON ENERGY LAURA LANE CHIPPEWA FALLS, WI (715) 720-2179 laura.lane@focusonenergy.com www.focusonenergy.com INVESTORS COMMUNITY BANK CRAIG ROGAN STEVENS POINT, WI (715) 254-3450 crogan@icbk.com www.InvestorsCommunityBank.com JOHN CYCHOSZ - STRATEGIC PLANNER JOHN CYCHOSZ CUSTER, WI (715) 310-9444 johncychosz@hotmail.com BC�T October 33
2020 WPVGA Associate Division Directory. . . continued from pg. 33
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A & L GREAT LAKES LABORATORIES INC DAVID HENRY FORT WAYNE, IN (260) 483-4759 dhenry@algreatlakes.com www.algreatlakes.com
BAG COMPANIES
GLACIER VALLEY ENT LLC HOLLY BEAVER BARABOO, WI (608) 356-2244 hollybeavergve@gmail.com www.glacierv.com THORPACK LLC RICHARD THORPE CHIPPEWA FALLS, WI (908) 507-5060 dthorpe@thorpack.com www.thorpack.com VOLM COMPANIES INC MARSHA VERWIEBE ANTIGO, WI (715) 627-4826 mverwiebe@volmcompanies.com www.volmcompanies.com WARNER PACKAGING JAY WARNER PLOVER, WI (715) 341-8563 jay.warner@warnerpackaging.com www.warnerpackaging.com
Certified Public Accountants CLIFTONLARSONALLEN DEAN JOHNSON STEVENS POINT, WI (715) 344-4984 dean.johnson@claconnect.com www.claconnect.com
CHAIN
BROEKEMA BELTWAY USA INC JEFF EILERS PINE CITY, MN (320) 629-3900 jeff.eilers@broekema.us www.broekemabeltway.com SAND COUNTY EQUIPMENT PAUL CIESLEWICZ BANCROFT, WI (715) 335-6652 cheryl@sandcountyequipment.com www.sandcountyequipment.com
CHEMICALS
AMVAC CHEMICAL CORP RALPH FREDERICK DULUTH, MN (218) 340-1609 ralphf@amvac-chemical.com www.amvac-chemical.com ROTAM NORTH AMERICA DANIEL R COLE WAVERLY, IA 641) 521-5254 34 BC�T October
dancole@rotam.com www.rotamnorthamerica.com VALENT USA LLC BRAD GUNNINK SUN PRAIRIE, WI (608) 213-7309 brad.gunnink@valent.com www.valent.com
CHEMICALS/FERTILIZERS
1,4 GROUP JOHN BERGMAN FARGO, ND (701) 261-0289 jbergman@pinnip.com www.14group.com
AG BIOME INNOVATIONS LIZ GASTON RESEARCH TRIANGLE PK, NC (984) 260-0200 lgaston@agbiome.com www.agbiome.com
NEW LONDON, WI (920) 982-1111 anne.moore@chsinc.com chslarsencooperative.com CORTEVA AGRISCIENCE ROBERT HAUS JOHNSTON, IA (515) 535-6290 robert.j.haus@corteva.com www.corteva.com GOWAN USA KEVIN BOEHM LODI, WI (608) 697-5949 kboehm@gowanco.com www.gowanco.com GYPSOIL BRAND GYPSUM ANNIE PETRUSEK CHICAGO, IL (312) 784-0300 events@gypsoil.com www.gypsoil.com
AG CONCEPTS AJA DARGA MONONA, WI (715) 340-8410 agribasics.aja@gmail.com www.agconcepts.com
ICL SPECIALTY FERTILIZERS JOLENE MILLER SUMMERVILLE, SC (800) 492-8255 jolene.miller@icl-group.com icl-sf.us.com
ALLEN SUPPLY CO INC JASON ALLEN STEVENS POINT, WI (715) 341-7635 jason.allen@allensc.com
INSIGHT FS JOEL ZALEWSKI JEFFERSON, WI (920) 672-7000 jefferson@insightfs.com www.insightfs.com
ALLIED COOPERATIVE KARMEN BERNACCHI ADAMS, WI (608) 339-3698 kbernacchi@allied.coop www.allied.coop BASF JUSTIN TUSS APPLETON, WI (920) 570-2686 justin.tuss@basf.com BAYER CROP SCIENCE DAVID WELSH ELKHORN, WI (262) 903-1870 david.welsh@bayer.com www.bayer.com CALCIUM PRODUCTS BECKY HECK BARNEVELD, WI (800) 255-8196 becky.heck@calciumproducts.com www.calciumproducts.com CERTIS USA ANNE WEBSTER SAUGATUCK, MI (269) 207-7712 awebster@certisusa.com www.certisusa.com CHS LARSEN COOPERATIVE ANNE MOORE
JAY-MAR INC TONY GRAPSAS PLOVER, WI (715) 341-3445 tonyg@jay-mar.com www.jay-mar.com MIDWESTERN BIO AG MERCEDES SCHULZ MADISON, WI (608) 841-1615 mercedes.schulz@midwesternbioag.com www.midwesternbioag.com NACHURS ROY ZELLMER MARION, OH (800) 622-4877 zellmerr@nachurs.com www.nachurs.com NATURES SOURCE TOM BALLINGER ONALASKA, WI (507) 273-4095 tballinger@ns-pf.com www.naturessourceplantfood.com NICHINO AMERICA CAROL J. MAYR WILMINGTON, DE (302) 476-8402 cmayr@nichino.net www.nichino.net
NUTRIEN AG SOLUTIONS JIM BEACH BELOIT, WI (970) 518-2685 jim.beach@nutrien.com ORO AGRI INC MICHAEL SLADE WEST DES MOINES, IA (515) 505-4784 mslade@oroagri.com www.oroagriusa.com SYNAGRO LLC MATTHEW MIELKE WISCONSIN RAPIDS, WI (715) 421-1866 mmielke@synagro.com www.synagro.com
UPL PETER WHITE HUTCHINSON, MN (320) 221-9916 peter.white@upl-ltd.com www.upl-ltd.com
UNITED POTATO GROWERS COOP OF WI, INC DANA RADY ANTIGO, WI (715) 623-7683 drady0409@gmail.com
VIVE CROP PROTECTION RICK DAVIDSON MISSISSAUGA, ON, CANADA (888) 760-0187 rdavidson@vivecrop.com www.vivecrop.com
ALTMANN CONSTRUCTION COMPANY INC TAMMY MEYERS WISCONSIN RAPIDS, WI (715) 421-2550 altmann@altmannconstruction.com www.altmannconstruction.com
WINFIELD UNITED JOE NAGEL STEVENS POINT, WI (715) 347-0411 janagel@landolakes.com
COUNTY MATERIALS CORPORATION KEVIN TESCH MARATHON, WI (715) 870-4634 kevin.tesch@countymaterials.com www.countymaterials.com
T H AGRI-CHEMICALS INC ROBERT ZIMPEL PLAINFIELD, WI (715) 335-6343 thag@thagrichemicals.com www.thagrichemicals.com
YARA NORTH AMERICA MISSY SCHUG MC MILLAN, MI missy.schug@yara.com www.yara.com
TRIEST AG GROUP INC CHRIS FURMAN GREENVILLE, NC (502) 330-6041 cfurman@triestag.com www.triestag.com
AIR COMMUNICATIONS OF CENTRAL WIS INC CINDY ZIEGLER WISCONSIN RAPIDS, WI (715) 424-3050 cindy.z@aircommcentral.com www.aircommcentral.com
COMMUNICATION
CONSTRUCTION
KARTECHNER BROTHERS LLC MIKE SMIT WAUPUN, WI (920) 324-2874 mikes@kartechnerbrothers.com www.kartechnerbrothers.com KELLER INC EMILY FOLEY KAUKAUNA, WI (920) 766-5795 efoley@kellerbuilds.com www.kellerbuilds.com
continued on pg. 36
SNOWDEN • PIKE • ATLANTIC • LAMOKA MEGACHIP • HODAG • MANISTEE SILVERTON • LADY LIBERTY
BC�T October 35
2020 WPVGA Associate Division Directory. . . continued from pg. 35
MIDLAND GARAGE DOOR MFG CO DOUG LARSON WEST FARGO, ND (701) 282-8136 dougl@midlandgaragedoor.com www.midlandgaragedoor.com MPB BUILDERS INC DOYLE POKORNY RIPON, WI (920) 748-2601 doyle@mpbbuilders.com www.mpbbuilders.com RHINEHART METAL BUILDINGS INC CHAD RHINEHART ADAMS, WI (608) 339-9109 rhinehartmb@gmail.com www.rhinehartmetalbuildingsinc.com
CORRUGATED BOX PACKAGING PROVIDER
VOLM COMPANIES INC MARSHA VERWIEBE ANTIGO, WI (715) 627-4826 mverwiebe@volmcompanies.com www.volmcompanies.com
CROP PROTECTION
SYNGENTA CROP PROTECTION KEN CLEVELAND NORTH FREEDOM, WI (608) 642-3717 ken.cleveland@syngenta.com www.syngenta-us.com/home.aspx
CROP PROTECTION - CONVENTIONAL & ORGANIC CERTIS USA ANNE WEBSTER SAUGATUCK, MI (269) 207-7712 awebster@certisusa.com www.certisusa.com
DOCK EQUIPMENT
CENTRAL DOOR SOLUTIONS CHRIS BROOKS PLOVER, WI (715) 342-4153 cbrooks@centraldoorsolutions.com www.centraldoorsolutions.com
ELECTRICAL
ADAMS-COLUMBIA ELECTRIC COOPERATIVE JEREMY HUHNSTOCK FRIENDSHIP, WI (608) 339-5428 jhuhnstock@acecwi.com www.acecwi.com GRAYBAR ELECTRIC ANDREW HEWITT STEVENS POINT, WI (715) 345-2878 andrew.hewitt@graybar.com www.graybar.com 36 BC�T October
MOTORS AND CONTROLS OF WI LLC KEVIN KONOPACKY PLOVER, WI (715) 344-0010 sales@macowi.com www.macowi.com
RIB FALLS REPAIR ROY THRONE ATHENS, WI (815) 257-0001 roy@ribfallsrepair.com www.ribfallsrepair.com
WAUSAU ELECTRIC LLC JOE KOSTYN WAUSAU, WI (715) 842-2260 joe@wausauelectric.com www.wausauelectric.com
RIESTERER & SCHNELL INC HEATHER RIPP CHILTON, WI (920) 775-4146 marketing@rands.com www.rands.com
ELECTRICAL INSTALLATION & SERVICE
SAND COUNTY EQUIPMENT PAUL CIESLEWICZ BANCROFT, WI (715) 335-6652 cheryl@sandcountyequipment.com www.sandcountyequipment.com
RON’S REFRIGERATION & AIR CONDITIONING LLC EUGENE MANCL WISCONSIN RAPIDS, WI (715) 421-1525 eugene.mancl@ronsrefrigeration.com www.ronsrefrigeration.com
ENGINES - DIESEL FUEL INJECTION
K & S FUEL INJECTION INC JASON MAKI WESTON, WI (715) 359-1000 jmaki@ksfuel.com www.ksfuel.com
ESTATE PLANNING
LINCOLN FINANCIAL AGRIBUSINESS SERVICES ART LITTLEFIELD NAPERVILLE, IL (630) 408-0110 art.littlefield@lfg.com www.lincolnagservices.com
EXIT / SUCCESSION PLANNING
LINCOLN FINANCIAL AGRIBUSINESS SERVICES ART LITTLEFIELD NAPERVILLE, IL (630) 408-0110 art.littlefield@lfg.com www.lincolnagservices.com
FARM EQUIPMENT
CROP IMS LLC BARRY BEWLEY EFFINGHAM, IL (217) 342-5063 bbewley@cropims.com www.cropims.net LEMKEN USA JAY HALBERT CANNON FALLS, MN (507) 951-2494 j.halbert@lemken.com lemken.com
SERVICE MOTOR COMPANY REBECCA JAGLA STEVENS POINT, WI (715) 592-4111 rebecca.jagla@servicemotor.com www.servicemotor.com SWIDERSKI EQUIPMENT MELISSA HEISE WAUSAU, WI (715) 675-2391 melissaheise@swiderskiequipment.com swiderskiequipment.com
FERTILIZER EQUIPMENT
HEARTLAND AG SYSTEMS GUY MATHIAS DEFOREST, WI (800)523-2350 gmathias@heartlandag.com www.heartlandag.com
FERTILIZERS
BIO GRO INC BRUCE ANDERSEN CEDAR GROVE, WI (608) 354-1123 bruce@biogro.com www.biogro.com MILK SOURCE LLC AVI STERN KAUKAUNA, WI (920) 759-4673 astern@milksource.net www.milksource.com
FERTILIZERS - CONVENTIONAL AND ORGANIC
MODERN PRODUCE EQUIPMENT TOM WIERSEMA FREMONT, MI (231) 924-0465 tom@modernproduceequipment.com www.modernproduceequipment.com
FARM FIXATION LLC MARK KLISH MOSINEE, WI (715) 347-0545 mark@farmfixation.com
QUINLAN’S EQUIPMENT INC TOM QUINLAN ANTIGO, WI (715) 627-4331 info@quinlansequipment.com www.quinlansequipment.com
ABBYBANK NATALYN JANNENE ABBOTSFORD, WI (715) 316-6230 natalynj@abbybank.com www.abbybank.com
FINANCIAL
AGCOUNTRY FARM CREDIT SERVICES MARK GROHOLSKI STEVENS POINT, WI (715) 344-1000 mark.groholski@agcountry.com www.agcountry.com
COMPEER FINANCIAL CATHY SCHOMMER PRAIRIE DU SAC, WI (608) 370-6792 cathy.schommer@compeer.com www.compeer.com
BAKER TILLY DANIEL EHR APPLETON, WI (920) 739-3392 daniel.ehr@bakertilly.com www.bakertilly.com
COVANTAGE CREDIT UNION JULIE BOHR WAUSAU, WI (715) 627-4336 Ext 4655 julie.bohr@covantagecu.org www.covantagecu.org
BANK OF AMERICA CHAD JANOWICZ EAST LANSING, MI (517) 896-3870 chad.janowicz@bofa.com www.bankofamerica.com BMO HARRIS BANK PAUL SALM ALTOONA, WI (715) 726-0718 paul.salm@bmo.com www.bmoharris.com/agriculture CLIFTONLARSONALLEN, LLP DEAN JOHNSON STEVENS POINT, WI (715) 344-4984 dean.johnson@claconnect.com www.claconnect.com
EDWARD JONES - BOB EBBEN SHARON ZEMAN WISCONSIN RAPIDS, WI (715) 424-4100 sharon.zeman@edwardjones.com bob.ebben@edwardjones.com www.edwardjones.com INCREDIBLE BANK ROB WYMAN WESTON, WI (715) 843-1704 rwyman@incrediblebank.com www.incrediblebank.com METLIFE AGRICULTURAL INVESTMENTS TROY FISCHER ROCKFORD, IL (815) 234-2600
Design and Layout
tfischer@metlife.com www.metlife.com/ag NORTHWESTERN MUTUAL LIFE BRIAN BLINK ANTIGO, WI (715) 627-2865 brian.blink@nm.com www.brianblink.nm.com PESHTIGO NATIONAL BANK MIKE JAJE PESHTIGO, WI (715) 938-2655 mjaje@peshtigobank.com RURAL MUTUAL INSURANCE CO BILL KRIESE MADISON, WI (608) 828-5535 dbayer@ruralins.com www.ruralins.com THE PORTAGE COUNTY BANK STEVENS POINT, WI (715) 341-8808 www.portagecountybank.com USDA FARM SERVICE AGENCY & NRCS KATIE DEMRO MADISON, WI (608) 662-4422 katie.demro@usda.gov www.fsa.usda.gov continued on pg. 38
Barrel & Brush Washers Polisher
Stainless Steel
Tote Bag and Bin Filler www.mayomfg.com BC�T October 37
2020 WPVGA Associate Division Directory. . . continued from pg. 37
VISTA FINANCIAL STRATEGIES LLC SCOTT SCHEER APPLETON, WI (920) 731-4572 scott@vistafinancialstrategies.com www.vistafinancialstrategies.com
BMO HARRIS BANK PAUL SALM ALTOONA, WI (715) 726-0718 paul.salm@bmo.com www.bmoharris.com/agriculture
RURAL MUTUAL INSURANCE COMPANY-ADAMS JAMES WEHINGER ADAMS, WI (608) 339-6844 jwehinger@ruralins.com www.ruralins.com
FOOD SAFETY CONSULTANT
C & D PROFESSIONAL INSURANCE SERVICES LLC DAVE LOKEN WAUPACA, WI (715) 258-8830 candwaupac@ruralins.com
FUEL
COMPASS INSURANCE SERVICES JUSTIN YACH STEVENS POINT, WI (715) 303-3679 justin.yach@compassinsurance.net www.compassinsurance.net
RURAL MUTUAL INSURANCE-SALLY SUPRISE AFIS, CWCA SALLY SUPRISE WAUPACA, WI (715) 498-4800 ssuprise@ruralins.com
CAROL A BURZA BANCROFT, WI (715) 498-1849 carol.burza@yahoo.com ALLIED COOPERATIVE KARMEN BERNACCHI ADAMS, WI (608) 339-3698 kbernacchi@allied.coop www.allied.coop
CONDON OIL MARK BELAU RIPON, WI (800) 452-1212 mbelau@condoncompanies.com www.condoncompanies.com
GRAPHICS
CC GRAPHICS DARCI LAUDENBACH WISCONSIN RAPIDS, WI (715) 459-5252 ccgraphics4u@gmail.com facebook.com/ccgraphics4u
HYDRAULIC HOSES & FITTINGS
I-STATE TRUCK CENTER ERIC GABEL MARSHFIELD, WI (715) 486-8800 eric.gabel@istate.com www.istate.com
INSULATION
FENCIL URETHANE SYSTEMS INC NICK LAUDENBACH WISCONSIN RAPIDS, WI (715) 424-4200 nick@fencilurethane.com www.fencilurethane.com
INSURANCE
AGCOUNTRY FARM CREDIT SERVICES MARK GROHOLSKI STEVENS POINT, WI (715) 344-1000 mark.groholski@agcountry.com www.agcountry.com
COMPEER FINANCIAL CATHY SCHOMMER PRAIRIE DU SAC, WI (608) 370-6792 cathy.schommer@compeer.com www.compeer.com M3 INSURANCE SOLUTIONS INC JEN PINO-GALLAGHER MADISON, WI (608) 288-2842 jen.pinogallagher@m3ins.com www.m3ins.com MCCORMICK-KLESSIG INSURANCE JEFF LUND ANTIGO, WI (815) 627-4302 jefflund@mccormickklessig.com www.mccormickklessig.com MT MORRIS MUTUAL INSURANCE COMPANY DANIEL FENSKE COLOMA, WI (715) 228-5541 melissa@mtmorrisins.com www.mtmorrisins.com NORTHWESTERN MUTUAL LIFE BRIAN BLINK ANTIGO, WI (715) 627-2865 brian.blink@nm.com www.brianblink.nm.com OKRAY INSURANCE AGENCY LLC KYLE OKRAY PLOVER, WI (715) 335-4549 kyle@okrayins.com www.okrayins.com
AGRIBUSINESS INSURANCE SOLUTIONS RYAN CHAMBERS SEYMOUR, WI (920) 833-6871 rchambers@thzins.com www.thzinsurance.com/agribusiness
PROGRESSIVE AG RAY GRABANSKI FARGO, ND (701) 277-9210 rlg@progressiveag.com www.progressiveag.com
ANSAY & ASSOCIATES LLC DAVID OBERMANN GREEN BAY, WI (920) 370-4228 david.obermann@ansay.com www.ansay.com 38 BC�T October
RURAL MUTUAL INSURANCE CO BILL KRIESE MADISON, WI (608) 828-5535 dbayer@ruralins.com www.ruralins.com
RURAL MUTUAL INSURANCE-ZINDA INSURANCE GROUP JENNIFER ZINDA-MANCL PLOVER, WI (715) 341-5808 jzinda@ruralins.com SECURA INSURANCE SARA HILDEBRAND APPLETON, WI (920) 996-6368 shildebrand@secura.net www.secura.net VINE VEST NORTH INC CHAD GLAZE WAUSAU, WI (715) 675-1829 chad@vinevestnorth.com www.vinevestnorth.com VISTA FINANCIAL STRATEGIES LLC SCOTT SCHEER APPLETON, WI (920) 731-4572 scott@vistafinancialstrategies.com www.vistafinancialstrategies.com
INVENTORY MANAGEMENT SOLUTIONS
VOLM COMPANIES INC MARSHA VERWIEBE ANTIGO, WI (715) 627-4826 mverwiebe@volmcompanies.com www.volmcompanies.com
IRRIGATION
HORTAU INC CODY JONES MARSTONS MILLS, MA (920) 246-9130 cjones@hortau.com www.hortau.com NORTH CENTRAL IRRIGATION INC SCOTT POLZIN PLAINFIELD, WI (715) 335-6368 scott@valleynci.com www.valleynci.com OASIS IRRIGATION INC KATHY KNUTSON PLAINFIELD, WI (715) 335-8300 kathyknutson.oasisirr@gmail.com REINKE MANUFACTURING CO, INC VERN HINNENKAMP SAUK CENTRE, MN
(763) 242-0237 vernhinnenkamp@reinke.com www.reinke.com ROBERTS IRRIGATION CO INC RICH ANDERSON PLOVER, WI (715) 344-4747 randerson@robertsirrigation.com www.robertsirrigationwi.com SPECTRUM TECHNOLOGIES, INC MIKE THUROW AURORA, IL (800) 248-8873 mthurow@specmeters.com www.specmeters.com
LAWN & GARDEN EQUIPMENT
RIESTERER & SCHNELL INC HEATHER RIPP CHILTON, WI hripp@rands.com (920) 775-4146 marketing@rands.com www.rands.com
LEGAL SERVICE
BOARDMAN CLARK JEFFREY STORCH BARABOO, WI (608) 356-3977 jstorch@boardmanclark.com www.boardmanclark.com DEWITT LLP JORDAN LAMB MADISON, WI (608) 252-9358 jkl@dewittllp.com www.dewittllp.com EPIPHANY LAW LLC KEVIN EISMANN APPLETON, WI (920) 996-0000 keismann@epiphanylaw.com www.epiphanylaw.com RUDER WARE LISA O'FLYNG WAUSAU, WI (715) 845-4336 loflyng@ruderware.com www.ruderware.com
LUBRICANTS
ANDERSON O’BRIEN LISA HANSEN STEVENS POINT, WI (715) 344-0890 lhansen@andlaw.com www.andlaw.com
CONDON OIL MARK BELAU RIPON, WI (800) 452-1212 mbelau@condoncompanies.com www.condoncompanies.com
MAINTENANCE & SANITATION SUPPLIES
1ST AYD CORPORATION RON DIX AMERY, WI (715) 554-1883 rondix01@gmail.com www.1stayd.com
MATERIAL HANDLING EQUIPMENT
VOLM COMPANIES INC MARSHA VERWIEBE ANTIGO, WI (715) 627-4826 mverwiebe@volmcompanies.com www.volmcompanies.com
MOBILE & VEHICLE MOUNT DEVICES
REDLINE SOLUTIONS ADRIAN DOWN SANTA CLARA, CA (408) 562-1700 adown@redlinesolutions.com www.redlineforproduce.com
OVERHEAD DOORS
CENTRAL DOOR SOLUTIONS CHRIS BROOKS PLOVER, WI (715) 342-4153 cbrooks@centraldoorsolutions.com www.centraldoorsolutions.com continued on pg. 40
Quality Growers of Foundation and Certified Seed Potatoes for Over 50 Years!
Yellows:
Reds:
Russets:
Colomba
Red Norland Dark Red Norland Modoc Radley
Norkotah #8 Gold Rush Silverton
Whites: Superior
Burbank Mercury
We handle our own line of clean and dependable late model trucks for all of your delivery needs.
WISCONSIN N3502 Hwy H • Antigo, WI 54409 CERTIFIED SEED POTATOES Office: 715-627-7753 • Fax: 715-623-5412 • mike@baginskifarms.com BC�T October 39
2020 WPVGA Associate Division Directory. . . continued from pg. 39
OZONE GENERATORS
RONS REFRIGERATION & AC INC EUGENE MANCL WISCONSIN RAPIDS, WI (715) 421-1525 emancl@coolsys.com www.ronsrefrigeration.com
PACKAGING EQUIPMENT
BW FLEXIBLE SYSTEMS - SYMACH STEVE SHELLENBAUM MINNEAPOLIS, MN (612) 782-1242 steve.shellenbaum@bwpackagingsystems.com www.bwpackagingsystems.com SAND COUNTY EQUIPMENT PAUL CIESLEWICZ BANCROFT, WI (715) 335-6652 cheryl@sandcountyequipment.com www.sandcountyequipment.com THORPACK LLC RICHARD THORPE CHIPPEWA FALLS, WI (908) 507-5060 dthorpe@thorpack.com www.thorpack.com VOLM COMPANIES INC MARSHA VERWIEBE ANTIGO, WI (715) 627-4826 mverwiebe@volmcompanies.com www.volmcompanies.com WARNER PACKAGING JAY WARNER PLOVER, WI (715) 341-8563 jay.warner@warnerpackaging.com www.warnerpackaging.com
PACKING SHED
dlh@allanequipment.com www.allanequipment.com BIG IRON EQUIPMENT INC ZACH MYKISEN STACY GROSHEK PLOVER, WI (715) 344-3401 stacyg@bigironequipment.com www.bigironequipment.com BILL'S TIRE AND SERVICE INC BILL SCHILTZ COLBY, WI (715) 223-4762 billstire@me.com www.billstireservice.com GENERAL METAL FABRICATION LTD GERALD BAUMAN MANITOBA, CANADA, (204) 325-9374 gerald@generalmetal.ca www.generalmetal.ca HARRISTON-MAYO MIKE DELISLE EAST GRAND FORKS, MN (218) 773-1234 mikedelisle@mayomfg.com www.harriston-mayo.com MODERN PRODUCE EQUIPMENT TOM WIERSEMA FREMONT, MI (231) 924-0465 tom@modernproduceequipment.com www.modernproduceequipment.com NOFFSINGER MANUFACTURING CO GREG CAPPAERT GREELEY, CO (800) 525-8922 gcappaert@noffsingermfg.com www.noffsingermfg.com
POTATO PLANT INC JON OR BRIAN KROGWOLD BRIAN KROGWOLD AMHERST, WI (715) 824-3240 ppspud@wi-net.com
OEM FABRICATORS INC THOMAS AABY WOODVILLE, WI (715) 698-7323 toma@oemfab.com www.oemfab.com
PETIOLE ANALYSIS
RAYTEC VISION SPA GIANLUCA SIMONELLI ITALY gianlucas.simonelli@raytecvision.com www.raytecvision.com
AGSOURCE LABORATORIES STEVE PETERSON BONDUEL, WI (715) 758-2178 speterson@agsource.com www.agsourcelaboratories.com
POLY STORAGE TANKS
CONTREE SPRAYER & EQUIPMENT DAVID VONBEHREN BEAVER DAM, WI (920) 356-0121 davev@contree.com www.contree.com
POTATO EQUIPMENT
ALLAN EQUIPMENT MANUFACTURING LTD DAVID HUESTIS PRINCE EDWARD ISLAND, CANADA (902) 672-2510 40 BC�T October
SAND COUNTY EQUIPMENT PAUL CIESLEWICZ BANCROFT, WI (715) 335-6652 cheryl@sandcountyequipment.com www.sandcountyequipment.com TIP INC KENTON MEHLBERG CUSTER, WI (715) 592-4650 kenton@tipinc.net www.tipinc.net TOMRA SORTING SOLUTIONS MARIJKE BELLEMANS
WEST SACRAMENTO, CA (916) 388-3900 marijke.bellemans@tomra.com www.tomra.com/food TRINITY TRAILER MFG KEITH EASTMAN BOISE, ID (208) 336-3666 keastman@trinitytrailer.com www.trinitytrailer.com TRI-STEEL MANUFACTURING COMPANY INC SCOTT HOMSTAD GRAND FORKS, ND (701) 772-5591 scotth@tristeelmfg.com www.tristeelmfg.com
PRECISION AG
HEARTLAND AG SYSTEMS GUY MATHIAS DEFOREST, WI (800)523-2350 gmathias@heartlandag.com www.heartlandag.com VANTAGE NORTH CENTRAL SEAN TIMM PLAINFIELD, WI (715) 335-4474 sean@vantage-northcentral.com www.vantage-northcentral.com
PRINTING
SPECTRA PRINT CORPORATION HEIDI OKRAY STEVENS POINT, WI (715) 344-5175 hokray@spectraprint.com www.spectraprint.com
PROCESSORS
CHIPPEWA VALLEY BEAN CO INC TESSA ROSE MENOMONIE, WI (715) 664-8342 trose@cvbean.com www.cvbean.com MCCAIN FOODS USA KERRY LARSON WISC RAPIDS, WI (715) 422-8106 kerry.larson@mccain.com www.mccain.com MODERN PRODUCE EQUIPMENT TOM WIERSEMA FREMONT, MI (231) 924-0465 tom@modernproduceequipment.com www.modernproduceequipment.com PEPSICO-FRITO LAY JOSHUA PARSONS RHINELANDER, WI (715) 365-1640 joshua.parsons@pepsico.com THE LITTLE POTATO COMPANY DANIEL SNYDER DEFOREST, WI
(608) 842-2713 daniel.snyder@littlepotatoes.com www.LittlePotatoes.com
PTI SOLUTIONS
REDLINE SOLUTIONS ADRIAN DOWN SANTA CLARA, CA (408) 562-1700 adown@redlinesolutions.com www.redlineforproduce.com
RUST PROOFING
PRO FLEET CARE MYRON CAVES PLAINFIELD, WI (715) 572-9510 mcrockingc@hotmail.com www.profleetcare.com
GREEN BAY PACKAGING INC JOHN LAABS WAUSAU, WI (715) 845-4201 jlaabs@gbp.com www.gbp.com LANGLADE POTATO DISTRIBUTING INC JIM KAPUSTA ANTIGO, WI (715) 627-4873 jimk@langladepotato.com PLANT GROW HARVEST SERVICES DBA PGH SERVICES JIM CORNEILLIE WILLIAMS, MN (701) 335-9255 jc@pgh.farm
SALES/BROKERS
ALSUM FARMS & PRODUCE HEIDI RANDALL FRIESLAND, WI (920) 348-5127 heidi.randall@alsum.com www.alsum.com
RPE INC RUSSELL WYSOCKI BANCROFT, WI (800) 678-2789 jenny.bula@rpespud.com www.RPEproduce.com
BUSHMANS’ INC MIKE GATZ ROSHOLT, WI (715) 677-4533 michaelg@bushmansinc.com www.bushmansinc.com
SUNRAIN VARIETIES LLC BRIT WHITE IDAHO FALLS, ID (208) 552-3096 bwhite@sunrainvarieties.com www.sunrainseed.com
SEED
JAY-MAR INC TONY GRAPSAS PLOVER, WI (715) 341-3445 tonyg@jay-mar.com www.jay-mar.com
SEED CERTIFICATION AGENCIES
MICHIGAN SEED POTATO ASSN JEFF AXFORD GAYLORD, MI (989) 732-4433 jwamspa@gmail.com
MINNESOTA CERTIFIED SEED POTATO GROWERS ASSN PERRY PASCHKE EAST GRAND FORKS, MN (218) 686-1734 jdagen@wiktel.com WISCONSIN SEED POTATO CERTIFICATION PROGRAM ALEX CROCKFORD abcrockford@wisc.edu ANTIGO, WI (715) 623-4039 jspurgeon@wisc.edu
continued on pg. 42
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BC�T October 41
2020 WPVGA Associate Division Directory. . . continued from pg. 41
SOFTWARE TECHNOLOGY
STORAGE
AG CONNECTIONS LLC JOE BEN BOGLE MURRAY, KY (270) 435-4369 joeben.bogle@agconnections.com
1,4 GROUP JOHN BERGMAN FARGO, ND (701) 261-0289 jbergman@pinnip.com
AGROMETRICS MADHU JAMALLAMUDI MADISON, WI (870) 200-9080 info@agrometrics.com www.agrometrics.com
HANSEN-RICE INC TAMI MCINTYRE NAMPA, ID (208) 465-0200 tmcintyre@hansen-rice.com www.hansen-rice.com
SOIL AMENDMENTS
JAY-MAR INC TONY GRAPSAS PLOVER, WI (715) 341-3445 tonyg@jay-mar.com www.jay-mar.com
SOIL ANALYSIS
ROCK RIVER LABORATORY, INC DUSTIN SAWYER WATERTOWN, WI (920) 261-0446 buffy-uglow@rockriverlab.com rockriverlab.com
SPRAYER EQUIPMENT
HEARTLAND AG SYSTEMS GUY MATHIAS DEFOREST, WI (608) 846-9064 gmathias@agsystemsonline.com www.agsystemsonline.com
SPRAYER PARTS
JAY-MAR INC TONY GRAPSAS PLOVER, WI (715) 341-3445 tonyg@jay-mar.com www.jay-mar.com
SPRAYERS & SPRAYER PARTS
CONTREE SPRAYER & EQUIPMENT DAVID VONBEHREN BEAVER DAM, WI (920) 356-0121 davev@contree.com www.contree.com
SPROUT CONTROL
1,4 GROUP JOHN BERGMAN FARGO, ND (701) 261-0289 jbergman@pinnip.com
NELSONS VEGETABLE STORAGE SYSTEMS DALE NELSON PLAINFIELD, WI (715) 335-6660 holly@nelsonsveg.com RON’S REFRIGERATION & AIR CONDITIONING LLC EUGENE MANCL WISCONSIN RAPIDS, WI (715) 421-1525 eugene.mancl@ronsrefrigeration.com www.ronsrefrigeration.com
STEEL ENTRY DOORS
CENTRAL DOOR SOLUTIONS CHRIS BROOKS PLOVER, WI (715) 342-4153 cbrooks@centraldoorsolutions.com www.centraldoorsolutions.com 42 BC�T October
LINEAGE LOGISTICS LES DOBBE STEVENS POINT, WI (715) 544-4565 ldobbe@lineagelogistics.com www.servicecold.biz TECHMARK INC PATRICK MORRIS LANSING, MI (517) 322-0250 pmorris@techmark-inc.com www.techmark-inc.com
STORAGE CONTROL SYSTEMS
NELSONS VEGETABLE STORAGE SYSTEMS DALE NELSON PLAINFIELD, WI (715) 335-6660 holly@nelsonsveg.com
STORAGE VENTILATION SYSTEMS
RON’S REFRIGERATION & AIR CONDITIONING LLC EUGENE MANCL WISCONSIN RAPIDS, WI (715) 421-1525 eugene.mancl@ronsrefrigeration.com www.ronsrefrigeration.com
TIRES AND ON-SITE REPAIR
SCHIERL TIRE & SERVICE DOUG EICHTEN STEVENS POINT, WI (715) 572-2247 douge@teamschierl.com www.teamschierl.com
TRANSPORTATION
TRINITY TRAILER MFG KEITH EASTMAN BOISE, ID (208) 336-3666 keastman@trinitytrailer.com www.trinitytrailer.com
(715) 486-8800 eric.gabel@istate.com www.istate.com JX TRUCK CENTER TRACY JONAS MOSINEE, WI (715) 692-2250 tjonas@jxe.com www.JXE.com MARK TOYOTA of PLOVER BRENDAN OLINYK PLOVER, WI (715) 342-5040 brendan@markmotors.com www.marktoyota.com MID-STATE TRUCK SERVICE INC JAY WEIDMAN PLOVER, WI (715) 344-2931 p.trucksales@midstatetruck.com www.midstatetruck.com QUINLAN’S EQUIPMENT INC TOM QUINLAN ANTIGO, WI (715) 627-4331 info@quinlansequipment.com www.quinlansequipment.com SAXON FLEET SERVICES JOE FITZENBERGER OAKDALE, MN (651) 312-1870 jfitzenberger@saxonfleetservices.com www.saxonfleetservices.com SCAFFIDI MOTORS INC TODD ANDERSON STEVENS POINT, WI (715) 344-4100 tanderson@scaffidi.com www.scaffiditrucks.com WISCONSIN KENWORTH CORY HECKENDORF MOSINEE, WI (715) 693-3900 cory.heckendorf@csmtruck.com www.csmcompanies.com
WAREHOUSE MANAGEMENT SOLUTIONS
TREE/SHRUB PLANTING & CONSERVATION SERVICES
REDLINE SOLUTIONS ADRIAN DOWN SANTA CLARA, CA (408) 562-1700 adown@redlinesolutions.com www.redlineforproduce.com
TRUCK DEALER
GZA GEOENVIRONMENTAL INC JAMES DROUGHT WAUKESHA, WI (414) 831-2540 james.drought@gza.com
CENTRAL WI WINDSHED PARTNERS SHANNON ROHDE HANCOCK, WI (715) 249-5424 cwwp@uniontel.net www.portage.wi.us/ BRICKNERS OF WAUSAU CRAIG STECKLING WAUSAU, WI (715) 842-4646 csteckling@bricknerfamily.com www.bricknersofwausau.net I-STATE TRUCK CENTER ERIC GABEL MARSHFIELD, WI
WATER RESOURCE ENGINEERING
WELL DRILLING
ROBERTS IRRIGATION CO INC PAUL ROBERTS PLOVER, WI (715) 344-4747 proberts@robertsirrigation.com www.robertsirrigationwi.com
New Products New Potato Variety Debuts on Shelves Full-service grower, shipper and marketer, RPE, Inc., brings opportunity to market Potato innovation does not happen overnight or even in one growing season. Agronomists are long at work in test fields across the globe with the goal of producing better-tasting, better-looking and better-growing potatoes. These trials take years, and the number of candidates at the onset of testing might start out at 200 different varieties, with eventually one or two
reaching commercial production. This is the story of how new potato varieties are born. RPE, Inc., a full-service grower, shipper and marketer of fresh potatoes, is delighted to bring a new, premium red potato variety to consumers this fall. “RPE Golden Red™ premium potatoes are the new gold standard in red po-
tatoes,” says Tim Huffcutt, vice president of sales and marketing operations for RPE. “Compared to common red potatoes, these superior stunners have a vibrant red skin with a rich yellow interior and a sweet creamy taste.” This potato variety started out in the Netherlands where it showed early promise based on yield, internal and continued on pg. 44
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. BC�T October 43
New Products. . .
continued from pg. 43
external quality, as well as disease and insect resistance. Likewise, the variety performed well in growing regions of the United States and Canada. Sensory testing showed that, not only does the Golden Red taste better than standard, mainstream red potatoes, but it also showcases internal and external appearance that outshines its commodity counterpart. FLAVOR & PERFORMANCE Beyond the appearance of the Golden Red is its flavor and performance in the kitchen. Research Chef Chris McAdams says of Golden Red, “I truly believe this potato was built for potato salad; it’s phenomenal in that application.”
“Once it’s cooked, it holds its shape and texture much better than comparable potatoes,” McAdams continues. “When you cut it after boiling, it doesn’t break apart or get grainy, which is what makes it ideal for potato salad.” Chef Chris also recommends consumers prepare Golden Red either boiled, roasted or fried. “These methods,” he says, “highlight the creamy texture and sweet, mildly earthy flavor.” Custom-created recipes and more information about Golden Red can be found on RPE’s website, RPEspud. com/our-products/golden-red-potatoes/. Golden Red is an RPE exclusive vari-
etal. Since the 1950’s, RPE and parent company, Wysocki Family of Companies, have been potato industry innovation leaders. Innovation in storage longevity and crop management, along with varietal trials, is the bedrock of the company and remains a core value today. Golden Red premium potatoes will be available this fall in three-pound, poly light-blocker, bilingual bags. About RPE, Inc. Category leader, RPE, Inc, is a grower/shipper of year-round potatoes and onions, providing category innovation and retail solutions. Varietal development is just one way we combine our progressive farming heritage and visionary agronomy practices.
Paper Packaging is Recyclable and Compostable Warner & Warner distributing The Paper People LLC form-fill seal and stand-up pouches Central Wisconsin-based packaging company, The Paper People LLC, announced on July 20, 2020, the introduction of its new patentpending paper packaging. Developed over the past two years in conjunction with several large U.S.-based retailers, the new line of automated form-fill seal and stand-up pouch paper packaging is the solution for the future in single-use packaging products. The creation of these paper products is in direct response to consumer demand and government regulations for more earth-friendly, recyclable, compostable and sustainable packaging. The company has several patentpending innovations, enabling new products to be heat sealed without the use of non-recyclable paper stream materials. The innovative process and technology make the products versatile and capable 44 BC�T October
of running on existing packaging machinery. Bill Durkee, vice president of manufacturing for the company, says, “The new packaging is designed to run on any existing vertical form-fill seal, horizontal over-wrappers and pre-made, stand-up pouch filling equipment.” Durkee adds, “This makes the change to paper much easier, as there are no major capital investments needed for packers or retailers interested in providing sustainable paper packaging products to their consumers at competitive cost levels.” PACKAGING PARTNERS The Paper People have been working closely with several packaging partner companies, including the Ahlstrom-Munksjö Wisconsin paper mills, to develop a substrate that looks presentable on the store shelf and functions well in the packing
house. Durkee says, “Our plant location was chosen to be close to the ‘Paper Valley’ area of Wisconsin, where Ahlstrom-Munksjö operates many of its plants.” “Ahlstrom-Munksjö and our Wisconsin paper mills have a long history of providing sustainable, fiberbased solutions to the marketplace,” explains Robyn Buss, executive vice president of the Food Packaging & Technical Solutions Business area for Ahlstrom-Munksjö. “Not only does this product create a sustainable end-of-life package, but the beginning of its development starts with sustainable forestry in our Midwestern and Wisconsin wood basket,” Buss says. “We reduce the overall footprint of continuing the manufacturing process throughout Wisconsin and truly create a sustainable packaging solution for consumers across the
United States,” Buss remarks. The exciting new paper packaging hit the fresh produce industry in late summer this year with the introduction of the vented vertical form-fill and seal packaging for potatoes and onions. The company also unveiled its new all-paper, stand-up pouch products for potatoes, apples, citrus, grapes, bulbs and other produce-related products in late summer. WARNER & WARNER DISTRIBUTING The Paper People LLC is initially distributing these sustainable packaging products through Plover, Wisconsin-based Warner & Warner Packaging.
the United States and Canada. These locations allow packers throughout North America to have a seamless transition to the new paper packaging with an established well-known industry distributor. Kurt Heiman, vice president of Warner & Warner Packaging, says, “The demand for automated paper packaging is beyond our expectations. The Paper People’s new products answer a host of challenges that were previously only available in plastics.” Heiman acknowledges that, “Warner & Warner Packaging is excited to be at the forefront of this important earth-friendly technology.” Along with the all-new paper packaging, Warner & Warner is also
Warner & Warner have strategic distribution locations throughout
offering several lines of packaging machinery to fill the automated paper products, including ParsonsEagle form-fill seal baggers, ParsonsEagle pouch filling equipment and Upmann produce weighing and bagging equipment. Warner & Warner will continue to offer its full line of quality packaging products along with the new Paper People products. For more information, contact Warner & Warner Packaging at paperpouch@warnerpackaging.com, www.paperpeopleusa.com.
WPIB Focus
Wisconsin Potato Assessment Collections: Two-Year Comparison
Month
Jul-19
Aug-19
Sep-19
Oct-19
Nov-19
Dec-19
Jan-20
Feb-20
Mar-20
Apr-20
May-20
Jun-20
Year-to-Date
CWT
1,737,634.84
616,558.70
2,354,193.54
Assessment
$139,082.75
$42,984.69
$182,067.44
Month
Jul-20
Aug-20
Sep-20
Oct-20
Nov-20
Dec-20
Jan-21
Feb-21
Mar-21
Apr-21
May-21
Jun-21
Year-to-Date
CWT
1,267,472.18
1,275,285.84
2,542,758.02
Assessment
$101,400.66
$102,092.25
$203,492.91 BC�T October 45
Marketplace
By Dana Rady, WPVGA Director of Promotions and Consumer Education
Wisconsin Growers Featured on Billboards Not long ago, a Wisconsin Potato & Vegetable Growers Association (WPVGA) promotions sub-committee met to discuss opportunities and ideas for marketing potatoes going forward. As a preface to brainstorming, however, the group took a moment to discuss its goals, both individually within each member’s organization, as well as collectively as they relate to the WPVGA. One message that surfaced frequently in that discussion was the need to tell the farmer’s story. That story includes sharing how potatoes are produced, the nutritional value they provide and focusing on who produces them to feed families. Too many people today are losing (or have lost) touch with where and how their food is produced. They do not understand or stop to think about what growers do year after year to ensure that families have access to No | Volume 72 No $22/year | $2/copy
THE VOICE OF
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INTERVIEW:
ynes Mark Ha omist Senior Agron Farms Bula-Gieringer
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46 BC�T October
checks the Mark Haynes of Russet Rangers development inger Farms grown on Bula-Gier (whose arms with Mike Johnson shown) from and hands are McCain Foods.
WPVGA Board President and potato/vegetable grower Rod Gumz of Gumz Farms in Endeavor, Wisconsin, poses in a field with his daughter, Alex, for a billboard that can be seen along Highway 39 just south of County Highway W near Bancroft.
high-quality and nutritious food! They do not relate to farmers as fellow human beings who also work to make a living and support their families. INTERSTATE PROMOTIONS It is for this reason the WPVGA Promotions Committee decided to place two billboards on Wisconsin interstates. One billboard is located on I-41 in the Fox Cities. Specifically, the illuminated
board is near the Wisconsin Public Service Fox Energy Center, about a half mile south of County U and just north of Kaukauna. The message is a repeat of a previous design. It features Keith Wolter of Hyland Lakes Spuds along with his wife, Danielle, and their three daughters posing in a potato field with the verbiage “Farmer Father Friend” on the billboard. The second illuminated board is
Badger Common’Tater
THE VOICE OF THE WISCONSIN POTATO & VEGETABLE INDUSTRY
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located on I- 39 one mile south of County Highway W near Bancroft. The words on this billboard are also “Farmer Father Friend,” but the image features Rod Gumz of Gumz Farms, in Endeavor, with his daughter, Alex, who are also in a potato field. With simple verbiage and an inviting design, the message is loud and clear on both boards: farmers are not just farmers. They are also fathers and friends. They have chosen farming as a profession to support their families. This carries the additional responsibility of feeding other families as well. And the best part? They are doing
Wisconsin potato grower Keith Wolter of Hyland Lakes Spuds, in Antigo, poses in one of his fields with his wife, Danielle, and three daughters, Paige, Hadley and Reece. They are featured on a billboard along Highway 41 near the Wisconsin Public Service Fox Energy Center, about a half mile south of County U and just north of Kaukauna.
so on less land and are keeping Mother Nature in mind with their environmentally friendly practices. It
is a complex process, but Wisconsin growers are experts and “outstanding in their fields!”
Commercial Says “Thank You” to Consumers The WPVGA Promotions Committee has a newly produced commercial that you may see playing this football season. With greater restrictions on fans in stadiums in addition to the caution some people are taking in not visiting bars and restaurants as frequently, the number of fans watching sports on their televisions is sure to skyrocket. As long as the season continues in some capacity on television, the WPVGA is working with WFRV-TV in Green Bay on sponsoring the “Locker Room Live” show. With that sponsorship, WPVGA’s newest commercial will be featured. The commercial script is simple. Several growers and employees of Wisconsin potato-producing organizations say “thank you” while the video tells the story of how potatoes get from the field to family dinner tables. One creative twist is that some individuals in the commercial say, “thank you” in languages other than English. Besides English, the other languages spoken are German,
Polish and Spanish. GRATITUDE TO CONSUMERS The underlying message is gratitude to consumers for buying locally produced Wisconsin potatoes and helping growers feed families, especially during challenging times like a global pandemic. The commercial also artistically relays just how many people are part of the “field to fork” process, which in turn showcases how important agriculture is in producing food and economically through jobs. Intertwined in all of this is the message that buying local is important. The commercial humanizes the Wisconsin potato industry. It shows the faces of the industry that help feed families. It emphasizes the diverse nature of agriculture and its importance. It calls consumers to action to look for and purchase Wisconsin potatoes and support their local economies while also getting a fresher product. And most of all, this commercial brings the positive grower story into the spotlight and showcases those who are experts in their field!
A special thank you to those who made the production of this newest continued on pg. 48
PLAN FOR TOMORROW, LIVE FOR TODAY.
Brian D Blink,
CLU®, ChFC®, CASL® Wealth Management Advisor 715.610.3232 brianblink.nm.com
07-1012 © 2020 The Northwestern Mutual Life Insurance Company, Milwaukee, WI (Northwestern Mutual). The Chartered Advisor for Senior Living (CASL®) designation is conferred by The American College of Financial Services.
BC�T October 47
Marketplace. . .
continued from pg. 47
commercial a success: • Alsum Farms, Friesland: Wendy Dykstra and daughters, Reagan and Riley; Christine Lindner, Jeff Huber and Austin Meinhardt • Worzella and Sons, Plover: Steve Worzella • Okray Family Farms, Plover: Nancy
Cipriano, Dick Okray and Tobias Daniels • Coloma Farms: Andy Diercks • Bula Farms: Gary Bula, Bryan Bula, Nathan Bula, Tamra Bula-Garz and Mike Rykiel View the “Thank you Consumer” commercial by visiting https://youtu.
be/WRIFXKrHW9Y. Other WPVGA commercials you might see during the season include “Thank a Farmer,” available for viewing at https://youtu.be/-zu7-tbHUwA, and “Field to Fork” via https://youtu.be/lLxu8w4fEk.
Antigo Tater Trot Goes Virtual The Antigo Tater Trot looked a little different this year!
desired day during the event’s firstever virtual rendition.
Due to the pandemic, participants were not able to line up at the starting gate and begin the race at the same time as they had done in the past.
Anytime during August 3-9, participants simply had to time themselves as they ran or walked the race they had registered for, namely, the 10k run, 3.75-mile run/walk or the 1-mile run. Once complete, they submitted their results and were able to see the place they finished (or
Instead of getting everyone together, participants ran at their own pace, on their own route and on their own
ranking in the race). It was a unique event, but one adapted to the current circumstances. The Tater Trot received plenty of interest from the Wisconsin potato industry. Part of the Powered by Wisconsin Potatoes events, participants from the industry had their registrations covered by the Wisconsin Potato & Vegetable Growers Association (WPVGA). All proceeds for the race went toward the local high school cross country team. This group of participants in the virtual Antigo Tater Trot had a little social distancing fun while wearing masks. They also sported their Powered by Wisconsin Potatoes T-shirts. Photos courtesy of Janet Glodowski
48 BC�T October
Auxiliary News By Devin Zarda, vice president, WPGA
Happy harvest season, friends! I hope that the crop
looks good, digging conditions are working in your favor and the season is injury-free! But let’s be honest, 2020 has been a challenge from the start. If we, as the Wisconsin Potato Growers Auxiliary, had to pick one word to describe our actions in 2020, I truly believe this word would be pivot. With everything that we have done in 2020, we have had to pivot. The Wisconsin State Fair was no exception. In July, we were informed that the State Fair was being cancelled. With the baked potato booth at the fair being our main fundraising effort each calendar year, this decision stung a little, but we understood the reasonings.
Then the State Fair decided to channel our word and pivoted. The Fair went mobile, or to better describe things, offered drive-up services for those who still wanted to sample fair food! We didn’t know what to expect when we agreed to sign up for the drive-up event, but we went into it with no expectations. We hoped that we would be able to keep up with demand for baked potatoes, cover our costs and remind people that the baked potato booth will be back in business for years to come. CRAZY TURN-OUT Well, we were shocked! The turnout was crazy! After the first day, we were scrambling! We weren’t going to have enough potatoes, toppings or workers. Thankfully, we have amazing
distributors who could get us more product and family members who understand the importance of our mission. We also got assistance from workers retained by the State Fair Park so that we could make sure everyone who wanted a potato got one. Included herein are a few photos from the drive-through event. After two weekends working the event, we definitely learned a lot, including how to pivot. Is this how we hope to run every State Fair? Nope, but it worked in a pinch! continued on pg. 50
Above: Helpers for the first weekend of the Wisconsin State Fair drive-through, where the Auxiliary sold baked potatoes and toppings, are lined up in front of the Spudmobile and ready for customers. BC�T October 49
Auxiliary News. . . continued from pg. 49
Thank you to everyone who helped make this drive-up baked potato booth possible. Without your ingenuity, willingness to travel and get more product, and physically
work in the booth, this would not have run as smoothly as it did. You all are amazing! Until next time,
Devin
Left: Customers at the Wisconsin State Fair drive-through were offered “Fair Eats for Four Weeks!,” including Wisconsin baked potatoes with choice of toppings. RIght: Casie Wiese fills orders for baked potatoes and toppings at the Wisconsin State Fair drive-through.
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Impact to Growers of Proposed Tax Law Changes Making sense of the sensationalism is part of evaluating how tax law changes could affect farmers By Jeffrey S. DeWald CLU©, ChFC©, CBEC, farm succession planning specialist, Lincoln Agribusiness Services You have probably seen the flurry of media stories speculating on the tax consequences of the November elections. Yet many farm families are asking: What do the headlines mean? The 2017 tax act temporarily increased the Federal Gift and Estate Tax exemption to the most generous level in history: the exemption in 2020 is $11,580,000 per person and $23,160,000 per married couple. Under existing tax law, this big exemption “sunsets” (terminates) at the end of 2025. Depending on the results of the November election, the large estate and gift tax exemption may be eliminated as soon as January 1, 2021.
Such a change might occur notwithstanding the election results, but rather because of the perceived need for additional federal government funding to pay for COVID-19-related spending. Farm families retain our firm, Lincoln Agribusiness Services, to help them make intelligent financial decisions. How might these different exemptions impact your operation? CLARITY ON CONFUSING SUBJECT To provide clarity on this confusing subject, we modeled the potential
transfer tax impact on a married couple with a family farm and a $20,000,000 estate. Under current law, assets above the exemption amount are taxed at 40 percent. Today’s law automatically sunsets on December 31, 2025, with the exemption dropping to $5,000,000 per person and $10,000,000 per married couple, adjusted for inflation, beginning on January 1, 2026. Published reports have indicated continued on pg. 52
Above: It is important for a farm family to have sufficient liquid assets available (cash savings or life insurance) to afford the estate tax, which must be paid in full nine months after death. Image courtesy of Crary Industries and Lockwood Manufacturing BC�T October 51
Proposed Tax Law Changes . . . continued from pg. 51
that the tax proposals of Democratic presidential nominee, Joe Biden, would roll back the exemption to its 2009 level ($3,500,000 per person or $7,000,000 per couple) and increase the tax rate on the excess to 45 percent. Of course, we do not know who will win the election, what his formal tax proposal will be or what might ultimately become law. Still, the differences are dramatic. The visual analysis, shown on page 51, assumes that the couple has taxefficient wills and trusts designed to minimize Federal Estate Tax (this is often not the case). It also assumes the estate does not grow between now and 2026, not a reasonable assumption for most successful farm operations. Finally, it also assumes residence in a state with no State Inheritance
“The Biden proposal would increase capital gains tax rates to as high as 37.5 percent for family farms. This could be a game changing event.” – Jeffrey S. DeWald Tax, like Florida, New Hampshire or Wisconsin. Residents of states that impose a state death tax might incur significantly higher taxes. For example, the state of Washington death tax can be as high as 20 percent, Nebraska’s as much as 18 percent, and multiple states (Oregon, Minnesota, Illinois, New York, Vermont, New Jersey, Maryland, Rhode Island and the District of Columbia) have rates reaching up to 16 percent.
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When a farm family has an estate plan that is not comprehensive, an estate that continues to grow and/or lives in a state with a significant death tax, the bill could be far worse than shown. It is also important for the family to have sufficient liquid assets available (cash savings or life insurance) to afford the tax, which must be paid in full nine months after death. This last point is increasingly important: the Biden proposal would eliminate the current “step up in cost basis” at death. So, a family that is
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forced to liquidate assets to pay the estate tax could also incur capital gains tax. CAPITAL GAINS TAX RATES The Biden proposal would increase capital gains tax rates to as high as 37.5 percent for family farms. This could be a game changing event. A portion of the operation might have to be sold at a high tax cost to satisfy the estate tax, potentially impairing the operation and making it more difficult to provide children who are not active in the farm with a fair and equitable inheritance.
CBEC is a registered representative of Lincoln Financial Advisors. Securities are offered through Lincoln Financial Advisors Corp., a broker/ dealer (Member SIPC). Investment advisory services are offered through Sagemark Consulting, a division of Lincoln Financial Advisors, a registered investment advisor. Insurance is offered through Lincoln affiliates and other fine companies. Lincoln Financial Group is the marketing name for Lincoln National
Above: Fortunately, with the Federal Estate Tax, there are a variety of planning techniques that can control or minimize (and in some cases, even eliminate) the capital gains tax. Image courtesy of Crary Industries and Lockwood Manufacturing
Corporation and its affiliates. Lincoln Financial Advisors Corp. and its representatives do not provide legal or tax advice. You may want to consult a legal or tax advisor regarding any information as it relates to your personal circumstances.
If you find this situation worrisome, you are not alone. Fortunately, with the Federal Estate Tax, there are a variety of planning techniques that can control or minimize (and in some cases, even eliminate) these taxes. However, the techniques merit careful consideration, and the window to implement them could close as early as December 31, 2020. To model the potential impact on your estate, business and family, you might want to consult with your own tax advisors. Let us know if we can help. A little proactive planning today could produce dramatic savings if/when this tax increase becomes reality. Jeffrey S. DeWald CLUŠ , ChFCŠ , BC�T October 53
Now News Drone Spraying Available to Growers
Wisconsin man joins Rantizo as local service application contractor Rantizo, the market leader in agricultural drone spraying, announces that Troy Gibbs of Oregon, Wisconsin, joins its network of licensed, insured, trained and certified application services contractors for the state of Wisconsin. The drone spraying technologies company based out of Iowa City, Iowa, received initial approvals for operation from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) in July 2019. At that time, the company became the first and only approved for drone spraying in the state of Iowa. Just recently, the company also became the first drone spraying company approved for nationwide swarming by the FAA. Since then, Rantizo has been working to bring its technology to fields across the country, providing timely and precise in-field, dronebased applications of liquid and dry materials. The company is achieving its goals through partnerships with individuals like Gibbs. As a Rantizo application services contractor, Gibbs will provide custom application services to farmers in the area. These services can include herbicides, pesticides, fungicides, granular fertilizers or cover crop seeds. 54 BC�T October
“We have seen tremendous interest and need for our drone sprayers,” Rantizo CEO Michael Ott states. “These needs are not limited by geography or even crop.”
Above: Rantizo has been working to bring its technology to fields across the country, providing timely and precise in-field drone-based applications of liquid and dry materials.
FUTURE OF AG “Virtually everyone we talk with sees some use for our technology as a benefit to their operations,” Ott continues. “Many say that drones are the future of agriculture, but we are quickly proving that they are the present of ag.”
With drone equipment in hand, Gibbs began custom application services for local growers during the 2020 season while also offering sanitization services for facilities needing it because of COVID-19.
Gibbs joins the Rantizo network of application services contractors that has rapidly increased since 2019. He is the second Rantizo contractor operating in Wisconsin, but the first and only to cover the Oregon, Wisconsin, area. Rantizo contractors can be found for hire in multiple states across the country, ranging from California to as far east as Pennsylvania. “Rantizo offers a unique opportunity for me to combine my Air Force experience with a passion for agriculture,” Gibbs says. “Whether it is applying fungicide for local farmers, pesticide for municipalities or even sanitizer for event stadiums, Rantizo is able to offer an innovative and economical solution to a variety of consumers.”
To book Gibbs and/or Rantizo application services, please call 563920-8356, or visit www.rantizo.com. About Rantizo Rantizo is the first company licensed and approved for drone-based agricultural spraying in multiple states. The Rantizo platform addresses the field needs of farmers and the business needs of custom applicators by providing an integrated solution that’s first of its kind in leveraging the identification of in-field anomalies with autonomous targeted drone-based agricultural spraying. The platform delivers an end-to-end solution that identifies problem areas, diagnoses field issues, sprays and applies required treatments and verifies the issues have been addressed accurately, all through a combination of autonomous hardware and user-friendly software. The highest value to farmers is generated from delivering inputs precisely where they are needed when they’re needed. Rantizo delivers that solution while increasing the efficiency, precision and cost-effectiveness of agricultural spraying.
AbbyBank Helps Fill a Backpack, Fill a Need
Peace Lutheran Church partners in United Way of Marathon County campaign The United Way of Marathon County still held its annual Fill A Backpack, Fill A Need program despite COVID-19. Instead of collecting supplies, the organization took monetary donations to help purchase backpacks and classroom supply lists. AbbyBank collected funds at its Abbotsford, Wausau and Weston, Wisconsin, locations, as did Peace Lutheran Church in the Town
of Frankfort. The Fill A Backpack, Fill A Need program helps all local students in need at Marathon County schools (Abbotsford and Colby included). “Thanks to Peace Lutheran Church, we were able to purchase over 20 backpacks and over $400 in supplies to fill them,” states Natalyn Jannene, assistant vice president of marketing for AbbyBank.
Valley Irrigation Acquires PrecisionKing
Acquisition strengthens company technology and flood irrigation monitoring Valley Irrigation, the leader in Precision Irrigation®, has acquired PrecisionKing, a Mississippi-based ag tech company with products focused on moisture monitoring, pump control and remote sensing, especially of flood irrigation. “We are excited about this acquisition for many reasons,” says Darren Siekman, vice president of Water Delivery & Business Development for Valley. “It strengthens our footprint in the Mississippi Delta region and brings additional, talented team members on board.” “It opens additional doors into other methods of irrigation, such as flood,” he says, “and it further expands our industry-best network of connected devices.” Founded in 2014, PrecisionKing offers products that include DecisionKing (moisture monitoring), PumpKing (remote pump control), RiceKing (water level monitoring), PivotKing (remote pivot control) and ClimateKing (weather monitoring). “We are very excited for this opportunity,” says Daniel Cole, partner in PrecisionKing. “Valley is the industry leader in sales, service
Copyright Valmont Industries, Inc. All rights reserved.
and technology, and we would not have made any move that we didn’t think would benefit our customers in the long term.” “Aligning with the global strength of the Valley brand will enable us to better serve growers in the Delta region and beyond, while keeping the local touch that they’re used to,” Cole adds. “It’s increasingly clear that the future of farming is technology. Growers demand smart solutions that help them produce more with less and that improve their quality of life,” says Andy Carritt, Valley vice
president, Global Product & AgSense GM. “Valley recently surpassed 100,000 grower devices connected to the internet, which leads the industry, meaning more growers are trusting the efficiencies that technology provides,” Carritt stresses. “It also means more growers trust Valley to deliver the most advanced, reliable technological solutions on the market.” For more information, please visit www.precisionking.net. continued on pg. 56 BC�T October 55
Now News . . . continued from pg. 55
Wisconsin Ag Youth Council Members Announced Each will serve a one-year term and then receive a certificate of completion Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection (DATCP) Secretary-designee Randy Romanski announces the 15 members of the Wisconsin Agriculture Youth Council. These members will serve a one-year term, receiving a certificate of completion at the end of their service. “Congratulations to the first members of the Wisconsin Agriculture Youth Council! These students are outstanding representatives of the future of Wisconsin agriculture, and their insights will be incredibly valuable to our department and the entire industry,” Romanski says. “We are excited to engage with these young people to promote agricultural
career opportunities, share resources available for farmers and discuss agricultural policy development,” he remarks. Members include: • Chad Achenbach, Eastman, Wisconsin • Haley Beukema, New Richmond • Hannah Dahl, Columbus • Charles Fahey, Sussex • Kendra Goplin, Osseo • Samantha Hammiller, Burlington • Abigail Helbach, Amherst • Sophia Larson, Reedsburg • Adaire MacSwain, Hudson • Jamison Meier, Windsor • Natalie Ott, Berlin • Natalie Roe, Monticello • Lauren Thompson, Woodville
• Drew Tuttle, Drummond • Randy Winch, Fennimore The purpose of the Wisconsin Agriculture Youth Council is to encourage young people to engage with state government and increase their awareness of DATCP’s interactions with the Wisconsin agriculture industry. Council members will attend monthly virtual sessions, hearing presentations and engage in discussion. For more information about the Wisconsin Agriculture Youth Council, visit AgYouthCouncil.wi.gov. Follow the hashtag #WIAgYouthCouncil on social media for updates throughout the year.
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Eyes on Associates
By WPVGA Associate Div. President Kenton Mehlberg, T.I.P. / Ag Grow Solutions
Greetings, all. I hope everyone is doing well. The 2020 harvest is upon us and I am glad! We had a beautiful summer, but the fall season in Wisconsin is tough to beat. Fall is personally my favorite season and I am enjoying crisp mornings and warm days.
Most of the state is in full potato harvest swing and already finishing up. I truly hope that Mother Nature has been cooperating and allowing everyone time to get their crops out of the field. With the Putt-Tato Open golf tournament behind us, most efforts now in the Associate Division have switched to upcoming events for 2020-’21.
SEVEN SCHOLARSHIPS The Associate Division and Wisconsin Potato Growers Auxiliary teamed up to award seven scholarships totalling $8,510 to deserving students who are in the families of Wisconsin Potato & Vegetable Growers Association members. Congratulations to all the recipients. Most of the recent activity in the Associate Division has revolved
around our upcoming 1st Annual Trap & Skeet Shoot. We are excited about this new event, and I encourage everyone to attend. All members, spouses and family members are welcome. The event will be held at the beautiful Wausau Trap and Skeet Club on Thursday, October 29. Registration will be begin at 1 p.m. with side shooting games starting shortly after. Please plan on getting there early enough to participate. The side games allow you the chance to be entered in a separate raffle drawing continued on pg. 58
Next year’s Putt-Tato Open will be held on Tuesday, July 13, at Lake Arrowhead Golf Course in Nekoosa. By then, the course will have a beautiful new clubhouse, so please make plans to attend. I would like to extend one last thank you to everyone who participated in, helped plan and contributed to the 2020 Putt-Tato Open. Under the circumstances, it was an extremely positive event, and I was proud to see the participation. We will all look forward to this great event next year. If you have not already done so, please read the Eyes on Associates column in the August 2020 Badger Common’Tater to find out who the recipients are of this year’s educational scholarships.
Cathy Schommer was a friendly face at the Compeer Financial and AgCountry Farm Credit Services sponsored hole during the 2020 Putt-Tato Open at Bullseye Golf Club in Wisconsin Rapids, Wisconsin. BC�T October 57
Eyes on Associates . . . continued from pg. 57
for some great prizes.
Awards will be given to the top two shooters in each of the male, female and youth divisions. For those of you who have never shot before, personal coaches will be available to outfit you with a shotgun for the day and make sure you feel safe and comfortable so you can have fun.
Each person’s registration includes one round of sporting clays for the 75-target course. The main shooting event will start at 2 p.m. In addition to the round of clays, registration includes a delicious dinner catered by a popular local restaurant, one drink Please bring your own equipment if ticket and an entry in a door prize 1 2020-09-11 8:02 AM you have it (shotgun, vest, shell bag, drawing. 20-10 Badger Common'Tater .25page AD (5x4).v1.outlines.pdf
and eye and ear protection). If you do not have equipment, the club can provide some for you. Shells will be provided for all shooters. TEAM EVENT Teams of five are encouraged, but not necessary. We can place you on a team the day of the event if you do not have a team. The round of clays will be followed by a dinner and banquet with raffle prizes. Please be sure to check out the sponsorship opportunities available in the Tater Talk enewsletter or by contacting Julie Braun at jbraun@ wisconsinpotatoes.com. This event is a great way to promote your business and support the industry at the same time. At our upcoming Associate Division Board of Directors meeting, we will be discussing the 2021 Grower Education Conference & Industry Show. We are currently planning to move forward with the event as planned, but will be exploring all options. We would appreciate feedback from our members on this upcoming event. Please let us know if you have any questions, comments or concerns. If anybody has questions or comments about any of our sponsored events, please share your ideas with an Associate Division member. We would be happy to discuss them as a group. Godspeed to all of you throughout harvest. Try to enjoy what is left of this beautiful season, and I look forward to seeing you out in the field or through next month’s column.
Kenton Mehlberg WPVGA Associate Division President 58 BC�T October
Left: Flowers from plants are used for diploid potato production.
growing potatoes on Mars.
Building a Better Potato
The spud is amazingly flexible when it comes to its core genetic constitution By Drs. Paul Bethke and Shelley Jansky, U.S. Department of AgricultureARS (Agricultural Research Service) employees and faculty members at the University of Wisconsin-Madison The humble potato is amazing. You know this. As a nutrient-dense, abundant food, potato has shaped human societies from the Inca Empire
to industrial Europe. Potatoes are grown in 165 countries on every continent except Antarctica. NASA is exploring the possibility of
Potatoes appeal to nearly everyone, and as a result, they are an essential ingredient in cuisines all over the world. What you may not know is that the potato is amazingly flexible when it comes to its core genetic constitution. Potato breeders are now poised to use this feature to change the humble potato in ways that may make an amazing crop even better. What makes a potato a potato, and why does one variety differ from another? The answer is found in the potato’s DNA. DNA is the instruction manual for building a potato plant, and the assembly instructions are written into 39,000 genes. These genes are arranged in a consistent linear order on 12 chromosomes.
continued on pg. 60
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Building a Better Potato . . . continued from pg. 59
Potato varieties carry four copies of each chromosome, so they are called tetraploid (tetra=four, ploid=sets of chromosomes). This is illustrated in the left panel of Figure 1, where each of the four sets of 12 chromosomes has a different color. Because each chromosome is duplicated four times, potato plants have four copies of each gene. COMPETING INSTRUCTIONS The four sets of instructions for any task may be identical but, surprisingly, they are usually different from each other. For example, let’s say that there is a gene for russet skin. (There are at least three genes responsible for russet skin, but we will focus on only one here.) One version of the gene (one allele) provides instructions to make russet skin; a variation of this gene fails to produce russet skin.
Figure 1: The method illustrated here is used for producing diploid spuds from any potato variety.
A plant that has at least one allele for russeting will produce russet potatoes. Conversely, a plant that
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to describe this. They use the capital letter R to indicate the allele that makes russet skin and lowercase r to indicate the allele that doesn’t make russet skin. Tetraploid plants that have these four combinations of alleles, RRRR, RRRr, RRrr and Rrrr, will produce potatoes with russet skin; only those with the combination rrrr will produce smooth-skinned potatoes. You may have heard recent talk about diploid potatoes. These plants have two sets of chromosomes (diploid: di=two) instead of four. Later, we’ll get back to why we are excited about diploid potatoes. For now, though, let’s focus on how we get there from where we are today. How do we make a potato that has 24 chromosomes from a potato that has 48 chromosomes? Do we use a tiny pair of tweezers to remove them? No, we have a much simpler method, which illustrates
another amazing feature of the potato. Here’s how it’s done. We can cross a potato variety, let’s say Russet Norkotah, with pollen from a special South American potato that we call a Phureja pollinator. Russet Norkotah flowers produce egg cells, each of which carry two sets of 12 chromosomes. The two copies of each chromosome in the egg cell are selected at random from the four sets in the mother plant. This is illustrated in the middle panel of Figure 1. Normally, potato pollen will also carry two copies of each chromosome. As a result, when fertilization occurs and the egg cell and sperm cell in the pollen fuse, the resulting offspring have four copies of each chromosome. They are tetraploid. However, something unusual happens when we apply pollen from the Phureja pollinator to Russet Norkotah flowers. Egg cells grow into embryos
within seeds, but those embryos don’t have any DNA from the Phureja pollinator. They are fatherless. This is illustrated in the right panel of Figure 1. Botanists use the term haploid for an egg cell that develops into a plant without fertilization. Potato haploids carry two sets of chromosomes and potato breeders call them dihaploids to emphasize this. The creation of diploids is not technically challenging, but it requires an extremely large number of pollinations. In practice, we get only one or two dihaploids from several hundred pollinations. In recent years, with support from the Wisconsin Potato & Vegetable Growers Association, we have developed a method to scale up this process. Instead of producing flowers on plants in greenhouses or field plots, continued on pg. 62
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Building a Better Potato . . . continued from pg. 61
we are taking advantage of the huge numbers of flowers produced in commercial fields. CUTTING FLOWER STEMS There may be a million flowers on an acre of potatoes. We can cut flower stems, bring them back to Madison, put them in bottles of water in a cool greenhouse and make thousands of pollinations in a few days (image that leads off this feature article). A few weeks later, we harvest berries and collect the dihaploid seeds within them. Why go to all this trouble? Why do we want to make diploid potatoes? One reason is that many undesirable alleles are hidden in the chromosomes of all potato varieties. The negative effects of these undesirable alleles are seen by potato breeders every harvest season when they dig families of plants created by making crosses between varieties. Most new potato offspring are worse than their parents, in part because previously hidden deleterious alleles are revealed in the offspring.
“As a nutrient-dense, abundant food, potato has shaped human societies from the Inca Empire to industrial Europe.” – Paul Bethke and Shelley Jansky What if we could weed out the harmful alleles and concentrate on the desirable ones? That is what we hope to do with the diploid breeding project. It is much more difficult for an undesirable allele to hide behind one other copy of the gene than three other copies. So, in the diploid breeding project, the first goal is to make several dihaploids from every potato breeder’s favorite tetraploid varieties. We can then throw away the dihaploids that are expressing undesirable alleles. Figure 2 shows tubers from 12 different Russet Norkotah dihaploid plants. As you can see, some have russet skin, and some do not. Some are too long, and others are too
round. Some have alligator skin. Genetic instructions for all these traits are carried by Russet Norkotah, but they are hidden behind alleles for attractive russet skin and a long blocky shape. Russet Norkotah has been a perennial favorite in the fresh market for decades, but because it carries all these undesirable alleles, it has been challenging to use as a parent in potato breeding. By making dihaploids, we can reveal and discard plants with alleles that we don’t want. With time, this allows us to “fix” the alleles that we want to keep. By making crosses between diploid russets, some of which are Rr, and throwing away any plants that do not make russet tubers (they are rr), we can move toward parents in breeding programs that only make russet offspring because all the parents are RR. Every time a russet RR parent is crossed to another russet RR parent, all the offspring are RR and produce russet skin. This is what we mean by fixing a trait. In our tetraploid cultivars, even basic traits like russet skin and long shape are not fixed. If a breeder grows 100 plants from a cross between two russets, perhaps only 40 will be long russets.
Figure 2: The tubers shown are from diploid plants derived from the Russet Norkotah variety. Some plants have alleles that produce russet tubers, but many have inherited undesirable alleles that do not produce a russet skin. 62 BC�T October
As illustrated in Figure 3, if we could fix russet skin and long shape in russet breeding programs, then a breeder planting 100 seeds would expect that all 100 would produce long russets. She could select for other traits,
Figure 3: One goal of diploid potato breeding is to generate parents that breed true for essential market traits such as russet skin and long shape.
such as disease resistance and processing quality, among 100 new genetic combinations rather than 40. This would be a huge increase in the efficiency of a potato breeding program. You may be asking, how we can get away with removing half of the chromosomes in potato? This is yet another amazing feature of this remarkable plant.
In its South American homeland, potato varieties range from diploid to pentaploid (five sets) with no consistent visible features that distinguish among ploidy levels. Similarly, wild potatoes range from diploid to hexaploid (six sets), with most being diploid. So, potato is remarkable in its ability to tolerate a wide range of chromosome sets. In recent years, we have shown
Figure 4: These diploid potatoes are hard to distinguish from the round white varieties that we currently grow.
that tubers from selected diploids are indistinguishable from those of tetraploids (Figure 4). For everyone except potato breeders, the number of chromosome sets is irrelevant. The outcome of moving to the diploid level, though, will likely be a nimbler response to industry needs as breeders more systematically refine and improve the potato’s genetic constitution.
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NPC News Senators Urge Full Access for U.S. Fresh Potatoes Senate allies urge Perdue and Lighthizer to increase pressure on Mexico Seeing an opening to address the U.S. potato industry’s ongoing dispute with Mexico, on August 18, U.S. Senators Mike Crapo (R-Idaho), Cory Gardner (R-Colo.) and James Risch (R-Idaho) issued letters to U.S. Department of Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue and U.S. Trade Representative (USTR) Ambassador Robert Lighthizer urging them to increase pressure on Mexico for more access to U.S. fresh potatoes. The senators write, “We encourage you to consider the use of all available mechanisms, including the new dispute resolution authority under the USMCA, to ensure Mexico honors its agreement to allow U.S. potatoes to reach Mexican consumers.” “Throughout our campaign to gain rightful access to the Mexican market, we’ve counted on and appreciate the consistent and vocal support of Senators Risch, Crapo and Gardner to hold all parties accountable to our trade agreements,” says National Potato Council (NPC) President Britt Raybould. “This issue has been delayed for 20
that Mexican avocados should be the major commodity targeted for retaliation.”
years,” she stresses. “It’s past time to resolve the matter and lift the block on U.S. potato exports, which could amount to over $100 million annually, benefitting our growers, the U.S. economy and Mexican consumers.” As reported by Spudman magazine, the agreement referenced in the Senate letter refers to an avocadosfor-potatoes tradeoff agreed upon by the United States and Mexico over a decade ago. The United States is the top importer of Mexican avocados, valued at more than $2 billion per year. RETALIATORY TARIFFS “If we pursue dispute resolution and win, it will authorize retaliatory tariffs on Mexican agricultural products,” says NPC CEO Kam Quarles. “Some in our industry have already suggested
“Mexican avocados have been huge beneficiaries in the avocadosfor-potatoes agreement,” Quarles continues, “as the U.S. honored its side of the deal while Mexico did not.” Currently, due to litigation brought by the Mexican potato cartel against their own government, U.S. fresh potatoes cannot be shipped beyond 26 kilometers of the U.S.-Mexico border. This is a violation of a 2014 Mexican government decision to allow full access to U.S. fresh potatoes to be sold throughout Mexico and violates Mexico’s responsibilities under the World Trade Organization and the new USMCA (United States-MexicoCanada Agreement). The litigation is currently before the Mexican Supreme Court, which has been on hiatus due to the COVID pandemic.
President Trump Adds $1 Billion to Food Box Program On Monday, August 24, in North Carolina, President Donald J. Trump announced the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) will provide an additional $1 billion for the Farmers to Families Food Box Program. Roughly $500-600 million remains from the original $3 billion allocated to the program. The additional $1 billion in funding is authorized under the Families First Coronavirus 64 BC�T October
Response Act (FFCRA), and the focus will remain on combination boxes. The USDA-AMS (Agricultural Marketing Service) purchased $1.2 billion in agricultural products for the combination boxes as part of the first round, which occurred May 15 through June 30. The program is currently in its second round, which is aiming to purchase
up to $1.47 billion in agricultural products through August 31. AMS is currently accepting proposals from companies that can provide fruits and vegetables for the third round of the program. To date, the Farmers to Families program has delivered 75 million boxes of domestic fresh fruits and vegetables, dairy and meat to food banks and nonprofits.
Ali's Kitchen
Potatoes to the Rescue!
A baked potato bar with all the toppings is customizable, simple and delicious Column and photos by Ali Carter, Wisconsin Potato Growers Auxiliary After a full week of cooking only for myself and my husband, Mike, lastminute plans were made to spend an evening with two of our sons and a couple of our friends, enjoying dinner together at our home.
A lack of motivation to make the drive to the store for an in-depth grocery shopping trip, and a desire to continue with the easy meals we’ve been enjoying lately, I settled continued on pg. 66
Potato Topping Ideas • Diced onions • Chives • Pickled jalapenos • Shredded cheese • Cheese sauce • Salsa • Broccoli • Sliced radishes • Crumbled, cooked bacon • Black beans • Chili • Sour cream • Butter BC�T October 65
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Ali's Kitchen. . .
continued from pg. 65
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on putting together a baked potato bar to round out our meal of steaks and salad.
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After all, who doesn’t love a good baked potato?
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Prepare your potato toppings earlier in the day and place them in the fridge until you are ready to set out the meal and eat. This allowed me to escape the kitchen and spend time with my loved ones on the back patio while Mike manned the grill and cooked our steaks nearby.
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To keep things super simple, you can make your baked potatoes on the grill as well!
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Wash the potatoes and pierce each one several times with a fork before rubbing lightly with olive oil and then giving them all a generous sprinkle of salt. Place the potatoes on the hottest part of the grill, close the lid and allow them to cook for about 45 minutes to an hour.
When it’s time to eat, simply arrange the baked potatoes and the toppings onto a large serving tray, or food board, and allow your family and friends to serve themselves and customize their potatoes with their favorite toppings. Enjoy! Find more recipes at www.LifeOnGraniteRidge.com.
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N7158 6TH DRIVE P.O. BOX 215 PLAINFIELD, WI 54966 OFFICE: (715) 335-6660 FAX: (715) 335-6661
EGETABLE
KEEP ON TRACK WITH OUR
TORAGE
S
YSTEMS INC.
SPROUT INHIBITORS AND DISINFECTANTS
Oasis Irrigation............................. 68 Paragon Potato Farms.................. 53 Polaris c/o Digitas......................... 19 Roberts Irrigation ......................... 29 Rural Mutual Insurance................ 50 Sand County Equipment............... 37 Schroeder Brothers Farms.............. 7
STORAGE VENTILATION
SPROUT INHIBITING
Swiderski Equipment.................... 63
• COMPUTERIZED CONTROL PANELS • HUMIDIFICATION • REFRIGERATION
• FRUIT GUARD APPLICATIONS • SMART BLOCK APPLICATIONS • CIPC, CLOVE OIL APPLICATIONS
Syngenta....................................... 13
AGRI-VENTILATION SALES AND SERVICE 24 HR. EMERG. SERVICE
ThorPack....................................... 23 T.I.P............................................... 60 Vantage North Central.................. 32 Volm Companies........................... 58 Warner & Warner......................... 33 WPVGA Subscribers...................... 46 WPVGA Support Our Members.... 43 WSPIA........................................... 61
66 BC�T October
P.O. Box 327 Antigo, WI 54409 CHANGE SERVICE REQUESTED
Non-Profit Org U.S. Postage Paid Stevens Point, WI 54481 Permit No. 480
Contact <Dealership name> to learn more about the FieldNET family of Contact Oasis Integrated Contact <Dealership name> to Irrigation learn remote irrigation management Solutions to learn more about more about the FieldNET family of ® Pivotfamily Watch™, tools – FieldNET the FieldNET of remote irrigation management TM and FieldNET Control remote Pivot irrigation management Watch™, tools – FieldNET® Pivot TM ® . FieldNET Pivot Control Lite tools – FieldNET Pivot Watch™, Contact <Dealership name> TM andto learn FieldNET Pivot Control
FieldNET Pivot Control™ andof more about the FieldNET family . FieldNET Pivot Control LiteTM FieldNET Pivot Control Lite™. remote irrigation management tools – FieldNET® Pivot Watch™, FieldNET Pivot ControlTM and FieldNET Pivot Control LiteTM.
<Dealership Name> <Street> <City, ST 00000-0000> <Dealership Name> <Street> N6775 5th Avenue <phone> <City, ST<web> 00000-0000> Plainfield, WI 54966
715-335-8300 <phone>