Badger Common’Tater
June 2015
THE VOICE OF THE WISCONSIN POTATO & VEGETABLE INDUSTRY
HARVEST ISSUE INTERVIEW Heartland Farms Harvest Preparations UPDATE WI Chip Processing Variety Profile LPRCP CLOSEUP Emerging Details on This Exciting Project EMERGING MARKETS Two WI Distilleries Focus on Potato Vodka
HEARTLAND FARMS HARVEST
Photo by Brian Wysocki
Volume 67 Number 6 $18.00/year $1.50/copy
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WPVGA Associate Division 15th Annual Golf Outing & Barbeque
WPVGA Associate Division
Bull's Eye Country Club Wisconsin Rapids, Wednesday, July 8, 2015 We Golf Rain Or Shine! REGISTRATION DEADLINE: June 26, 2015
The WPVGA Associate Division will host the 15th Annual Golf Outing at the Bull's Eye Country Club in Wisconsin Rapids. The golf outing is followed by a splendid dinner barbeque and raffle prizes drawings. The golf format is a four-person scramble with a shotgun start limited to the first 36 foursomes and sign up is a first-come basis, so sign up soon! Don’t miss out! The scramble begins at 11:00 a.m. registration is at 10:30 a.m. Cost is $75/person which includes 18 holes of golf with cart. Proper golf etiquette is expected. Lunch is available for all golfers that day courtesy of an associate sponsor. The dinner barbeque is held immediately following golf and is open to everyone in the industry whether you choose to golf or not. Tickets are required. ‘Barbeque only’ ticket price is $15/person. Make checks payable to WPVGA. Please contact Julie Braun, 715-6237683, if you have any questions. You can sponsor a hole for a minimum $200 donation in cash or prizes. Call Julie Braun, 715-623-7683, for more details.
GRAB ATTENTION! SIGN UP TO BE A SPONSOR Dinner & Door Prize Sponsor Platinum Level Gold Level Silver Level Lunch Sponsor Sponsor A Hole Donate Prizes Call Julie Braun at 715-623-7683 for more details.
REGISTRATION DEADLINE: June 26, 2015
✁ ❑ Yes! I will golf. I am registering ______ golfers.
Group Leader Name: _____________________________
(Fee for golf only is $75 per person. This does not include barbeque.)
Company Name: _________________________________
❑ I wish to order _______ Barbeque Tickets at $15.00 per ticket.
Address: ________________________________________ City, State, Zip: __________________________________
❑ I would like to sponsor a hole at the golf outing. My donation of $_________ is enclosed.
Phone: __________________________________________ These are the people in my group: 1. ______________________________________________
Golf Fee: Number of Golfers x $75
$_________
Barbeque Tickets: Number of Tickets x $15
$_________
+ Hole Sponsor/Donation
$_________
Total Amount Enclosed:
2. ______________________________________________
$_________
Please return completed form and payment to: WPVGA • P.O. Box 327 • Antigo, WI 54409-0327
3. ______________________________________________
Badger Common'Tater
On the Cover: Brian Wysocki, Heartland Farms, Inc., shot this photo of a special kind of Lenco called the Direct-Load, which the operation uses for harvesting green vines and potatoes for storage.
7 COMMON’TATER INTERVIEW:
Jeremie Pavelski Dick Pavelski, Congressman Reid Ribble, Jeremie Pavelski and his wife, Alicia Pavelski, of Heartland farms.
Departments: ALI’S KITCHEN.................... 61 AUXILIARY NEWS............... 59 GROUNDED ......................... 6 MARK YOUR CALENDAR ..... 6
28 RUDER WARE
Legal Update
32 LPRCP CLOSEUP
Wetlands Litigation.
Emerging Details. Photo by Ruth Faivre
Photo by Emily Hild, Stevens Point, WI
34 EMERGING MARKETS
WI Potato Vodka Distilleries Photo by Ruth Faivre
Feature Articles:
15 BADGER BEAT: Herbicide Resistant Weeds
18 UPDATE Chip Processing Variety Profile in Wisconsin 27 FARM SAFETY Growing New Farming Traditions
47 WORLD POTATO CONGRESS China’s Ag University President is Key Speaker 4
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MARKETPLACE .................. 57 NEW PRODUCTS ............... 53 NOW FOR THE NEWS ....... 51 NPC NEWS ........................ 46 PEOPLE ............................. 43 POTATO BOARD NEWS ..... 50 SEED PIECE ........................ 48 TATER BIN.......................... 62 WPIB FOCUS ..................... 46
MARTENS POTATO & GRAIN FARM DISPERSAL Thursday, 6/25/15, 9:00 AM (EST) 1323 Towpath Rd, Port Byron, NY 5 miles off I-90 The most premium quality equipment you will ever see at public auction! Having sold the Martens Farm itself, we are now privileged to sell their equipment at absolute public auction. Martens Farm is well-known for utmost care, management and maintenance of equipment.
EQUIPMENT & VEHICLES TO BE AUCTIONED: ( 7 )Tractors & Heavy Equipment (20) Light & Heavy Trucks (60) Grading & Packing Equipment (20) Tillage Equipment 20 (25) Spraying, Mowing Water Moving & Grain Drying Equipment (200) Miscellaneous Support Equipment
Watch our website for photos as auction nears: www.hilltopauctioncompany.com Live online bidding by www.equipmentfacts.com Questions? Call Farm Manager, Dave Hickey: 315-406-2992
SPECIALIZING IN AGRICULTURE & CONSTRUCTION PUBLIC AUCTIONS AUCTIONEER: Jay Martin • Clyde, NY 14433 • (315) 521-3123 Elmer Zeiset • Savannah, NY 13146 • (315) 729-8030
WPVGA Board of Directors: President: Andy Wallendal Vice President: Mark Finnessy Secretary: Eric Schroeder Treasurer: Josh Mattek Directors: Larry Alsum, Steve Diercks, Ron Krueger, Jeremie Pavelski, Gary Wysocki Wisconsin Potato Industry Board: President: Heidi Alsum-Randall Vice President: Cliff Gagas Secretary: Bill Wysocki Treasurer: Keith Wolter Directors: John Bobek, Don Isherwood, John T. Schroeder, Tom Wild and Dennis Zeloski WPVGA Associate Division Board of Directors: President: Chris Brooks Vice President: Wayne Solinsky
Secretary: Steve Bohm Treasurer: Zach Mykisen Directors: Butch Fencil, Cathy Schommer, Sally Surprise, Joel Zalewski Wisconsin Seed Potato Improvement Association Board of Directors: President: Ron Krueger Vice President: Eric Schroeder Secretary/Treasurer: Dan Kakes Directors: Bill Guenthner, Charlie Mattek
WPVGA Staff Executive Director: Tamas Houlihan Managing Editor/Communications Director: Ruth Faivre Director of Promotions & Consumer Education: Dana Rady Financial Officer: Karen Rasmussen Executive Assistant: Julie Braun Program Assistant: Danielle Sorano Spudmobile Coordinator: Jim Zdroik
Wisconsin Potato Growers Auxiliary Board of Directors: President: Jacquie Wille Vice President: Paula Houlihan Secretary/Treasurer: Sheila Rine Directors: Ali Carter, Gabrielle Okray Eck, Patty Hafner, Lynn Isherwood
WPVGA Office (715) 623-7683 • FAX: (715) 623-3176 E-mail Address: wpvga@wisconsinpotatoes.com Website: www.wisconsinpotatoes.com
Mission Statement of the WPVGA: “To assist WPVGA members to be successful through education, information, environmentally sound research, promotion, governmental action, and involvement.” Mission Statement of the WPVGA Associate Division: “Our mission is to work in partnership with the WPVGA as product and service providers to promote mutual industry viability by integrating technology and information resources.”
Badger Common’Tater is published monthly at 700 Fifth Avenue, Antigo, Wisconsin 54409. Subscription rates: $1.50/copy, $18.00/year; $30/2 years. Foreign; $30/year; $50/2 years. Telephone: (715) 623-7683. Mailing address: P.O. Box 327, Antigo, Wisconsin 54409. ADVERTISING: To advertise your service or product in this magazine, call (715) 623-7683, or write: Advertising Manager, Badger Common’Tater, P.O. Box 327, Antigo, Wisconsin 54409. The editor welcomes manuscripts and pictures but accepts no responsibility for such material while in our hands.
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Mark Your
Calendar JUNE 17-18 CROP TRANSITION CONFERENCE Minneapolis, MN 20 FEED MY STARVING CHILDREN Noel Hangar, Stevens Point, WI Contact: WPVGA (715) 623-7683 27 CASTLE ROCK TRIATHLON Castle Rock Park, Friendship, WI
JULY 8 WPVGA ASSOCIATE DIVISION PUTT-TATO OPEN Bull's Eye Country Club, WI Rapids, WI 8-10 2015 NPC SUMMER MEETING Hilton Garden Inn, Kalispell, MT 11 PARDEEVILLE TRIATHLON Chandler Park, Pardeeville, WI 14 MINNESOTA Area II Field Day Sand Plains Research Farm, Becker, MN 15 HANCOCK FIELD DAY Hancock Ag Research Station, Hancock, WI 17 RHINELANDER STATE FARM FIELD DAY Rhinelander, WI 19–23 PAA 2015 ANNUAL MEETING Portland, ME, www.paaannualmeeting.org 24-26 PMA'S FOODSERVICE CONFERENCE & EXPO Monterey Conference Center, Monterey, CA 24-25 ALMOND TATER TOOT Main Street, Almond, WI 28-30 WORLD POTATO CONGRESS Beijing, China, 902-368-8885 www.potatocongress.org
AUGUST 8 ANTIGO TATER TROT Antigo City Park, Antigo , WI www.antigotatertrot.com 15 WAUPACA AREA TRIATHLON South Park, Waupaca, WI 6-16 WISCONSIN STATE FAIR State Fair Park, West Allis, WI www.wistatefair.com 11-13 2015 EMPIRE FARM DAYS Seneca Falls, NY 11-15 2015 USPB SUMMER MEETING CanadInn/Grand Forks, ND 19 NATIONAL POTATO DAY RUN, BIKE, UNITE DUATHLON 22 UWSP, Stevens Point, WI www.unitedwaypoco.org/Duathlon 25-27 2015 WI FARM TECHNOLOGY DAYS Dane County Statz Bros. Inc. Farm Sun Prairie, WI 6
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Grounded Diligence. People often ask me how I do what I do, putting a magazine together from top to bottom, every month.
Certainly, it is not simple. It requires making a plan, setting goals and then breaking tasks into little steps, finishing one-step at a time so you can taste success. Organization is the key to everything in life. Without it, you can achieve nothing. With it, the sky is the limit, which is what I like because I do not believe in limiting what one can accomplish. Something else I learned along the way: always set a ‘secret’ goal. For instance, if you are in sales and you tell your boss that your goal is to increase sales by 10%, double or triple that goal but keep it to yourself. If you shoot for a higher goal than anybody knows, you most likely will hit or exceed your stated goal. If you only work towards your stated goal, you will fall short every time. This issue is full of people who set and achieve goals, like Jeremie Pavelski and T.J. Kennedy, who head up Heartland Farms and are the focus of our featured interview this month. Be sure to read our article about Wisconsin’s two potato vodka distilling companies, who are shining examples of what you can achieve when you believe in yourself and your products. Please feel free to email me with your thoughts and any questions. Be sure to sign up to receive a notice when our online format, flip magazine is available each month and read it free. Click the link to subscribe or type it in your browser: http://wisconsinpotatoes.com/ blog-news/subscribe
Ruth Faivre
Managing Editor rfaivre@wisconsinpotatoes.com
Interview
Jeremie Pavelski & T.J. Kennedy By Ruth Faivre, Managing Editor
Name: Jeremie Pavelski Title: President/Co-Owner Company: Heartland Farms, Inc. Crops Grown/ Acreage: 8,000 acres of potatoes and 16,000 acres for rotation vegetables. Location: Hancock, WI Hometown: Amherst, WI Years in Current Position: Involved since childhood. Schooling: 2000 graduate Amherst High School; 2002 graduate North Central Technical College, Wausau, WI Computer Networking Associate degree; completed business management courses at the Milwaukee School of Engineering; 2006 graduate Potato Industry Leadership Institute and 2008 Portage County Leadership Institute graduate. Activities/Organizations: 2013 WPVGA President of Board of Directors; WPVGA Board of Directors (2015,); WPVGA Chip Committee Chair 2005-2013; WPVGA Irrigation Task Force Co-Chair 2015; NPC Board of Directors; NPC Water and Endangered Species Co-Chair; 2011 NPC Environmental Stewardship Award; USPB Chip Committee 2015; Adams County Rural and Industrial Development Commission 2009-2014. Awards/Honors: 2014 recipient of Spudman’s Emerging Leader Award; 2013 Wisconsin Potato & Vegetable Growers Association (WPVGA) Volunteer of the Year; 2011 WPVGA Young Grower of the Year; 2010 WPVGA Industry Appreciation Award; 2009 Frito-Lay National Supplier of the Year; 2008 Frito-Lay North Central Supplier of the Year; 2006 Potato Industry Leadership Institute Graduate; 2008 Portage County Leadership Institute Graduate. Family: Wife: Alicia Williams; parents: Barb and Dick Pavelski; Sisters: Michelle Peariso and Andria Davisson. Hobbies: Boating, Computers, Skiing, Biking, Enjoying the outdoors.
The impact of Heartland Farms, Inc., headquartered in Hancock, WI, a fifth generation, operating over 24,000 acre irrigated potato and vegetable farm specializing in chipping potatoes, vibrates across the region, employing 100 full-time and 25 part-time employees, 130 seasonal workers and contracting with several other potato growers in Portage, Waushara and Adams Counties to produce potatoes for Heartland. Additionally, Heartland purchases millions of dollars’ worth of goods and services associated with the management of such a large operation. Land, inputs, labor, equipment, maintenance and repairs, fuel, consultants, transportation, storage, buildings, insurance and taxes are just a few of the magnitude of expenses demanded of an agriculture enterprise of this stature. With a heritage beginning in 1873, spearheaded by August Pavelski, great-great-grandfather to Jeremie Pavelski, current President, Heartland continues to grow beyond what August Pavelski could have ever imagined in his wildest dreams.
One of the nation’s largest suppliers of chipping potatoes to Frito-Lay, Heartland Farms also produces Snowden, Atlantic, Pike, Lamoka and other varieties and grows sweet corn, peas, green beans and soybeans, all for processing. Jeremie Pavelski’s father, Richard, catapulted the original 80-acre farm near Amherst-Junction, into primetime when he formed a partnership with Dave Knights in 1990, forming the current legal entity. Together, Richard Pavelski and Knights grew the operation to its current size. Knights, an innovator, was an early adapter of leading edge agricultural technologies and developed new agronomic and storage protocols for emerging Frito-Lay varieties. Jeremie Pavelski now handles the reins of this huge enterprise, rising through the ranks while still a very young lad, initially performing mundane duties like sweeping floors. Later, he too emerged as a vanguard of new technologies, particularly with his secondary education focused on business management and computer programming and networking. Pavelski represents what I have continued on pg. 8
Above: Aerial view of Heartland Farms’ headquarters. Photo by Alicia Pavelski. BC�T June
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Interview. . . continued from pg. 7
Name: T.J. Kennedy Title: Vice President/Owner, currently VP of Operations Company: Heartland Farms, Inc. Location: Hancock, WI Hometown: Antigo, WI Current City: Mauston, WI Years in Present Position: In 1998, joined the team of Frito Lay and Heartland Farms as the Storage Manager of the new Storage Research Facility. In 2000, I joined Heartland Farms’ management team as Fulfillment Team Account Manager and Supervisor for the Farm Operation before earning the title of Vice President in 2009. Previous Employment: In 1991, started working as a Crop Scout for Crop Care in, Antigo, WI. Serves as Crop Scout for seven years for several Antigo seed growers, including Frito Lay, Rhinelander, WI. Schooling: 1994 Antigo High School Graduate, 1998 UW-River Falls GraduateBachelors of Science Degree in Soil Science/crop production emphasis. Activities/Organizations: Current: Wisconsin Potato & Vegetable Growers Association (WPVGA) Research Committee, WPVGA Grower Education Committee, Wisconsin Potato/Vegetable Research Foundation Committee. Previous: Served as President-WPVGA Board of Directors, 2002 Potato Leadership Institute participant. Awards/Honors: 2007 WPVGA Young Grower of the year, National Soil Judging Champion 1998. Family: Wife: Cindy; sons: Marcus and Tyler Hobbies: Avid snowmobiler and belong to Tomorrow River Snowmobile Club, Deerbrook Bridge Runners Snowmobile Club 8
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termed the ‘Next Generation’ because he and many other upcoming owner/ operators in his age group will pave the way for the future of agriculture, using systems and equipment never even imagined in their ancestor’s time. Like Pavelski, these owner/operators, have embraced the new wave of agriculture sophistication with a passion and adapted it to their particular interests. Attending national and state conferences with his father as early as the seventh grade, Pavelski quickly grasped the importance of being involved in pre-legislative action, understanding that communicating growers’ needs to legislators prior to bills being formed, was the only way to help steer those bills or legislation into a compromise that benefited all stakeholders. “Very few legislators on a local, state or federal basis, are farmers or involved in farming and thusly do not fully comprehend the consequences of any given bill or regulation on the agricultural industry,” explains Pavelski. “As the old saying goes, often if you want something done right, you have to do it yourself.”
Pavelski also immersed himself in agriculture association participations with organizations such as Wisconsin Potato & Vegetable Growers Association (WPVGA), United States Potato Board (USPB), National Potato Council (NPC), Adams County Rural and Industrial Development Commission and more. “Many of my mentors encouraged me to become more involved in the decision making process and recommended me for leadership positions on various committees such as the co-chair of the NPC Water and Endangered Species subcommittee, when I was in my mid-twenties,” states Pavelski. “By asking me questions or soliciting my opinion, they made me feel like an important contributor and helped form the basis of how I now treat members who are also in my age group or younger,” Pavelski said. Given the size of Heartland’s operation and Pavelski’s immersion in the potato and vegetable industry, he is the perfect candidate to question about one of the busiest and most important times of the growers’ year: harvesting season.
Above: A great shot of the dead vines and windrowed potatoes. Photo by Alicia Pavelski.
Currently, Heartland’s farming interests encompass what counties of Wisconsin and what is the approximate acreage breakdown per county? Heartland Farms operates in four counties in Wisconsin: Adams8,500 acres, Waushara-12,000 acres, Portage-2,500 acres and Waupaca-1,000 acres. With so many acres in various regions, harvest time must be a logistical goliath. Can you describe for us some of the planning and processes your team employs to manage this monumental feat each year and some of the obstacles you have to overcome during harvest? T.J. Kennedy, currently VP of Operations for Heartland Farms, provided the responses to this question. The harvest plan starts all the way back prior to planting. Understanding the maturity of each variety is important. We strategically plan where and when to plant our Left: T.J. Kennedy scouts potato plant progress in one of the nearby field. Photo by Alicia Pavelski. Right: Jeremie Pavelski checks the irrigation system’s status by accessing its computerized control station setup. Photo by Alicia Pavelski.
Approximately, 15% of our volume is shipped directly out of the field to chip plants and not put into storage. This field volume is normally grown in fields less ideal for storage.
harvest puzzle. With five Lencos feeding five storage lines as well as one Lenco supplying the rinse plant every day, managing trucking to drive efficiencies is a top priority. You have to juggle all six crews to ensure they are not on a long haul simultaneously. We plan weeks ahead to ensure a continuous flow of trucks for each crew. In addition, a harvester sitting idle costs the whole operation a lot of money.
We continuously prepare for one of Mother Nature’s biggest challenges: rain, which requires a backup plan. Since we need to supply our customer with potatoes on an ongoing regular schedule, we plant potatoes on some sandy fields where we can harvest at any time even when it is raining.
Since our potato storage is located in four different counties, building a plan to guarantee that certain varieties get stored in specific storage facilities is critical. Not all potato storage facilities are created equal so we need to account for this to have our best potatoes stored in the best storages.
Logistics is a massive piece of the
continued on pg. 10
determinate varieties as well as our indeterminate varieties. Soil types also play a big part in the overall management plan. Certain varieties perform better in sandier soils versus loamy soils.
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Interview. . . continued from pg. 9
Potato/storage management is key to shipping good quality potatoes throughout the nine months that extend to the following June. Building the harvest plan takes time, but the real secret is in how the plan is executed. It takes a top-notch team possessing forethought and understanding of suitable harvest moistures, proper handling of potatoes and appropriate maintenance of the equipment to accomplish the goals at hand. Since everyone loves statistics, can you provide us with some stats on Heartland’s harvest season such as projected average harvest yields/acre (per crop); manpower hours; semi-loads; gallons of fuel; number of combines, semis, hoppers or other equipment involved, average time to harvest crop/acre or your other favorite stats? We accumulate over 300,000 team hours each year with gross payroll of over $7 million. We ship over 8,000 semis of potatoes each year. We have six Lenco harvesters and eleven windrowers to pull off the amazing feat of Harvest. It takes around 60 bulk trucks and drivers to bring the spuds to the storages. We purchase all of this equipment from LOCAL vendors. It takes a lot of skilled and dedicated people to make this happen. The hard work and dedication is what really drives performance and quality. Above: Operating a Lenco Harvester is not an easy task since the driver must carefully monitor all the controls as well as the field in front of him, check the potatoes being harvested and synchronize with the straight truck driving alongside him. Photo by Brian Wysocki. Middle: Here is a close-up shot of the boom (or arm) that serves as the delivery spout for the harvested potatoes, depositing them safely into the straight truck, running alongside the harvester. Photo by Brian Wysocki. Bottom: Two windrow tractors, prepare the field ahead of the Lenco harvester/straight truck team. Photo by Brian Wysocki. 10 BC�T June
How do harvesting operations vary between the different crops you grow and how do you manage those differences? Actually, our teams only harvest potatoes. Typically, other operations grow and harvest necessary rotation crops on acres owned by Heartland Farms. We prefer to stick to our core competency. We will however help with custom planting and other services, if necessary. Growing up in the Heartland operation, what aspects of harvest season do you see executed differently for the different crops now than when your father or grandfather farmed? Our entire operation comprises many more acres than when my grandfather or even my father farmed. Our huge increase in acres over the years requires many more teams of great people, dedicated workers and managers all collaborating to
Potatoes are harvested into the Lenco Harvester’s front end and travel through slotted conveyor belts that disperse dirt and debris before transferring the load though the boom to the straight truck bed. A view of the front end of the Lenco from another angle. Photo by Brian Wysocki.
accomplish our goal of delivering high quality potatoes to our customers. All through our history, we have never lost track of how important our greatest asset, our crewmembers, are to our operation. While our overriding goal is to produce high quality potatoes for our customers, providing safety, particularly in reducing
operator fatigue, is equally important. Still, it is amazing how much technology and equipment has changed the agricultural industry, replacing human labor with substantially bigger machines operated or controlled by people or other machines, making things easier and more productive. continued on pg. 12
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Interview. . . continued from pg. 11
Storage, too, is much more sophisticated than in the past, which helps ensure that the crop stores well and that we can supply our customers’ spuds when they need them. It staggers my imagination when I look through old photos of Grandpa and dad digging potatoes by hand or with one-row harvesters. Reflecting on the journey they went through to get us where we are today really puts things into perspective for me.
Meanwhile, embracing emerging technologies, software and various apps will continue to allow us to work faster, save time, increase productivity and be more accurate in the field or off. With your emphasis on getting involved in the legislative process, what possible bills/regulations, both state and federal are you tracking because of their impacts on the potato and vegetable industry
overall and what do you believe those impacts to be? First off, I never realized that getting more involved in the legislative process would end up being pretty much a full time job in itself besides the rest of the many details that are involved in running a business. The regulatory burden is getting ever more complex and frustrating. Many people do now know where their food comes from and the hard work and dedication it takes to get the food to the stores. At any given time, about five to ten new regulations pop up that place a substantial burden on farmers, which in turn increase food costs. I have listed below some of the major legislative concerns we continue to monitor and it gives you a pretty good idea of how enormous of a burden Agriculture carries today. • HIGH CAPACITY WELL LEGISLATION We all want clean and abundant water resource for all uses, not just agriculture. Some of the over-reaching Top: The straight truck delivers the harvested potatoes to one of Heartland Farms’ numerous storage facilities. Photo by Brian Wysocki. Bottom: The harvested potatoes are transferred to climate-controlled, modern storage facilities that allow potatoes to be stored for approximately six months after harvest. Photo by Brian Wysocki.
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e Drive 54467
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e
6-4019
regulations make it so the current crops in Wisconsin could be at risk for many growers if proper planning is not in place. When older wells fail, it is increasingly difficult to get them reconstructed. Many people think if you are replacing a well, it is because the water is no longer there. That is not normally the case. Data shows that water levels in our region are very similar to what they have been for several years with only seasonal changes. High capacity well users are going to need to work together to ensure this resource is available in the future and provides security to the farmers. • IMPLEMENTS OF HUSBANDRY This rule alone cost our farm over 300 hours of time and $40,000 in labor other costs this year. This excludes
the time working with legislators and other representation The impacts on this are high costs for permits (even though they are no-fee permits…there is a lot of time and effort that goes into making them). The amount of road miles traveled and the amount of trips it takes to accomplish a task are increasing at a rapid pace. This creates tremendous inefficiency and increases costs for no real gain.
If the elements of these laws are not carefully considered, the amount of nutrients needed to grow a crop versus what is actually allowed could be impacted and production will suffer dramatically. • TAX ISSUES Too numerous to detail. • AFFORDABLE CARE ACT • DATA PRIVACY LEGISLATION • INTERNET REGULATIONS
•W ATERS OF THE U.S. (WOTUS) RULES The EPA is over-reaching by trying to make water bodies that are not “navigable” included in what is considered a ‘water of the US’. • BIOTECH RULES • ENDANGERED SPECIES ACT
• WIC AND FOOD ASSISTANCE LEGISLATION • IMMIGRATION • DRONE LEGISLATION Drones, a new and emerging technology, offer potentially major benefit to farmers. Garnering near
• NUTRIENT MANAGEMENT LAWS
continued on pg. 14
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Interview. . . continued from pg. 13
Heartland Farms hosts many activities for employee gatherings and groups of all ages like this toy tractor race. Photo by Alicia Pavelski.
real-time analysis of a field through imagery and software will help reduce the amount of inputs (water, fertilizers, crop protectants, etc.) needed to produce a healthy crop. New legislation is needed to keep up with the technology and provide a way for Agriculture to use drones safely without being so restrictive that drones are rendered basically useless. • FARM BILL LEGISLATION Always an ongoing headache because
each Farm Bill usually legislates redistributed funding, escalating restrictions and new regulations that hamper the business of Agriculture and tie the hands of producers. Finally, what would you say to growers of all generations regarding getting involved in championing their industry and participating in legislative efforts or associations? I highly recommend growers of all ages get involved in the process. It takes
time and dedication but farmers are becoming fewer and farther between. Since we represent the less than 1% of the population that provides food for the rest of the world, we need to ensure our small numbers carry a lot of weight. A saying passed down from generation to generation in my family is “If you are not at the table, you are probably on the menu.” I think that is even truer today. If you are not involved, people will make decisions regarding you or your business even when they do not realize the full consequences of their actions. If not, we will all wake up one day with not enough food on the table because people unaware of what it takes to produce a global supply or even just a nationwide supply of food, legislated the farmer out of business. It is ironic that everyone has an emotional connection to the vision of a small farm and yet one of the main reasons that small farms keep reducing in number is because they cannot deal with the regulatory burdens. An unrealistic, utopian viewpoint of what farming should be has replaced the common sense and reality of what it really takes to feed the world.
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Badger Beat
HERBICIDE RESISTANT WEEDS Come Home to Roost in Wisconsin By Jed Colquhoun, Professor and Extension Specialist, UW-Madison
For several years now, my colleagues and I traveled Wisconsin speaking about the perils of glyphosate resistant weeds. We shared photos from outside the state of herbicide resistant weeds dominating crops and anecdotes of economic doom when crop yield and quality are reduced. We have all been thankful that we only have long distance examples to share. Unfortunately, that is no longer the case in Wisconsin. We now have
four weed species with confirmed glyphosate resistance and a couple more on the radar. The first glyphosate resistant weeds in Wisconsin were found just within our borders in a giant ragweed (Ambrosia trifida) population from Rock County, confirmed in 2012. This discovery was soon followed by confirmation of horseweed (Conyza canadensis) resistance in two southern Wisconsin counties in 2013.
Giant ragweed and horseweed are formidable foes, but pale in comparison to our latest glyphosate resistant weed species – common waterhemp (Amaranthus rudis) and Palmer amaranth (Amaranthus palmeri). These weeds are extremely aggressive. Palmer amaranth can grow up to 3 inches per day and top out at well over 6 feet tall. They are also adaptable. continued on pg. 16
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BC�T June 15
Badger Beat. . . continued from pg. 15
A dense stand of Palmer amaranth in Wisconsin. Note the long seedheads – a distinguishing feature of this weed and source of prolific seed production. Photo by Vince Davis
Both weeds are dioecious, which means that there are separate male and female plants and outcrossing is necessary for seed production. This rampant outcrossing increases genetic diversity.
In Iowa, common waterhemp was found with confirmed resistance to seven different herbicides representing four different sites of action (Heap, weedscience.org, accessed May 5, 2015).
To make matters worse, they are also prolific seed producers. A single common waterhemp plant can produce up to a million small seeds that are easily transported in harvested crops and equipment.
Glyphosate resistant common waterhemp has now been reported in Wisconsin. Vince Davis, former weed specialist at UW-Madison, screened 12 populations from around the state and confirmed resistance in two populations in 2014.
The factors of outcrossing to produce seed combined with high seed production levels increase the risk that strong selection pressure, such as repeated use of the same herbicide or site of action, will result in resistant weeds. Resistance to five different herbicide sites of action has been observed in Palmer amaranth, with some individual plants exhibiting resistance to three sites of action. 16 BC�T June
Common waterhemp populations from Eau Claire and Pierce counties were found to be ten-fold and thirteen-fold more resistant to glyphosate than the susceptible population, respectively. Just this year, glyphosate resistant Palmer amaranth was confirmed from a Dane county population that was eighteen-fold more resistant than the susceptible population. Glyphosate
resistance
is
also
suspected in an additional Wisconsin county where multiple herbicide sites of action may be involved (Butts and Davis, 2015, UW Extension WCWS 206 and 207). There are now 32 weed species globally with confirmed resistance to glyphosate herbicide. As of 1995, just prior to the introduction of field crops with the glyphosate resistance traits, there were no cases reported. Glyphosate resistant weeds are now reported in 37 states (Heap, weedscience.org, accessed May 5, 2015). Most importantly, we need to consider what can be done to keep a bad situation from getting worse. Harvest is the perfect time to start taking steps to prevent the spread of resistant weeds. Keep in mind how many seeds weeds like Palmer amaranth and common waterhemp can produce on a single
plant. This prolific reproduction provides an ideal dispersal mechanism to move new weeds that are potentially herbicide resistant, long distances. With that in mind, it is important to clean harvest and tillage equipment between fields as their use coincides directly with weed seed maturity. It is a long uphill battle to get ahead of these pests once a seedbank is established in a field. As for the longer term, herbicide programs should be planned that rotate sites of action to reduce the selection pressure for new resistant weeds. Also, keep an eye out for weeds that escape control – are these species normally controlled by the applied herbicide and are there weeds of the same species nearby that were killed by the application? This can be an early indication of weed resistance and you need to take steps to prevent seed production on these escapes. Wisconsin potato and vegetable growers have always been at the forefront of progressive, proactive planning – let’s stay the course when it comes to weed resistance! Here’s to a safe and bountiful harvest!
Common waterhemp in a Wisconsin soybean field. Photo by Vince Davis
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BC�T June 17
UPDATE
Chip Processing Variety Profile in Wisconsin By Felix Navarro & Troy Fishler, Hancock Ag Research Station
Potato varieties play a central role in potato production systems since varieties define the limits of crop and storage performance. Every year, potato breeders select new potential varieties with attributes that affect potato production and processing success. Therefore, new varieties need to be continually developed to achieve a result to serve all environments and processing needs.
number of researchers precisely study the limits of variety performance that are due to either the genes the variety carries or the environment in which it grows.
Identifying the strengths and weaknesses of each variety helps us understand if they are a good fit for regions and even specific farms and storage management.
The Hancock Agricultural Research Station research activities focus on identifying varieties for processing markets. Among the research projects we conduct, three of them compare the field performance of chip varieties to standards and efforts made to profile storage performance from crop harvest to June. Long storage ability is a key objective for Wisconsin and northern US states.
Those traits are very much dependent on the genes the varieties carry, inherent in the nature of each variety. At the University of Wisconsin, a
These three projects’ main objective is to confirm the value of new varieties to growers and industry after breeders have defined they have potential.
Following are the three projects: Wisconsin Variety Trial (WVT) 1. includes breeding clones from UW and other collaborating breeding programs in the US. Emphasis is made on incorporating varieties are available as certified seed in WI or close to be released. 2. USPB-Snack Food Association Trial (USPB-SFA) includes breeding clones that are being tested at the national level and are being considered for naming and release. 3. USPB-Fast Track Project collaborative trial evaluates at a semi-commercial scale (2,000 cwt/18 ft. bulk bins at Hancock ARS Storage Research Facility), varieties graduated from the USPB-SFA trial. For several years, this national project coordinated by Charlie Higgins and David Parish (AIS) facilitated the multiplication of varieties so that certified seed is available for these semi-commercial evaluations. These projects contribute to a better understanding of the performance of new varieties in Wisconsin and provide insight to growers and industry for Top: Hancock Agricultural Research Station aerial photo. Bottom: Potato Plants.
18 BC�T June
variety adoption as to their strengths and weaknesses so that necessary measures can be taken for a successful crop. The final goal is to provide meaningful information to minimize risks on adopting these new varieties. This research update includes four new relevant potato-chipping varieties: Waneta, Lamoka, Pinnacle and a promising Wisconsin clone, W5955-1 that may be important to the growers and industry in the near future. The profiles of other WI varieties such as Tundra and Nicolet have been described in the past in Badger Common’Tater. Waneta (NY138): Long Storage Chipper but watch low gravity USPB-SFA: 2008-10 FastTrack bin work: 2013-15 Waneta was developed at Cornell University from a cross between Marcy and NY115. It is a late season maturity variety . Tubers may exhibit
MAYO SURGE HOPPER
Figure 1: May 14 chip color of Waneta (left) vs. Snowden (right) from stored samples from a 48°F bin. The source of these Waneta and Snowden tubers is Rhinelander, WI.
few external defects, but large tubers have shown 5-10% hollow heart (not observed in WI trials so far), hence 8-9 inches planting spacing is suggested.
low levels of sucrose and glucose and good fry quality through June as seen in WI bin evaluations in 2013-14 and expected in 2014-15 (Fig. 1 and Fig. 2).
Waneta’s main strengths are its long storage potential and good yield. According to data generated in our storage lockers and two years of semicommercial bin trials Waneta can keep
These bins were filled up with potatoes produced in Rhinelander, WI and a standard Snowden grown in the same farm and harvested at the same time.
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continued on pg. 20
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Update. . . continued from pg. 19
Both varieties were put in bags on top of the pile and used for comparison. Waneta’s biggest weakness is its potential for low to borderline specific gravity as observed in many environments, including Hancock, WI (Fig. 3). Very low specific gravity has been observed in Missouri, Florida and North Carolina, which warns this variety would be a risky option for the South. US No. 1 tuber yields of Waneta are close to those of Snowden, especially in low yielding environments, Waneta tends to yield lower under high yielding conditions (Fig.4).
Lamoka (NY139): Long Storage Chipper but watch soft rot potential WVT: 2010-12 USPB-SFA: 2008-10 FastTrack bin work: 2013-15 Lamoka is one of the most interesting recently released public varieties. Developed at Cornell University from a cross between NY120 and NY115; Kanoka and Pike are two of Lamoka’s grandparents. Main strengths of Lamoka are its long storage potential through late May, fry quality
Figure 2: Sugar profiles (sucrose and glucose) from Hancock ARS bins for Waneta compared to Snowden in the 2013-14 and 2014-15 storage seasons (stored at 48°F)
Figure 3: Specific gravity differences between Waneta and Snowden in 31 USPB-SFA trials (red dots are Snowden data from Hancock WI) 20 BC�T June
Figure 4: US No. 1 yield differences (cwt/ha) between Waneta and Snowden in 31 USPB-SFA trials (red dots are Snowden data from Hancock WI)
and consistently high specific gravity (Fig.5-7), in addition to common scab resistance that is considered stable over locations and years of study. Overall, Lamoka has good yield, a bit lower than Snowden. In Wisconsin trials, US No. 1 yields have been typically from 425-575 cwt/acre (Fig. 8). However, an importance weakness of Lamoka is its susceptibility to soft rot. Lamoka tends to have enlarged lenticels that are exacerbated by periods of excessive soil moisture, especially close to harvest.
Figure 6: Sugar profiles (sucrose and glucose) from Hancock ARS bins for Lamoka compared to target threshold values in the 2012-13 and storage seasons (stored at 48°F) continued on pg. 22
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3190 Coronet Way • P.O. Box 10476 • Green Bay, WI 54307-0476 • 920-336-3499 • Fax 920-336-9580 Figure 5: From top to bottom, Lamoka tubers and chips from the 2012-13 bin processed in June 4 at the Hancock ARS Storage Research Facility and at Kettle Foods, Inc. The bottom batch of chips corresponds to a Snowden control from Central WI.
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Update. . . continued from pg. 21
Figure 7: Specific gravity differences between Lamoka and Snowden from 37 trials (USPB-SFA and WVT). Lamoka specific gravity are very similar to Snowden’s and remarkably stable around 1.080 in Wisconsin through years of testing (red dots).
Pinnacle (W5015-12): Long Storage Chipper, but watch common scab susceptibility WVT/SpudPro: 2009-10 USPB-SFA: 2010-12 Fast Track: 2013-15 Pinnacle is a recently named chipping variety developed at the UW potato breeding program product of the cross of Brodick x White Pearl. Pinnacle is a 22 BC�T June
Figure 8: US No. 1 yield differences (cwt/ha) between Lamoka and Snowden in 37 USPB-SFA and WVT trials (red dots are Lamoka data from Hancock WI)
medium-late variety (Fig. 9). Pinnacle can keep sucrose and glucose levels similar or lower than Snowden. (Fig. 10). Pinnacle also has consistently high specific gravity, similar to Snowden (Fig. 11). Pinnacle yields are high and similar to Snowden (Fig. 12). Pinnacle yields in Wisconsin have been high. Two weaknesses of Pinnacle are its scab susceptibility and the tubers are uniformly smaller than Snowden.
Figure 9: Pinnacle plant and tuber characteristics.
Figure 10: Sugar profiles (sucrose and glucose) from Hancock ARS bins for Pinnacle compared to Snowden in the 2013-14 and 2014-15 storage seasons (stored at 48°F)
continued on pg. 24
You are Invited to tour
UW State Farm Lelah Starks Elite Foundation Seed Potato Farm
July 17th, 2015 Tour starts at 10:00 AM 7749 CTH K, Rhinelander
(7 miles west of Rhinelander on County K) Lunch: Prepared and served by Swine & Dine
Contact Alex Crockford for questions: (715) 610-4668 or abcrockford@wisc.edu
Tour the facilities and fields (gather for group photos after the field tour), attend presentations, and visit with friends and neighbors! We wish to warmly thank you the WPVGA Associate Division for sponsoring the lunch as well as Frontier-Servco FS who provided the drinks! Special Thanks: We extend a special “Thank you” to Service Motor Company and Case IH for supplying many tractors and implements over the past three years. The support that Service Motor Company and Case IH has shown the University of Wisconsin has been outstanding! BC�T June 23
Update. . . continued from pg. 23
Figure 11: Specific gravity differences between Lamoka and Snowden from 37 trials (USPB-SFA and WVT). Lamoka specific gravity are very similar to Snowden’s and remarkably stable around 1.080 in Wisconsin through years of testing (red dots).
Figure 12: US No. 1 yield differences (cwt/ha) between Lamoka and Snowden in 37 USPB-SFA and WVT trials (red dots are Lamoka data from Hancock WI)
Figure 13: Upper panel: W5955-1 tubers and comparison of scab resistance to Snowden. Lower panel: 2014-15 chips (center) vs. corresponding Snowden (center) and Atlantic (right) from the same USPB-SFA trial, Hancock ARS. Processed tubers stored at 48°F and fried on May 8.
24 BC�T June
Elite clone from the University of Wisconsin potato breeding program developed from a cross of Pike x C31-5-120. W5955-1 has a stable resistance to common scab, tested over years and several locations of dedicated common scab evaluations in Hancock, WI and Alliston, Canada (Fig. 13). In small scale research plots, W5955-1 also has a longer storage ability compared to Snowden (Fig. 13), likely because tuber sucrose and glucose levels have been
consistently lower than Snowden late in the storage season (Figs. 14 and 15). W5955-1 specific gravity has been high, especially in Wisconsin (Fig. 16). US No. 1 yield difference with Snowden has been consistently around 50 cwt/a (Fig. 17). A potential pitfall to watch with this variety is that it tends to produce large tubers and large tubers have an increased risk of hollow heart. We should be adjusting our management to produce smaller size tubers with W5955-1 for best quality. Seeds of W5955-1 will be available in two years for bulk storage bin evaluations at the Hancock ARS Storage Research Facility. In the meantime, this is a variety we highly recommend for on-farm trials by growers and small batches to be fried by processing plants.
Figure 14: Sugar profiles (sucrose and glucose) for W5955-1 compared to Snowden in the 2014-15 storage seasons. Tubers correspond to samples from the Hancock ARS USPB-SFA trial, stored at 48°F (see Fig.13 for corresponding chip color).
Figure 15: Sugar profiles (sucrose and glucose) for W5955-1 compared to Snowden in the 2014-15 storage seasons. Tubers correspond to samples from the Ontario Storage trial, stored at 50°F (see Fig.13 for corresponding chip color). continued on pg. 26
W5955-1: Long Storage Chipper with Common Scab Resistance WVT/SpudPro: 2012, 2014 USPB-SFA: 2014 Sugar Profile: Also Ontario, 2008-09
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Update. . . continued from pg. 25
Figure 16: Specific gravity differences between W5955-1 and Snowden from 24 trials including USPB-SFA and WVT. Pinnacle specific gravity is very similar to Snowden’s and remarkably stable equal or larger than 1.080 in Wisconsin through years of testing (red dots).
Figure 17: US No. 1 yield differences (cwt/ha) between W5955-1 and Snowden from 22 trials including USPB-SFA and WVT trials (red dots are W5955-1 data from WI).
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS:
Funds for these projects are provided by Wisconsin Potato and Vegetable Growers Association (WPVGA), Wisconsin Potato Industry Board (WPIB) and United States Potato Board (USPB). We appreciate the technical coordination and leadership of Dr. Charlie Higgins, Dr. Don Halseth, David Parish (AIS) and a network of collaborating researchers in other programs who submit clones for evaluation.
The authors acknowledge previous researchers in charge of these projects including Chuck Kostichka, Mary Lemere, Bryan Bowen, A.J. Bussan, Mike Drilias and Bill Schmitt. We also acknowledge the assistance of Amber Gotch, Assistant Researcher, Hancock Storage Research Facility, Paul Sytsma and the Hancock ARS staff; Alex Crockford and Stephanie Plaister.
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Farm Safety
Growing New Farming Traditions Protecting the Next Generation of Farmers
After protecting farms across the state for over 80 years, Rural Mutual Insurance Company knows how important farming traditions are to Wisconsin. “Rural Mutual also knows that protecting the families and children in our farming communities needs to be a priority in order to keep Wisconsin strong,” said Peter Pelizza, Rural Mutual’s Chief Executive Officer. In the United States, farming and other agricultural professions consistently rank among the most dangerous, along with mining, transportation and construction. The difference, however, between agricultural professions and the other dangerous industries is the presence of children in the worksite. “Farming is typically a family business, where children are raised on the farm and participate in farming activities beginning at young ages,” Pelizza said. Troubling child safety statistics • One child dies about every three days on a farm • Of the leading sources of fatalities among all youth, 25% involved machinery, 17% involved motor vehicles (includes ATVs), and 15% were drownings • Every day, 38 kids are injured in an agricultural related accident
• I t’s estimated that over 7,700 kids were hurt on a farm in 2012 and 80% of them were not working when the injury occurred The good news is that the rate of injury among kids declined by over 60 percent from 1998 to 2002. However, when you break the numbers down by age, you uncover another frightening statistic: injuries among kids under age 10 are increasing. From 2009 to 2012, the rate of injury among kids under age 10 almost doubled. What does an injury cost? •$ 143,580 for injury of a youth that required 10 or more days of hospitalization
Peter Pelizza, Rural Mutual’s Chief Executive Officer.
•$ 4,293 in lost work for a hospitalization lasting 10 days or more
We have developed a Farm Safety page on our website that provides information on a variety of topics including ATV, Animal Handling, Confined Spaces, Agritourism, Farm Buildings, Tractors, Safe Play Areas and more.
“Bottom line, you cannot afford to NOT make safety a priority on your farm. For many, a single injury could wipe out a farm’s operating profit for an entire year,” said Pelizza.
There are also a number of resources, farm safety videos and upcoming events that you can view and share. We also are doing a number of farm safety seminars during 2015.
So where do we go from here?
To find more information on a variety of farm safety resources, if you are interested in sharing your own story, or you would like to request a safety seminar conducted on your farm, visit www.ruralins.com/farmsafety.
•$ 6,577 for an injury requiring less than 10 days of hospitalization
Rural Mutual knows that protecting the families and children in our farming communities needs to be a priority in order to keep Wisconsin strong and safe.
Statistical information provided by the National Children’s Center for Rural and Agricultural Health & Safety.
BC�T June 27
Ruder Ware Legal Updates
Fourth Circuit U.S. Court of Appeals Applies the “Significant Nexus” Test in Wetlands Litigation By Russell W. Wilson, March 16, 2015
On March 10, 2015, the United States Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit issued an unpublished decision in Precon Development Corporation, Incorporated v. United States Army Corps of Engineers. Unpublished decisions are not binding in the Fourth Circuit. The decision applies the “significant nexus test” of U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (“Corps”)
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jurisdiction over wetlands under section 404 of the Clean Water Act (“CWA”) from Justice Kennedy’s opinion concurring in the judgment in Rapanos v. United States, 547 U.S. 715 (2006). Application of the test is case specific, and thus fact intensive, in the absence of more specific regulations of wetlands. Presently, the United States Environmental Protection Agency (“EPA”) and the Corps have pending a jointly proposed definition of the “waters of the United States.” Until a new regulatory definition is promulgated, however, the exercise of the Corps’ jurisdiction over wetlands near tributaries of traditionally navigable waters remains a case specific exercise. In this instance, Precon Development Corporation, Incorporated (“Precon”) and the Corps have been battling over issuance of a wetlands permit for about 13 years. BACKGROUND Precon applied to the Corps under section 404 of the CWA for a permit to fill 4.8 acres of wetlands for a proposed mixed-use development, but the Corps denied the permit. Litigation followed at the administrative level, in the federal district court, and in the Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals. The case had reached the Fourth Circuit previously in 2011 (“Precon I”). At that time, the Fourth Circuit concluded that the Corps had not provided sufficient evidence to support jurisdiction and
it sent the case back to the district court for further proceedings. While the Fourth Circuit held in Precon I that a nexus existed, it was not persuaded at that time that the nexus was significant. When the case made its way back to the Fourth Circuit, it found that the Corps “has now amassed adequate evidence” that the nexus is indeed significant. The Fourth Circuit accordingly affirmed the district court’s grant of summary judgment to the Corps. The effect is that the permit application is denied. It is not known at this time whether Precon will petition for review by the United States Supreme Court. THE “SIGNIFICANT NEXUS TEST” The Fourth Circuit succinctly described Justice Kennedy’s articulation of the significant nexus test of jurisdiction under the CWA in Rapanos. “A significant nexus exists when ‘the wetlands, either alone or in combination with similarly situated lands in the region, significantly affect the chemical, physical, and biological integrity of ‘traditional navigable waters. . . No significant nexus exists when the ‘wetlands’ effects on water quality [of traditional navigable waters] are speculative or insubstantial.’” [Internal citations omitted.] The Fourth Circuit further relied on Justice Kennedy’s characterization of the test as a “flexible ecological inquiry” in which quantitative or qualitative evidence may support
Photo by Ruth Faivre.
jurisdiction. Moreover, the Fourth Circuit recognizes the effects of cumulative impacts. Quoting the Corps’ brief, to do otherwise, would allow “death by a thousand cuts.” The Fourth Circuit also pointed out the distinction between a permitting case (in which harm to wetlands has not yet occurred) and a civil enforcement action by the agency against the violator (in which harm has occurred). The Fourth Circuit emphasizes that the purpose of the CWA is to restore and maintain the chemical, physical, and biological integrity of the Nation’s waters. A permit is required so as to prevent harm from occurring. Accordingly, in a permit case it cannot be expected that the Corps would present evidence of actual environmental damage. Rather, the type of evidence to be expected in a permitting case focuses upon what ecological harm might be prevented by denying the permit.
ditch, Saint Brides Ditch, and the unnamed tributary are characterized as tributaries that form a channel. The channel connects to the traditionally navigable Northwest River in the vicinity of Chesapeake, Virginia. The distance from Precon’s 4.8 acres to the Northwest River is about 7 miles. THE FLEXIBLE ECOLOGICAL INQUIRY While the Fourth Circuit had recognized water storage capacity and potential flow rates in Precon I, it felt that actual flow data was lacking. And while it had noted that tributaries trap sediment and nitrogen and perform
flood control functions, it found the evidentiary record silent as to whether the Northwest River actually has high levels of nitrogen or sediment and whether that river is prone to flooding. On remand to the district court, the Corps produced flow data compiled by the City of Chesapeake for storm water management purposes. In addition, the Corps produced its own documentation and photographic evidence of flow. In contrast, Precon’s expert witness, who visited the site biweekly from mid-September to midDecember, testified to an absence continued on pg. 30
THE ECOLOGICAL SETTING The relevant geographic region encompasses 448 acres of similarly situated wetlands. As noted, 4.8 of the wetland acreage is the subject of Precon’s proposed development. Precon’s 4.8 acres are adjacent to a 2,500-foot long unnamed, manmade drainage ditch. The unnamed ditch connects to Saint Brides Ditch, which is about 3 miles long. Saint Brides Ditch connects to an unnamed tributary. Collectively, the unnamed BC�T June 29
Ruder Ware Legal Updates . . . continued from pg. 29
of measurable flow. That expert admitted that precipitation during that particular season of the year would be below normal. The Corps found its own evidence of flow more persuasive than that of Precon’s expert, and the Fourth Circuit recognized that in doing so the Corps had exercised its discretion and had not acted arbitrarily or capriciously. As for downstream impacts on the traditionally navigable water, the Corps presented three scientific studies: “Total Maximum Daily Load Development for the Northwest River Watershed, A Total Phosphorus TMDL Due to Low Dissolved Oxygen Impairment”; “City of Chesapeake: A Plan for the Northwest River Watershed (March 2010)”; and, the Virginia Department of Environmental Quality’s “Final 2010 305(b)/303(d) Water Quality Assessment Integrated
Report.” The Fourth Circuit recognized that phosphorus and nitrogen are both nutrients too much of which cause low levels of dissolved oxygen. The record demonstrates that the Northwest River indeed suffers from low oxygen. The Fourth Circuit recognized that filling the wetlands would prevent the trapping of nutrients, which in turn would worsen the low oxygen levels in the Northwest River. The Fourth Circuit also recognized that a subdivision across the Saint Brides Ditch from Precon’s 4.8 acres had been flooded twice within the past 15 years. The Fourth Circuit found that the wetlands’ functions of storing water and slowing flow are significant. The Fourth Circuit also recognized new evidence in the record of carbon sequestration in the form of the photosynthetic process, biomass accumulation, and feeding by the
bottom level of the food chain on organic matter, which supports the food chain and wildlife. The Corps again rejected the contrary opinion of Precon’s expert; the Fourth Circuit found that doing so lay within the Corps’ discretion. The Corps documented the presence of “deer, squirrels, songbirds, reptiles, and amphibians” and an endangered species of rattlesnake. Precon’s expert testified that he did not observe “any fish, wading birds, fish-eating birds, water fowl, or aquatic mammals” when he visited the area. That visit, however, was made on February 4, 2012. The Fourth Circuit observed that “the Corps’ decision to reject Dr. Cahoon’s finding was within its discretion, especially given that cold temperatures and low rainfall in February 2012 made the region unappealing to fish.”
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SUMMARY The effect of Rapanos, which was decided in 2006, is to make Corps’ jurisdiction over wetlands a casespecific, fact-intensive ecological study in the absence of more specific regulations to define the “waters of the United States” under the Clean Water Act. Ecological studies of this nature are scientific studies to determine whether the wetlands hold a significant nexus to the chemical, physical, and biological integrity of the Nation’s waters, as articulated by Justice Kennedy in his opinion
concurring in the result of that case. The process can be protracted, costly, and uncertain, as seen in Precon’s 13-year permit quest. In judging the scientific rigor and validity of such ecological studies, the Corps is entitled to exercise its discretion and judgment so long as its decisions are not arbitrary or capricious. The EPA and the Corps have proposed a regulatory definition of the “waters of the United States” that would simplify this process in response to Justice Kennedy’s opinion concurring in the result in Rapanos.
Here’s Your First Look at
© 2015 Ruder Ware, L.L.S.C. Accurate reproduction with acknowledgment granted. All rights reserved. This document provides information of a general nature regarding legislative or other legal developments, and is based on the state of the law at the time of the original publication of this article. None of the information contained herein is intended as legal advice or opinion relative to specific matters, facts, situations, or issues, and additional facts and information or future developments may affect the subjects addressed. You should not act upon the information in this document without discussing your specific situation with legal counsel.
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LPRCP Closeup Emerging Details
Article Three of the ongoing LPRCP series By Ruth Faivre, Managing Editor
Far-reaching, is the best way to describe the Little Plover River Conservancy Project (LPRCP). This undertaking evolved through the efforts of many sectors: Wisconsin’s potato and vegetable growers, Wisconsin Potato & Vegetable Growers Association (WPVGA), other agricultural interests, government entities, businesses, environmental groups, conservationists, universities, hunting/fishing buffs and the public. The project was first launched when the Village of Plover received funding 32 BC�T June
from WI Dept. of Natural Resources and Portage County Land Preservation Committee to purchase 140 acres to develop a conservancy area/wildlife refuge. LPRCP greatly expanded and now includes master planning for 1,000 acres of land whose focus is mainly Little Plover River flow improvements and enhancements to WI Dept. of Natural Resources property. Additional objectives include the development of cooperative crop growing strategies adjacent to the
headwaters of the Little Plover River, and construction of an agricultural education center. Jointly, these governmental groups, local leaders and farmers will initially target the development of the 140acre Little Plover River Conservancy Area. LOCATION Black oak Drive is the first road to the bottom (south) in the proposed LPRCP rendering above. LPRCP is bordered on the left (west) by County Highway R and on the right (east) by Kennedy Ave. Finally, Porter Road is located three-quarter miles north of the Little Plover River. GOALS • Provide supplemental public access to the river. • Create more wetland areas in the Little Plover River headwaters.
Rendering by Rettler Corporation.
• Restore shorelines and streambeds from Springville Pond to the headwaters. • Refurbish Kennedy Avenue flow by removing drainage ditches while allowing for spring runoff when water levels are high. • Establish a central location to promote and educate the public regarding Wisconsin’s rich agricultural traditions, crop facts, economic impact and good steward practices while reinforcing the state’s commitments to natural resources and the environment. • Plan opportunities for educational interaction such as school classes planting trees and prairie plants supervised by UWSP College of Natural Resources students. Further details on how to donate or assist in this project will follow in the Badger Common’Tater July issue. BC�T June 33 Photo by Ruth Faivre.
EMERGING MARKETS
WI Potato Vodka Distilleries By Ruth Faivre, Managing Editor 34 BC�T June
Gaining steam,
potato vodka is quickly making a name for itself in Wisconsin thanks to two fairly new distilleries, Great Northern Distilling in Plover, WI and Hendricks Family Distillery in Omro, WI. While there are distinct differences between the two distilleries, their facilities, raw materials and vodkas, one thing they share is an entrepreneurial spirit that led the founders of both companies to jump in, full speed ahead. Another similarity exists in the distilling process itself. While most vodkas are distilled by large ethanol American and European producers, who then sell grain-neutral spirits to rectifiers and bottlers, both Great Northern Distilling and Hendricks Family Distillery distill their own vodka.
Left Above: Like a polished gem, the fabulous copper still shines through the glamorous multistoried windows at Great Northern Distilling. Photo by Ruth Faivre. Right Above: The Great Northern Distilling’s crew (L-R) Peg Lewellin, Dale Emrick, Tom Macak, Tyler Monahan and Brian Cummins. Photo by Ruth Faivre.
Great Northern Distilling Great Northern Distilling, formed by a group of investors and headed by Brian Cummins, company Founder and Head Distiller, opened a little over a year ago in April 2014, producing vodka crafted in small batches in a handmade copper still from raw potatoes grown by locally owned and operated farms. Recently, they held a wonderful First Anniversary Celebration commemorating one year of making great liquor and creative cocktails. The packed house event featured food, cocktails, music by Galynne Goodwill, tours of the facility and good times for all. After bottling their first run of potato vodka in March 2014, Great Northern Distilling built their distribution base in central and northeast Wisconsin, later adding markets in Madison,
La Crosse and Milwaukee and now produces additional craft spirits lines of whiskey, gin and rum with a brandy in development. HONORS “So far, every spirit we make has won an award in competition,” exclaims Cummins. Our aptly named Potato Vodka won a Bronze Medal at the San Francisco World Spirits Competition in 2014 and 2015. The San Francisco World Spirits Competition is the largest, most influential and respected international spirits competition in America and is judged by a prestigious panel of nationally recognized spirits experts. Judging is based on a blind, consensual procedure, ensuring competitive integrity. continued on pg. 36
Left Page: A few of the people that were instrumental in the success of Great Northern Distilling pose in front of handmade Kothe copper pot still and rectifying columns that soar upwards towards the roof. Pictured back to front and left to right are John Reichert, Mark Kranski, Kris Kranski, David Bakken, Amy Bakken, Peg Lewellin, Pat Lewellin, Debbie Schumer, Brian Cummins, Founder and Head Distiller. Photo by Ruth Faivre.
BC�T June 35
Emerging Markets. . . continued from pg. 35
"Currently, craft distilling isn't at the level of craft brewing in terms of popularity.” states Cummins, “but it is growing, and this area is very supportive to businesses who make these kinds of products." WHEREABOUTS Great Northern Distilling’s location is quite appropriate, given that Plover is smack dab in the middle of the Central Sands potato-growing region. Situated next to Mark Toyota right off Interstate 39 and County Highway B, it offers easy access, a large lot and plenty of room for growth in their spectacular modernistic building. The interior includes a mix of modern, country and rustic touches. Previously, their commercial building 36 BC�T June
housed a used car dealership that operated from 2006-2009. It sat empty until Cummins and his investors vastly remodeled it in 2013. Their spectacular handmade copper distilling equipment is clearly visible through the multiple, two story windows.
of a year with over six months to get our federal permit alone.”
OVERCOMING ADVERSITY
“We hit the "perfect storm" of red tape,” continues Cummins. “Increasing interest for distilling permit applications bogged down the system and our regulator took ‘Friday furloughs’ in the 2013 budget sequester. In the same year, during the government shutdown, our distilling equipment was stuck in customs in Montreal. It took action from Congressman Ron Kind's office to get it released.”
Initially, the firm had some hurdles to overcome. According to Cummins, “Licensing was complex and the whole process of state and federal permitting took nearly three-fourths
Other challenges stemmed from the fact that Great Northern Distilling was the first of its kind in the area. Central Wisconsin is home to many breweries, but they are the first distillery.
The facility also has ample space for offices and an operating mixology bar where their staff serves up designer cocktails made from their own finely crafted spirits.
Top Left: Great Northern Distilling’s Bottling station. Bottom Left: Great Northern Distilling’s batch pots. Middle: Brian Cummins shows off Great Northern Distilling’s Potato Vodka next to the magnificent copper still. Right: The recycled wood planks and tin sheeting clad staircase to the second floor offices set the tone for the building’s modern yet rustic decor. Photos by Ruth Faivre.
“This led to questions about building codes and how they applied to an operation like ours,” says Cummins. “Also, the fact that we were creating a production process, recipes and product brands out of whole cloth meant everything was new. We have been lucky to align ourselves with General Beverage, a solid statewide distributor to get our products to market.”
engineering talents with the sales and marketing skills I'd developed over the years serving as a product manager,"
BACKGROUND
Many commercial growers use elaborate electronic sizing machines that detect potatoes with ‘hollow hearts’, a dark colored hole inside the potato, often caused by cold and wet soil conditions. Normally discarded as waste, Cummins uses these for the company’s Potato Vodka.
Originally a chemical engineer, Cummins details his background, "Coming out of the paper industry in Central Wisconsin, I believed that being part of a craft spirits distilling operation would be a fantastic opportunity to combine my
“The large size of hollow hearts is an advantage for us since we are not peeling our potatoes,” claims Cummins. “The higher proportion of nice flesh-to-skin and the high sugar content found in the dark spots, helps establish our signature flavor profile.”
Cummins collaborates closely with Madison Wiza, the company's Manager of retail and mixology, incorporating East and West Coast cutting-edge distilling and mixology techniques to develop libations for the distillery's in-house cocktail bar. "We transition our cocktail menu to match the season and work with the local suppliers as to what is available. Since cranberries are also a primary agricultural product in the area, we are working towards creating a cranberry-based spirit. Whether that translates into cranberry liquor, cranberry-infused vodka or cranberry brandy has yet to be determined,” says Cummins. continued on pg. 38 BC�T June 37
Emerging Markets. . . continued from pg. 37
Written on the inside of a small tag attached to each Potato Vodka bottle is this message, "Our process starts with sourcing the highest quality ingredients from local farmers. Whether it's potatoes for our vodka, grain for our whiskey or fruit for our brandy, we are committed to sustainable sourcing from within 150 miles of the distillery." SPECIFICS Presently, Great Northern Distilling uses 3,000 lbs. per fermenter, which yields approximately 200 bottles of finished Potato Vodka. This works out to roughly 15 lbs. of potatoes per bottle of vodka. Each batch of vodka is three fermenters, so Cummins estimates they are producing roughly 600 bottles a month currently and believes they will be able to boost that production quickly over the next year. Since the majority of vodka is produced in continuous column stills. Cummins states, “Our process is to go through our three-stage pot/column hybrid still twice, so it is technically six times distilled. Clean water is added to produce the final product.”
38 BC�T June
Previous Page, Top: The turnout was extremely good for the establishment’s first year anniversary celebration. Left: The dramatic atmosphere of the mixology bar and lounge area draws a loyal crowd who sample imaginative cocktails mixed from Great Northern Distillings’s own spirits and relish the surrounding ambiance. Bottom: Why the old truck? Cummins explains, “We needed an inexpensive sign. One of our friends found this 1954 Chevy 2-ton
truck in a farmer's field in Rudolph, WI buried up to its axles in mud. We offered $750, dressed it up as a delivery truck and had our sign.” Above: Stevens Point Mayor, Mike Wiza and a group of friends joined the festivities at Great Northern Distilling’s recent one-year anniversary celebration. Right: Great Northern Distilling’s famous signature Potato Vodka. Photos by Ruth Faivre. continued on pg. 40
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BC�T June 39
Emerging Markets. . . continued from pg. 39
HENDRICKS FAMILY DISTILLERY Hendricks Family Distillery is exactly that, a true family undertaking. Karl Hendricks, an ethanol plant employee who “played around with fermentation,” when he was younger, dreamt of opening his own distillery. After putting his ideas down on paper, Karl Hendricks called a family meeting with his father, Jim, mother, Peggy and his older brother, Zac. According to Karl, “With my background and love for the challenge of the alcohol industry combined with the special talents every one of my family members has, I figured between the four of us, we would be up to the task.” "We knew that he had talked about starting a distillery with his buddies," said Peggy Hendricks. "But he called a family meeting, came prepared with graphs and information and we started to think this might be serious!" PREPARATIONS The design and building took two years with production starting in spring of 2013. Jim Hendricks, with the help of a small army of friends, neighbors, coworkers, 40 BC�T June
nieces, nephews, brothers and sisters, erected the structure that would house the distillery, fermentation tanks, bottling operation and water purification systems for the business. “It was more complicated than I expected,” he said. “But once we started, we did everything top notch. Everyone who has visited here has been pretty impressed.” Karl Hendricks designed the plant and oversaw production of the still and water purification systems. Zac, a welder by trade, fabricated the stainless steel fermentation tanks and related equipment needed to process and refine the product. Peggy Hendricks handles the paperwork, purchasing and marketing. “The only thing that’s not local for us is our trademark bottle, which comes from France,” says Peggy Hendricks. POINTS OF DIFFERENCE Unlike Great Northern Distilling though, Hendricks Family Distillery does not use raw potatoes for their raw materials but instead starts with dehydrated potatoes purchased from the Plover area.
Karl Hendricks continuously tweaks the proportion of enzymes and additives to make the vodka properly break down into the sugars that yeast eats to produce alcohol. Karl Hendricks explains, “Our goal was to develop potato vodka that is so smooth that the only tastes you experience are the ingredients you mix with it. We believe we have done an excellent job perfecting such vodka. Our naturally gluten-free Pür Class potato vodka, which is distributed by General Beverage and Saratoga Liquor, is distilled multiple times until it achieves at least 192 Proof alcohol since the higher the percentage, the smoother the vodka is.“ The family, which currently distills one batch of Pür Class per week, hopes to expand into larger markets in Wisconsin and plan to produce other spirits in the near future. PÜR CLASS COMPETITION AWARDS “We distill the best quality potato vodka within our means and abilities," says Karl Hendricks, Master Distiller for Hendricks Family Distillery, LLC. "When we won gold, silver and
bronze medals in 2014, our first year in production, we knew we were on our way. Our 2015 gold medals prove that we must be doing things right!" For 2015, Pür Class Vodka received two Gold and one Best of Class medals at American Distilling Institute’s Ninth Annual Judging of Craft American Spirits. This is the nation’s oldest and largest organization representing craft distilleries. Awards were as follows: • BEST OF CLASS – Certified Craft Distilled Spirits Vodka Most Neutral: Hendricks Family Distillery – Pür Class Vodka • VODKA – Certified Craft Distilled Spirits New-made Potato Vodka Gold Medal – Best of Category Hendricks Family Distillery – Pür Class Vodka • VODKA – Certified Craft Distilled Spirits Gold Medal Hendricks Family Distillery – Pür Class Vodka “We are very honored that the craft spirits industry's top judges bestowed high honors for Pür Class Vodka again in 2015,” states Zac Hendricks. "We are very proud of our family story and we are very thankful for our supportive consumers.”
Previous Page, Left: Karl Hendricks, far left presents his ideas on the proposed distillery to brother, Zac; father, Jim and mother, Peggy in the family bar on their elk farm. Right: Jim Hendricks pours dehydrated potatoes into the fermentation tank. Photo by Peggy Hendricks. Above: The Hendricks family takes great pride in how the entire facility and all the equipment for the distillery, was built with the help of family and friends. Photo by Peggy Hendricks.
In 2014, Hendricks Family Distillery won awards at five separate competitions: • TheFiftyBest.com Best Vodkas - Gold Medal
Domestic
• Straight up Texas International Spirit Competition – Silver Medal • Denver International Competition - Silver Medal
Spirits
• S an Francisco World Spirits (Note: This was their 14th year with over 1400 spirits judged from all over the world.) - Bronze medal •A DI - American Distilling Institute 8th Annual Judging of Craft Spirits in Seattle Washington - Received Best Of Class, Best of Category and a Silver Medal. continued on pg. 42 BC�T June 41
Emerging Markets. . . continued from pg. 41
Peggy Hendricks expresses her feelings about their awards, “We feel quite honored especially since we have only been in business for less than two years. Every batch keeps getting better and our goal is to create the BEST premium Vodka in Wisconsin!” PRODUCING POTATO VODKA Have you ever wondered how spirits, which are any aqueous solutions of ethanol obtained by distillation, such as potato vodka, are produced? Cummins explains, “The whole purpose of distillation is to separate and concentrate the alcohol in a fermented mash/beer and condense it into higher proof liquor. The separation is achieved based on boiling points. Alcohol boils at 173.1°F and water boils at 212°F. By accurately and carefully controlling the temperature of a still, I can get the alcohol to boil off first and then condense that vapor back down into our high proof liquor.” Each type of liquor is produced by the addition of various enzymes to break down the raw material, fermentation to produce the ethanol, and distillation to separate the ethanol for a more pure product. The final steps after distillation to create the finished product depend
on the type of spirit desired as well as on the recipe created by the distiller. There is a lot of room for creativity in the recipe and each distiller develop their own unique way of producing each spirit. Many types of liquor have their own regulations and if they not met, the solution produced cannot be bottled and sold under the name of that liquor. For example, In order to refer to liquor as ‘vodka’, a very high purity liquor, the ethanol must be distilled to 190 Proof or 95% ethanol and then diluted to 7080 Proof for distribution. When referring to proof, this is the alcoholic strength of the liquor. In the United States, proof is twice the amount of alcohol by volume (ABV). For instance, if a beverage is 80 Proof, then it contains 40% alcohol by volume. This comes from 16th century British sailor's rum rations. To ensure that the rum had not been watered down, it was "proved" by dousing gunpowder with it and then testing to see if the gunpowder would ignite. If it did not, then the rum contained too much water and was considered to be 'under proof'. The raw materials for vodka are any type of grain that can be ground, such as corn, potatoes and whey. The unique starting raw material gives
each recipe its distinct flavors. The raw material is ground and fed into a cooking tank with a strong agitator, which grinds it into a fine mash. The mash is cooked to liberate starches into the water solution (gelatinizing). Cummins says, “For our potato vodka, it makes a gluey, thin mashed potato solution.” Enzymes are added to the mash to break the potato starch into sugar. Once it cools off, yeast is introduced to ferment the sugar into alcohol. Cooking a batch of potatoes takes between 6-8 hours. Fermentation of that mash is roughly three days. After fermentation, the mash continues through the distillation process where the ethanol is removed to increase the proof of the spirit to 190 Proof. Clean water is added to produce the final product.” Even though Wisconsin’s potato vodka distillers are still in their infancy, this market is quickly growing and a quick google search will yield over 40 brands of potato vodka worldwide, like Glacier, Grand Teton, Luksusowa, Chopin Potato, High Roller, Monopolowa, Permafrost Alaska, Chase, Vikingfjord, Spudka, Cold River, Blue Ice Potato, Vesica, LiV, Prince Edward Potato, 44º North Mountain Huckleberry, Superfly, Koenig Idaho Potato, Zodiac and more.
Above: According to Peggy Hendricks, “The only thing that is not purchased locally is the bottle, which comes from France.” This photo shows Pür Class potato vodka’s elegant bottle and label design. Left: Pür Class potato vodka is made from a base of potatoes--a rare ingredient in the vodka world despite popular folklore to the contrary. It suggests a creamy and slightly bitter texture greatly favored by a certain contingent of Vodka Martini drinkers. 42 BC�T June
People Exporting Excellence WPVGA Member, Chippewa Valley Bean Co. Inc. Receives 2015 Governor’s Export Achievement Award
Chippewa Valley Bean Co. Inc. along with Gamber-Johnson LLC and PreventionGenetics, LLC received the 2015 recipients of Governor’s Export Achievement Award, which recognizes their success in global business development.
Cindy Brown, center left in royal blue dress, accepts the 2015 Wisconsin Governor’s Export Achievement Award.
“These three businesses are among the thousands of Wisconsin companies that have experienced significant growth after starting or expanding their exporting efforts,” Governor Scott Walker said. “That focus on international markets has resulted in the state reaching a new record for exporting in 2014 at $23.4 billion, which is up 18 percent over four years ago.”
operated company specializes in the growing, processing and delivery of high-quality kidney beans for canning.
The awards honor businesses that have achieved significant growth or implemented innovative strategies in exporting. Nominees were evaluated on measurable export growth, innovation and contributions to the state’s overall economy and trade development.
Brown, the North American regional vice president of the Global Pulse Confederation (the global pea, bean and lentil trade organization), helped
Chippewa Valley Bean of Menomonie, WI, founded in 1973, was built from a family farm that had worked the same land since 1858. The family-owned and
©2015 CliftonLarsonAllen LLP
“With more than 80 percent of the world’s economic growth over the next decade expected to occur outside the United States, exporting provides an important avenue for growth for Wisconsin companies of all sectors and all sizes,” said Reed Hall, secretary and CEO of the Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation (WEDC), which administers the award. “We applaud these great Wisconsin companies for their leadership in exporting.”
The company is the largest exporter of dark red kidney beans in the U.S. and has the largest kidney bean processing facility in North America. In addition to its export expansion, the company is being honored for the leadership of its president, Cindy Brown.
to secure 2016 as the United Nations International Year of the Pulse. “Chippewa Valley Bean is honored to receive the prestigious 2015 Governor’s Export Achievement Award,” Brown said. “The success wouldn’t be possible without the teamwork of our dedicated staff and farmers who grow the kidney beans we export.” Gamber-Johnson of Stevens Point, established in 1954 as a manufacturer of stereo cabinets, is a leading manufacturer of docking stations continued on pg. 44
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BC�T June 43
People. . . continued from pg. 43
and mounting solutions for the public safety, law enforcement, military, telecommunications and transportation markets. The company has set the standard for rugged docking and mounting solutions in today’s mobile environment. Until 2011, Gamber-Johnson’s sales were limited almost entirely to the U.S. and Canada. In the last four years, exports have risen to nearly 15 percent of the company’s total sales, and fully onequarter of the company’s docks are now exported to locations outside of North America. “We are greatly honored to receive the 2015 Wisconsin Governor’s Export Achievement Award,” said Brian Wagner, president of Gamber-Johnson. “Through the outstanding effort of our team and invaluable support from the State of Wisconsin, WEDC, Centergy and the Wisconsin Manufacturing
Extension Partnership, we are now doing business in more than 30 countries worldwide.” Prevention Genetics of Marshfield, founded in 2004, provides clinical DNA tests for genetic germline (inherited) disorders. The company has the largest comprehensive menu of germline genetic testing of any company in North America. To date, the company’s tests have been used in more than 70 countries around the globe. Since 2013, its international sales have grown by nearly 53 percent, and last year made up 26 percent of the company’s total revenue. “PreventionGenetics is honored to receive this award,” said Dr. James Weber, company president. “Our efforts to market our services to other countries have been significantly aided by WEDC, which has allowed
us to participate in trade visits to other countries and provided financial assistance for attending international trade shows. This is a great example of the type of public-private cooperation that will drive the Wisconsin economy forward.” Eight other Wisconsin businesses were finalists for the awards: H.O. Bostrom Co. Inc., of Waukesha; Kasco Marine Inc., of Prescott; Lucigen Corp., of Middleton; Philips Radiation Oncology Systems, of Fitchburg; PoppingFUN Inc., of Neenah; S3 International LLC, of Milwaukee; Wisconsin Spice Inc., of Berlin; and Zimbal Mink, of Sheboygan Falls. Several of the winners and finalists benefited from exporting programs offered by WEDC and the state Department of Agriculture Trade and Consumer Protection (DATCP).
RPE Inc. Donates 40,000 Pounds Of Potatoes As part of the inaugural donation made on behalf of the Growing Forward™ with Feeding America® campaign, RPE, Inc. donated 40,000 pounds of potatoes, delivered to Feeding America Eastern Wisconsin’s food bank last week. Distributing more than 22 million pounds of food each year, Feeding America Eastern Wisconsin is the state’s largest food bank and a member of the Feeding America® nationwide network of food banks. Its two distribution centers help alleviate food insecurity by providing meals to the eastern half of Wisconsin. “Our company prides itself on a strong commitment to giving back to our community. It’s rewarding to know our potatoes will help those facing hunger 44 BC�T June
across the state,” says Marketing Manager, Melissa Sylte. The 40,000-pound donation is based on consumer participation in RPE’s 'Lock Out Hunger' promotion, which ran during the holiday season. As part of the promotion, which was exclusive to RPE’s Old Oak Farms brand, RPE donated 10 pounds of potatoes for every code entered online from specially marked Kwik Lok tags. “Our 'Lock Out Hunger' promotion
was very successful, and we’re already considering additional opportunities through Growing Forward™ to engage our consumers in the fight against hunger,” noted Sylte. The Growing Forward™ with Feeding America® campaign was developed specifically for companies in the produce industry to distribute more fresh fruits and vegetables to Feeding America member food banks across the United States.
It provides a unique opportunity for brands to highlight local efforts while aligning with the national organization, Feeding America. Through customized or joint promotions, fresh produce companies can utilize the campaign to reach both retailers and consumers
while helping feed more families in need. “RPE is a family-owned Wisconsin farm that shares our values of providing healthy and nutritious food to families,” said Charles McLimans,
president and CEO of Feeding America Eastern Wisconsin. “We are able to provide locally grown, healthy foods to thousands of people each day who benefit from strong community partnerships like this one.”
Kindergarteners Love Wisconsin Potatoes By Bob Guenthner
Recently Bob Guenthner visited teacher Linda Birkholz’s two kindergarten classes and did a presentation to the youngsters all about potatoes grown in Wisconsin with facts and information about basic facts, nutritional value, why they are important to the state and what it takes to grow them. The Wisconsin Potato Vegetable Grower Association (WPVGA) sponsored treats for the kids. According to Guenthner, “It was a great day to be a potato farmer! My
The kids were saying, "We love Wisconsin Potatoes" as Ms. Birkholz took their photo. Bob Guenthner is in the middle of the photo, back row. Photo by Linda Birkholz.
presentation was a huge success and I enjoyed the time spent with Ms. Birkholz and her precious students. The
information handouts are in the good hands of teachers who will promote Wisconsin Potatoes.”
RPE Expands Sales Team Adds Director Of Foodservice Sales Dave Phillips joined RPE Inc. as the Director of Foodservice Sales, effective May 4, 2015. Based in RPE’s Blackfoot, Idaho, office, Phillips will be responsible for overseeing the foodservice sales division of the company, as well as serving as the sales manager for both of RPE-Idaho’s offices, and expanding RPE’s relationships with Idaho potato growers. Phillips will report to vice president of sales, Ross Verner.
“RPE is really one big family,” Phillips commented. “I am a family-first person and I really got that same feeling when I joined the team at RPE.” Phillips says he is looking forward to the challenges his new position will bring and hopes his experience in the potato industry will lend a hand to building RPE’s brands and strengthening its relationships with growers and customers alike.
Phillips’ experience includes almost two decades in the produce industry in the areas of procurement, sales and marketing. Most recently, Phillips worked at Nonpareil Farms where he served in multiple roles over the past 16 years; most recently serving as the Director of Sales and Marketing for fresh potatoes.
“As our business continues to grow, we gain a tremendous amount of value by adding talented people like Dave to our team,” says Russell Wysocki, president and CEO of RPE. “His experience and leadership will help us to continue to be one of the most progressive and innovative potato growers, shippers and packers in the country.”
Dave Phillips
RPE, a second-generation family farm, is a category leader and key grower/ shipper of year-round potatoes and onions. RPE prides itself on maintaining a high level of business integrity that includes commitments to environmental sustainability, as well as category innovation and retail solutions. BC�T June 45
NPC News NPC $10,000 GRAD STUDENT SCHOLARSHIP June 30, 2015 Application Deadline The National Potato Council (NPC) is now accepting applications for a $10,000 graduate-level scholarship to be applied toward the 2015-2016 academic year. Each year, NPC awards one scholarship to a graduate student pursuing advanced studies (Master’s degree or higher), that will help improve the future of the U.S. potato industry. Final scholarship selection is based on academic achievement, leadership abilities and the potential commercial value of the applicant’s academic work. The 2014 scholarship winner was Washington Luis da Silva, who is a plant pathology Ph.D. student at Cornell University. His research into Potato Tuber Necrotic Ringspot Disease (PTNRD), a tuber deformity, will offer insight into the ongoing issues the industry faces related to infections from Potato virus (PVY) necrotic strains. His goal to improve the screening process for this issue will have a direct economic benefit for potato breeders and for
the potato industry as a whole. “This scholarship will help tremendously with the cost of the robust technology necessary to complete my research, affording me the opportunity to be well trained in the pursuit of my future plans in helping the U.S. potato industry to move forward in the fight against current and prospective diseases,” said da Silva. The application deadline for NPC’s 2015-2016 academic scholarship is June 30. The scholarship winner will be announced in August. The winner will be invited to display his or her work at the Potato Research Poster Sessions during POTATO EXPO 2016, January 12-14, 2016, in Las Vegas, Nev. Application forms are available at http://goo.gl/v2bfmH. For more information about the award and past scholarship winners, visit http://nationalpotatocouncil.org/eventsand-programs/scholarship-program.
WPIB Focus Wisconsin Potato Assessment Collections: Two-Year Comparison Month
Jul-13
Aug-13
Sep-13
Oct-13
Nov-13
Dec-13
Jan-14
Feb-14
Mar-14
Apr-14
May-14
Jun-14
Year-to-Date
CWT
1,245,187.84
561,590.05
991,078.83
3,114,438.10
2,627,700.74
2,160,770.84
1,872,969.27
1,976,498.93
1,958,659.50
2,405,670.29
18,914,564.39
Assessment
$74,679.68
$33,695.37
$59,464.80
$186,867.82
$157,665.35
$129,645.84
$112,268.32
$118,698.94
$117,449.69
$144,358.33
$1,134,794.14
Jul-14
Aug-14
Sep-14
Oct-14
Nov-14
Dec-14
Jan-15
Feb-15
Mar-15
Month
Apr-15
May-15
Jun-15
Year-to-Date
CWT
1,618,594.66
584,167.62
1,071,362.65
3,145,808.22
2,930,799.68
2,055,822.91
1,632,134.39
2,314,996.35
1,657,022.61
2,227,004.05
19,237,713.14
Assessment
$97,295.75
$35,049.99
$64,101.70
$188,748.83
$175,821.97
$123,346.96
$97,909.10
$138,906.57
$99,470.40
$133,643.78
$1,154,295.05
46 BC�T June
China’s Agricultural University President Will Deliver WPC Conference Keynote Speech Dr. Ke Bingsheng, President of China’s Agricultural University (CAU), will deliver a timely message regarding agricultural developments and food security at the 9th World Potato Conference (WPC) With China’s recent recognition of the potato as an important staple food, delegates are eager to explore the implications for future relationships with China. New opportunities for business and research will emerge from the expanding Chinese industry. Dr. Bingsheng, President of China’s Agricultural University (CAU), holds a B.S. from Peking University, an MSc in Economics from the China Agricultural University and a Ph.D. in Agronomy from the University of Hohenheim. He serves concurrently as a member of the Academic Degrees Committee of the State Council, Vice President of Chinese Association of Agricultural Science Societies and Vice President
of Chinese Association of Agricultural Economics. Dr. Bingsheng’s research findings are highly valued and many have been adopted by China’s decision-making departments. Dr. Bingsheng delivered the keynote speech at the International Conference of Agricultural Economics and produced academic reports for international organizations such as FAO and OECD. He has won numerous awards including the First Prize of Research on Soft S&T of the Ministry of Agriculture. He has also published nearly one hundred academic papers, and policy reports as well as dozens of monographs. During his tenure as the president of CAU, Dr. Bingsheng has devoted himself to management research and reform of the practice of higher education. He has delivered tangible results in strengthening teaching staff, educational reform for undergraduates
Dr. Ke Bingsheng
and postgraduates, and management systems inside CAU. With just twelve weeks to go, time to register is running out. To register now, click this link, www.2015bjwpc. com or copy and paste the URL into your search engine.
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BC�T June 47
Seed Piece Potato Field Day Hancock Ag Research Station July 15, 12:30-5:30pm Founded in 1916, the Hancock Agricultural Research Station (ARS) is 99 years old! During that time, the University of Wisconsin-College of Agricultural and Life Sciences (UW-CALS) and their industry partners strengthened Hancock ARS to serve education, research and outreach on a farreaching basis. For the first 33 years, Hancock ARS was primarily dedicated to researching the agricultural value of sandy soil while emphasizing the need for soil and water conservation methodology with these soils. The advent of irrigation caused the UW-CALS departments to increase their research presence at the station, which remained a driving force for the second 33 years. Today, the Hancock ARS supports substantial research student training and outreach activities of UWCALS researchers, notably from the Departments of Horticulture, Plant Pathology, Entomology, Soil Science, Agronomy and Forest and Wildlife Ecology. 48 BC�T June
Our staff invites you to
join us on July 15! Help propel us towards reaching our 100th year of research and partnership with Wisconsin agriculture! The Hancock ARS is located at N3909 County Road V, Hancock WI 54943 If you have questions, call (715)249-5961
Hancock ARS is one of the greatest field laboratories in Wisconsin and is respected as ‘the place’ where technology is tested before it impacts growers’ fields, industry and the environment; especially for Wisconsin’s Central Sands conditions. This year, UW researchers are involved in more than 90 projects at the Hancock ARS that will decidedly contribute to agriculture development in Wisconsin and beyond. Additionally, these same projects provide great
training opportunities for UW undergraduate, graduate students and summer interns. We invite all people interested in the progress our researchers have achieved and the direction their programs are headed, to attend our Potato Field Day. We welcome colleagues and friends from other states and countries as well and look forward to the return visit of friends and colleagues from Canada, Germany, Japan and other
countries that attended our field day in the past. This year, you will receive updates on potato research from UW faculty within the various departments of the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences. These reports will cover potato diseases, insects and nematodes, weed management, potato germplasm, variety selection and development, nitrogen and water use efficiency, use of remote sensing and unmanned vehicles for high throughput in agricultural research and storage profile of new varieties. This year we have scheduled the WPVGA Spudmobile for additional educational experience. This is a family friendly event and children are welcome. The Hancock ARS Potato Field Day is partially sponsored by Wisconsin Potato and Vegetable Growers Association (WPVGA) and the WPVGA Associate Division
GENTLE – Separates without damaging peaches, apples, mushrooms and fresh tomatoes ACCURATE – Precisely grades grape tomatoes, cherries, nuts, and small berries, maintaining that accuracy for larger products including cantaloupes and pineapple FAST – Thirteen standard models custom-designed to meet your needs sort from 1000 lb/hr to 100,000 lb/hr SIMPLE – Effective but simple design provides a rugged, low cost, low maintenance machine at a high value to our customers. It can even be used in the field! VERSATILE – Specialized rollers allow for the accurate sizing of round products (potatoes, onions, and citrus), long products (carrots, russets, and cucumbers), and irregular products (bell peppers, jalapenos, and garlic).
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Phone 701-352-0480 Fax 701-352-3776 www.kerian.com BC�T June 49
Potato Board News Many Chefs Now into Potatoes! Sixty-three percent of the chefs who attended last year’s Global Potato Innovation Seminar have either tested or added new potato items to their restaurant menus. The 10th annual seminar, sponsored
by the United States Potato Board (USPB), was held at The Culinary Institute of America (CIA) Greystone, Napa Valley, CA, in late October 2014. The chefs in attendance represented more than 9,800 units. It is inspiring to see how quickly these operations have adopted creative new menu dishes. The chefs have introduced a wide variety of potato items. Wienerschnitzel, for example, added a new category and menu board for chili fries with various condiments, such as bacon ranch. Aramark is introducing a potato-filled empanada, and Garden Fresh is testing on-trend potato salads. Red Robin Gourmet Burger is testing a potato side to accompany a salmon entrée, and Fresh Grill is testing a new potato concept. Delta Airlines has also
added a shrimp and avocado causa, made with mashed potatoes, to its menu options. During this two-day seminar in California, the chefs learned about potato nutrition and participated in hands-on culinary sessions focused on global cuisines. USPB Board Member John Halverson, a potato grower and Black Gold Farms Executive from Arbyrd, MO, answered questions about potato farming and various potato types. Halverson currently serves on the USPB Executive Committee as CoChairman of the Domestic Marketing Committee. For more information and to see photos from The Global Potato Innovation Seminar, please visit www. potatogoodness.com/foodservice.
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Now for the News United Fresh Releases Retail Report The 2014 Year in Review edition of the “FreshFacts on Retail” report is now available. The report, which annually examines overall retail trends in produce from the prior year, now features insights into performance and consumer and data for fresh produce. United Fresh releases the “FreshFacts on Retail” report, produced in partnership with the Nielsen Perishables Group and sponsored by Del Monte Fresh Produce, quarterly, concluding with a “Year in Review” edition. Each report measures retail price
2015 Focus on Energy Program Gains Momentum! Focus on Energy, Wisconsin utilities’ statewide program for energy efficiency and renewable energy, is excited to announce that the new Agriculture, Schools and Government (AgSG) program is taking off across the state. The program focuses on helping farms, schools, and government buildings keep energy costs down and run processes more efficiently. So far, in 2015, 294 participants have completed 382 projects across Wisconsin. The AgSG program offers both custom and prescriptive incentives for agricultural producers; tribes, federal, state, county and municipal entities; K-12 schools; colleges and universities that implement energy efficiency projects and upgrade existing equipment.
and sales trends for the top 10 fruit and vegetable commodities as well as value-added, organic and other produce categories. New features throughout 2015 include consumer behavior measures such as household penetration and basket size, seasonal rotation of spotlight categories and insights into produce buying behavior of specific generations.
•P rice and volume trends for the Top 10 Fruit & Vegetable Commodities for 2014 vs. 2013 •C ategory spotlights on avocados, grapes and tomatoes, as well as organic produce •A nalysis of the value-added fruit and vegetable categories •G enerational spotlight on the produce purchasing habits of millennials
Highlights of the “Year in Review” report include: • A look at U.S. household spending on fresh foods vs. center store
United Fresh members can download the report free at http://tinyurl.com/ FreshFacts2014. Non-members can use the same link to buy the report.
"We look forward to continuing to expand Focus on Energy’s presence around the state and giving schools, government and agriculture customers the customized service they deserve," said Charlie Schneider, Director of Focus on Energy’s AgSG Program. “We not only provide financial incentives through this program, but
also high-level energy expertise and educational opportunities to help these sectors make smart choices when implementing energy savings and renewable projects.” Prescriptive incentives are available to customers who install energy efficient equipment matching the equipment continued on pg. 52
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BC�T June 51
Now for the News. . . continued from pg. 51
prescribed in the applications or catalogs found here: www. focusonenergy.com/applications. Custom incentives are also available for projects not covered under the prescriptive offerings. Throughout 2015, there will be bonuses awarded to all approved applications with no extra paperwork required for customers. Prescriptive applications
can expect a 10% bonus while custom projects can expect to receive the following energy savings bonuses: • $125/peak kW • $0.06/kWh - a 50% bonus • $0.80/Therm - a 100% bonus. Before installing equipment, customers should work with an Energy Advisor to identify incentive eligibility
and preapproval requirements per project. Energy Advisors are available throughout the state (within 100 miles of all customers) to assist in completing projects. To find a local Energy Advisor, visit www.focusonenergy.com/agsgEA. AgSG representatives are available toll-free at 1-888-947-7828 and can connect callers to an Energy Advisor in their territory.
New ‘Feed a Bee’ Program Bayer CropScience is launching Feed a Bee, a major initiative to increase forage for honey bees and other pollinators, including growing 50 million flowers and providing additional forage acreage in 2015.
world’s most heavily traveled livestock, bees are transported to pollinate crops where resources are challenged to sustain large bee populations. Bees are working harder and need more food and more food diversity.
By collaborating with organizations and individuals throughout the United States, Feed a Bee will help to provide pollinators with the food they need not only to survive but also to thrive.
“Reduced bee habitat has decreased food options for bees at a time when agriculture and apiculture must work together to feed more people than ever,” said Jim Blome, president and CEO of Bayer CropScience LP North America. “The Feed a Bee initiative provides opportunities for everyone to be a part of creating more forage for these amazing creatures.”
This is particularly important since the world population is expected to grow to over 9 billion people requiring 70 percent more food by 2050. As the
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The Feed a Bee initiative will work with people across the country to grow 50 million flowers and to increase bee forage areas. People can join this initiative by visiting www.FeedABee. com and requesting a free packet of wildflower seeds to plant on their own. Each campaign packet contains about 200 seeds. As a result, a supporter will help provide honey bees with 200 more flowers for forage. Visitors to the site can also commit to growing their own bee-attractant plants. The site features a ticker so supporters can view campaign progress and a collection of shareable facts about bee health and gardening tips. Feed a Bee will collaborate with at least 50 government and nonprofit organizations and businesses to plant thousands of acres of flower-producing crops grown between regular crop production periods for bees. Several of these relationships have already kicked off. The North Carolina Department of Transportation (NCDOT) is working with Bayer CropScience to create bee-attractant habitats along highway right-of-ways. Project Apis m., a non-profit dedicated to better bee health through its work with growers and Bayer CropScience will help to establish up to 3,000 acres of bee forage in California and Washington. For more information on Bayer’s bee health initiatives, please visit www. beehealth.bayer.us.
New Products Kelley Fusion HVLS Fan Now Distributed by K & K Material Handling Kelley’s high volume, low speed durable fans are designed to create a comfortable environment while maintaining an energy efficient facility. Available in a large selection of sizes and power configurations, they are suitable for just about any setting, from loading docks, storage facilities, warehouses to processing facilities and more. Kelley FUSION HVLS fans’ lightweight, high grade anodized, single piece aluminum blades produce a massive column of air that flows down toward the floor and outward in all directions before it is pulled back vertically toward the blades to create what is known as a horizontal floor jet. This floor jet produces circulation with a 2-3 mph breeze that delivers the equivalent of a 7-11 degree reduction in perceived temperature, benefiting employees, products and facilities considerably. Working with the HVAC system, HVLS fans help regulate temperature from ceiling to floor, which can allow a facility to raise its thermostat setting 3-5 degrees, creating potentially up to 4% energy savings per degree change. They also protect product integrity. Air circulation helps keep food and produce fresh and dry, reducing spoilage. Running in reverse, HVLS fans help de-stratify air in refrigerated applications.
new construction and renovations worldwide, recently relocated to Dallas, TX. Since their facility does not have a centralized air-conditioning system, working in close quarters in a humid, often dusty building can lead to uncomfortable employees and a drop in productivity. “Our employees are such great assets that keeping them cool, comfortable and productive is a top priority,” states Dewey Winker, Facilities Manager. Winker installed six, 24’ Kelley FUSION HVLS fans throughout the facility to reduce temperature and humidity. “They are really impressive with the
amount of air they move to keep the facility cool,” claims Winker. “The midday heat of the Texas summers can really bring work to a halt. After we installed the fans, we have a much cooler and less humid work environment and lead times have decreased as employees’ comfort levels improved dramatically.” For more information on Kelley High Volume Low Speed Fans and other related products, contact K & K Material Handling, Craig Kaczorowski, ckacz@knkmaterialhandling.com, www.knkmaterialhandling.com, (757) 466-9280.
continued on pg. 54
AGRONOMY ▪ SEED ▪ BULK FUELS & LUBRICANTS ▪ PROPANE VISIT US: 2311 Clermont Street, Antigo (715) 627627-4844 | (800) 807807-9900 www.frontierservcofs.com Agronomy: Bill Page ext. 114 or Pat Prasalowicz ext. 113 Fuels/Lubes: Dan Wickersheim ext. 106
continued on pg. 50
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The fans minimize floor condensation as well, keeping floors drier and safer for foot and motorized traffic and can improve indoor air quality as well by disperse fumes. Stone Panels, manufacturers of lightweight stone veneer panels for BC�T June 53
New Products . . . continued from pg. 53
New Wireless Energy Billing System (wEBS) Improves Customer Service
By Kevin Skemp, Petroleum Department Manager Frontier-Servco FS employee Sam Clements has been very busy lately helping the Petroleum Department update billing system and delivery to a Wireless Energy Billing System (wEBS) program. This enhancement is a winwin for petroleum customers since it improves customer service while reducing operational costs. In early February, petroleum sales personnel began using handheld computers to replace laptop computers when entering delivery and customer information into the wEBS system, which is linked to a central database accessible by all locations for easier information sharing. Each handheld device has a wireless Internet connection that allows instant communication with office staff like Sam, who is a wEBS analyst. This gives salespersons and office personnel key information on a real-time basis, giving both groups easier access to customer
information in case questions arise. The device also contains GPS capabilities to help employees with dispatching and delivery schedules. The wEBS system also helps sales personnel provide better on-site service to customers. While at the delivery site, personnel use the handheld device to scan the fuel tank to acquire current customer information and accurately identify the product in the tank. Once the fuel is pumped, the customer can immediately receive an itemized ticket, have the ticket sent via email, or both. Besides improving communications, wEBS helps with administrative and inventory accuracies, reduces risk, and allows us to better analyze each route and numerous other efficiencies. Frontier-Servco FS fleet of over 40 fuel trucks covers two states, so it is important for us to monitor closely
wEBS help us serve you even more efficiently!
all aspects of our business. This new program will enhance customer service and reduce costs, helping us continue to be a valued partner to your operation’s fuel needs.
GET INVOLVED, STAY INFORMED, BE AWARE!
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Join Wisconsin Potato & Vegetable Growers Association (WPVGA) and keep abreast of what is happening in your industry. 654 E. OSHKOSH STREET RIPON, WISCONSIN 54971
Phone: 920-748-2601 1-800-782-9632 Fax: 920-748-4829
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www.mpbbuilders.com 54 BC�T June
Find out how to become a member today. Go to: wisconsinpotatoes.com/about/members
Stake a claim in your future today!
Swiderski Equipment Adds New Holland Guardian Sprayer Line Spraying crops is a critical application to help ensure yields are maximized for any crop. Timing and weather can greatly impact the success of spray applications. The last thing you need to worry about is waiting in line for the commercial applicator to get to your farm or not being ready to go with your own equipment when conditions are right. Swiderski Equipment has recently added the New Holland line of Guardian sprayers to its product offerings, giving customers a new option for high quality, reliable spraying equipment. New Holland offers four SMART frontboom sprayer models, as well as two rear-boom models as part of its strong sprayer line-up. Not only do the frontboom models lead the industry with the largest tank size offering at up to 1,600 gallons, they also take top awards with a 13.5-foot turning radius on all models, which provides for easy maneuvering for less crop damage, faster spraying around corners and more efficient, safe movement in tight situations around the farm. The six-foot ground clearance and hydraulically adjustable tread means you can spray all crops at any time during the growing season for seasonlong versatility.
can provide summaries for product applied and area worked by farm, by field, by operator, by crop and more. The New Holland Guardian sprayers cover ground faster, reduce downtime and maximize acres sprayed per hour. These sprayers offer the highest horsepower and smoothest
suspension, combined with improved comfort and superior visibility to help you achieve a new level of spraying freedom and productivity. It’s all about doing more with less time and the Guardian Sprayers can help you maximize your time, your yields and your wallet. continued on pg. 56
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Precision farming technology can also help improve application efficiency and accuracy and there are various options available on the Guardian sprayers.
• Full service potato and tillage equipment dealer
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The IntelliView IV color, 10.5-inch, touch-screen display is available factory-installed. In addition to monitoring all sprayer functions, the IntelliView IV monitor allows you to control boom height, section controls, prescription applications and autoguidance (if equipped), all from one monitor.
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New Products . . . continued from pg. 55
AgriEdge Excelsior® Program Now Available Nationwide For more than a decade, AgriEdge Excelsior helped growers simplify the complexities of 21st century farming within the Southern and Western regions of the U.S. Growers across the country can now take the guesswork out of improving their farm’s production, land value, farm stewardship and profitability, as Syngenta has expanded its AgriEdge Excelsior® program nationwide this year.
The program is designed through the eyes of the grower and focuses on the needs of the whole farm, and not just one crop. A combination of total-farm management with recordkeeping software and personalized, on-farm support, AgriEdge Excelsior enables growers to maximize their profit potential and helps improve the collaborative relationship they have with their suppliers, the value chain and Syngenta.
•W hole-farm program helps improve efficiency, productivity and profitability
“The program started out as a small, regional initiative in the South with only 6,000 acres of cotton,” said Darren Fehr, Syngenta AgriEdge Excelsior manager for the recently expanded territory. “Thanks to our committed growers, we are now available as a whole-farm management solution that operates in many parts of the U.S.”
•C ontinued Nebraska, Minnesota
expansion to Iowa, South Dakota and
• S implifies farm management and sustainable sourcing requirements “As modern agriculture evolves, new challenges arise for growers to navigate,” said Steve Gomme, national AgriEdge manager for Syngenta. “From the questions of ‘big data’ technology to the changing demands of the value chain, growers need flexible tools and value-added services to succeed in this new era. The solution: AgriEdge Excelsior.”
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Through AgriEdge Excelsior, growers can improve their crop quality and yield, while continuing to operate in a sustainable way for future generations. “The AgriEdge Excelsior team stands ready to expand to Iowa, Nebraska, South Dakota and Minnesota,” said Fehr. “After building upon our success with AgriEdge Excelsior for over 10 years, we are happy to provide the program to growers nationwide and continue meeting the needs of growers in a rapidly changing environment.” For more information about the AgriEdge Excelsior program, visit www. syngenta-us.com/agriedge. Join the conversation online – connect with us at social.SyngentaUS.com.
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THE VOICE OF THE WISCONSIN POTATO & VEGETABLE INDUSTRY
INTERVIEW: on Vegetable Crops Andy Wallendal RANKINGS VEGETABLE CROP ! Strong Wisconsin Still LPRCP UPDATE Participation Village of Plover
56 BC�T June
With the help of its reseller partners, Syngenta provides a very broad portfolio of products and solutions that allow growers the flexibility to do what makes sense agronomically and economically within their operations, through unparalleled on-farm support.
the program, cannot be overstated,” said Gomme. “Our team of specialists builds long-term relationships and a foundation of trust with growers, allowing us to better understand their needs.”
Click below to subscribe or type link in browser: wisconsinpotatoes.com/blog-news/subscribe
Marketplace EDUCATION FOCUS
Spudmobile Visits Several Schools in May By Dana Rady, WPVGA Director of Promotions and Consumer Education The spring season is here and schools are close to finishing for the summer, but many of them are not letting out until the Spudmobile arrives for a visit! Between northeast, southeast and the northern part of Wisconsin, the Spudmobile visited seven schools in May along with trips to Brown County for the Dairy Breakfast, Tundra race in Kaukauna and “Things that Go” event in Menasha. Some of these events are also associated with the Auxiliary Board’s annual ‘Kids Dig Harvest’ parties. The Auxiliary, in conjunction with the Promotions Committee, provided various giveaway items for the Spudmobile to give its visitors of all ages. This helps keep each event fun while also encouraging the ‘Buy Local’ message.
Chris Anthony, of the former Anthony Farms, Inc. (left) and Jim Zdroik, WPVGA Coordinator of Community Relations (right), pose in front of Wisconsin’s traveling billboard at the Waupaca Learning Center. Photo by Jim Zdroik.
Thanks to this educational push, students, adults and consumers all over the state are learning about Wisconsin potatoes and the conservation growing practices Wisconsin farmers practice on a regular basis. The Spudmobile allows for a faceto-face conversation with the very people who are involved in the industry, a feat made possible thanks to those who volunteer to help at each event. While this involves a great deal of time and commitment, it is the perfect way to connect with consumers on a personal level. It is a conversation that will become more frequent as the summer continues and Spudmobile appearances increase. continued on pg. 58
BC�T June 57
Marketplace . . . continued from pg. 57
Above: On May 9, the Spudmobile takes a lap at the Tundra Super Late Models race, Wisconsin International Raceway in Kaukauna before the races begin. Photo by Jim Zdroik. Right: On May 8, the Spudmobile welcomed student visitors at the Waupaca Learning Center. Photo by Jim Zdroik.
WPVGA Awarded Buy Local, Buy Wisconsin Grant WPVGA is embarking on a new opportunity as it relates to the Healthy Grown program, thanks to the award of a Buy Local, Buy Wisconsin grant from DATCP. The grant is a natural fit for the Healthy Grown program, which helps set Wisconsin apart as the “leader in sustainable potato production.” Established nearly two decades ago, the program utilizes ecologically sound growing practices that are beneficial for Mother Nature. The approved grant focuses on three main goals for WPVGA to achieve over the course of the next year. Those goals include expanding the distribution of Healthy Grown growers, increasing Healthy Grown potato acreage and increasing the sales volume of Healthy Grown potatoes sold in local 58 BC�T June
Wisconsin communities. Several growers joined the Healthy Grown program already this year, which helped WPVGA accomplish the first goal of the project. From here, the intent is to work with as many retail chains as possible to expand the program even further. In-store promotions in various markets across the state combined with Spudmobile appearances will help boost sales. Wisconsin’s Healthy Grown suppliers will also play a vital role in communicating the importance of retailers advertising the product while also featuring WPVGA-provided materials such as quarter-sized bins and Kwik Lok tags that sport information about Healthy Grown. Overall, the Buy Local, Buy Wisconsin
program exists to help farmers expand their markets. There are significant opportunities to accomplish this through the Healthy Grown initiative, especially when it comes to ecologically grown potatoes and rotational crops, which provide benefits for the entire food value chain. WPVGA has already received extensive support from state, national and international organizations to see this project through to fruition during the grant process and beyond. The program continues to be ahead of its time because of its required sustainability standards and constant improvements. It advances Wisconsin as well as the potato industry, while also encouraging consumers to buy local, and buy Wisconsin.
Auxiliary News
Reminder: Volunteers & Donations Needed Feed My Starving Children Mobile Packing Event by Paula Houlihan, Vice President, Wisconsin Potato Growers Auxiliary The Feed My Starving Children Mobile Packing event on June 20, 2015 is coming up fast and we could still use your volunteer support or contributions for this important annual event, which will be held again at the Noel Hangar, 4501 Hwy 66, Stevens Point, WI. Simply visit the FMSC website to make your donation and/or select a time to work the event: http://volunteer.fmsc.org/Register/ mobilepack/event.aspx?event=150651WAU#.VTErtMK_z5p The Registration website remains open until all volunteer spots are filled.
Alternatively, you may mail donations: Attention: WPVGA office, PO Box 327, Antigo, WI, 54409. Volunteers: If you have any questions or need assistance, call Ali Carter, (715) 581-5771 or email alikrallcarter@ gmail.com. Last year, our industry supported event packed and distributed over 100,000 potato-based meals to starving children around the world! Let us make this another recordbreaking event. We look forward to partnering with you again in making
this year’s event a success. Remember, only two hours of your weekend will feed thousands of children throughout the year. Join us as we help further our efforts to feed the world and share the giving heart of our wonderful industry. continued on pg. 60
What do you expect from the seed potatoes that you buy?
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u need.
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Wisconsin has it!
For a directory of Wisconsin Certified Seed Potato Growers or a free video, contact:
WISCONSIN CERTIFIED SEED POTATOES
Wisconsin Seed Potato Improvement Association, Inc. P.O. Box 173, Antigo, WI 54409 715-623-4039 www.potatoseed.org
View a directory of the Wisconsin Certified Seed Potato Growers on your smartphone.
BC�T June 59
Auxiliary News. . . continued from pg. 59
Potato Appeal at WPS Farm Show Once again, baked potatoes and French Fries were a big hit at the Wisconsin Public Service Farm Show held at the EEA Grounds in Oshkosh on March 24-26. Celebrating nine years of attendance, the Auxiliary continues to sponsor a food booth at this event as part of our promotional efforts to encourage the consumption of the tasty and nutritious potato. Our efforts were met with great success! We sold no less than 512 baked potatoes, 978 servings of French Fries, 92 servings of nachos, 878 sodas and 33 cookbooks filled with delicious potato recipes created to encourage adding this nutritious
60 BC�T June
(L-R) Jacquie Wille, Patty Hafner, Carole Gagas, Cliff Gagas, Diane Wysocki, Sheila Rine. Photo by Carole Gagas.
and economical vegetable to home cooking. All told, we garnered over $5,700 in sales, $900 more than last year. A big Auxiliary “Thank you,” goes out to Paragon Potato Farms, Okray Family Farms and Liberty Packing for their generous donation of potatoes for this event and to McCain Foods for donating the fries. We extend special thanks to our volunteers, who all helped make
this event a huge success: Cliff and Carole Gagas, Justin Isherwood, Kurt Kamin, Josie Spurgeon, Sally Suprise, Debbie Wendt, Marilyn Wierzba and Diane Wysocki along with WPVGA Staff volunteers Julie Braun, Karen Rasmussen and Danielle Sorano and Auxiliary board members Kathy Bartsch, Patty Hafner, Lynn Isherwood, Sheila Rine and Jacquie Wille. You are all greatly appreciated for the time you gave in preparation for the event and working the booth.
Ali's Kitchen
By Ali Carter, WPVGA Auxiliary Member
“My husband, Mike, Bushman’s, Inc., says that I tend to ‘love’ the people around me with food. He is right. I’m not sure anything is more fulfilling than creating a meal for the ones you love. There is a certain creativity and freedom that comes from being in the kitchen. Cooking is a passion of mine and I am beyond excited to share that passion and adventure with all of you!”
Gaining steam,
the birds are singing and the potatoes are planted. Spring has arrived in Wisconsin and now is the perfect time to fire up the grill and share a picnic meal with your family and friends. This Bacon and Herb Potato Salad is simple to whip up when guests are at your door. A vinegar and oil dressing adds “tang” to this dish without
the mayonnaise you see in most traditional recipes. Sprinkle in some green onion and parsley and you have yourself a light and fresh side to serve on these sunfilled days. Oh, and let’s not forget the bacon! What is a potato salad without some crispy bacon?
BACON AND HERB POTATO SALAD ¼ cup olive oil 2 Tbs red wine vinegar 2 Tbs Dijon mustard 1 ½ lbs small yellow potatoes 6 slices of cooked bacon, crumbled ¼ cup sliced green onions 1 Tbs minced fresh parsley
Now that you have mastered this delightful yet easy dish, you can relax and enjoy your meal!
In a bowl combine olive oil, vinegar and mustard. Set this dressing aside. Dice the potatoes into large bite size pieces and boil 10 minutes or just until tender. While potatoes are still warm toss them with the dressing, crumbled bacon, green onions and parsley. Season to taste with salt and pepper. This dish is best served warm or at room temperature.
“The greatest dishes are very simple.” - Auguste Escoffier, the “Emperor of Chefs”
BC�T June 61
ambitious corn seed or new potato plant. Carefully excavating it from its hold of the ground to lift up before our eyes, this wondrous thing, this element in the flesh we call spring. A bit of fossil poetry is the word spring, as might also have been called leap or lunge or jump. Instead, we know it as spring.
Tater Bin Emergence By Justin Isherwood Emergence is a word known to every farmer and gardener; the moment when the impulsive cotyledon raises its bright green saber above the soil and begins that magical epic by which this planet is most blessed. As a child, my father would take me to the field to watch this frail yet universal theater. At the time I was not particularly impressed, after all, it is just corn growing, or potatoes sprouting or the oats, so what was the big deal? For my father this was a big deal; though he was no poet he acted the part as he knelt to dig up that
As said, that kid was not much impressed by his father’s spring amble to the field. All this was gonna come up anyway. Seeds do what seeds are gonna do, no need to babysit the field. I suspect our father knew this. Since then, I have come to realize why he went to the field, why he dragged us along, to sense what this hour on a spring morning meant. Not merely a visual check on the health and vigor of the seed, the spacing, the population, the germination rate, rather to witness the central divine act of this planet. Of that seed, that embryo, that incumbent child awakening and raising as the phoenix, as the resurrection, as the story of Hiawatha tells, rising from what seemed just a bit ago, death. Never mind the seed isn’t dead, it looks dead when we plant those bags of seed corn, those bags of beans and peas, those certified seed potatoes, miniscule grains of carrot, lettuce, the thumbnail seeds of pumpkin. Visually, we might as well be planting rocks and grains of sand. But, then comes the thing at which this planet is so very good. The seed wakes, the ground warms, photons stream from the local fusion reactor gone critical, free energy rushes through the solar neighborhood, the forehead of our little pile of dirt has an intent little tilt toward the local lamp post and the land at 45° north, begins to green. My personal bias is that the world’s religions are jealous of this moment, both in the fact and in the romance of this singular artfulness of the seed, out of seemingly nothing to fire-up this enterprise we for want of a better poet, call life. To be part of such a
62 BC�T June
place, with the fractional chance of pulling off this life business, is to be part of some extraordinary beauty, not of the human soul but the soul of this place, this earth. I realize there are people who think it appropriate to talk to their geraniums. A touch strange if you ask me, believing that plants have consciousness. I admit that on occasion I sing to my fields. Or the option of playing Bruce Springsteen really loud for my fields to hear, to rouse the green, to let the field know we are allies, but this is not the same as actually talking to plants. I was with a research bunch last Monday afternoon, Prof. Fred Madison’s kids, talking soils, water, recharge, trees, the strange source of cradle knolls. A researcher named Mallika brought up that stomata cells on leaves can be thought of as mouths that open and close like so many members of a choir, or that scene from “Oliver.” It is now known, she went on, that each stomata is linked to a neuron that controls this opening and closing. A neuron like what brains are made of and what modern tech might call a chip. A diagnostic chip, an itsy bitsy thought process, Mallika says, “The leaf thinks.” I had never thought of it like that before, instead that the stomata was more akin to a thermostatic lever, a purely mechanical response. Instead that the neuron is diagnostic, as said, thinking. All those little leaves, those little mouths, thinking. My dad did not sing that loud in church but he did sing out loud in the field and this without the aid of earbuds and Bruce Springsteen. I have since wondered, with all those little mouths, does a field sing? It would be a quiet hymn, if perhaps more a chant than a hymn. I am mindful of the opening bar of Aaron Copland’s “Appalachian Spring,” that too more chant than hymn.
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BC�T June 63
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