1707-Badger Common'Tater

Badger Common’Tater

July 2017

THE VOICE OF WISCONSIN'S POTATO & VEGETABLE INDUSTRY

CROP PROTECTION ISSUE

Volume 69 Number 7 $18.00/year $1.50/copy

INTERVIEW:

Tim Damico Executive VP-North America Certis USA

WPVGA SUPPORTS School at Altenburg’s Farm MYANMAR: A PRIME Seed Potato Market BRUSHITE: THE NEXT Best Dry Fertilizer?

SCHOLARSHIPS HONOR Outstanding Students

A Lockwood harvester is used to load a 4600 Crop Shuttle with potatoes.

Photo courtesy of John Tweten

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On the Cover: A Crop Shuttle, manufactured by Safe-T-Pull in Park River, North Dakota, and available in Wisconsin from Sand County Equipment, is loaded with potatoes via a Lockwood harvester in early May 2017. The high-capacity Crop Shuttle holds 800 bags of potatoes (two bulk truck loads) and can fill a truck in just over a minute, all while removing unwanted field dirt. Photo, taken in Live Oak, Florida, courtesy of John Tweten

8 Badger cOMMON’TATER INTERVIEW: Tim Damico

Tim Damico (center) is the executive vice president-North America of Certis USA, an early leader in the development of biological pesticides in the mid-1990’s. Damico is proud of Certis USA’s experienced management team. The brain trust behind the company’s biopesticides includes, from left to right, Jacob Eyal, Jow-Lih Su, Tomohiko Aikawa, Damico, Mike Dimock, Amy Brofft and CY Chen.

Departments: ALI’S KITCHEN................... 57 AUXILIARY NEWS.............. 40 BADGER BEAT................... 42

18 MYANMAR IS RIPE FOR THE POTATO PICKING It could be a market for Wisconsin seed potatoes

24

31

NOW NEWS

MARKETPLACE

Great Northern Distilling anniversary boasts aged whiskey and potato vodka

Walk Wisconsin participants get sponsored and “Powered

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Feature Articles: 14 WPVGA PROUDLY SUPPORTS not-for-profit School at Altenburg’s Farm 36 IS THE CALCIUM PHOSPHATE mineral “brushite” the next best dry fertilizer?

50 SCHOLARSHIPS HONOR outstanding students of WPVGA member families 4

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EYES ON ASSOCIATES....... 49 MARK YOUR CALENDAR..... 6 NEW PRODUCTS............... 53 NPC NEWS........................ 38 PEOPLE ............................ 46 PLANTING IDEAS................ 6 POTATOES USA NEWS...... 48 WPIB FOCUS..................... 52

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WPVGA Board of Directors: President: Eric Schroeder Vice President: Josh Mattek Secretary: Gary Wysocki Treasurer: Wes Meddaugh Directors: Steve Diercks, Mark Finnessy, Rod Gumz, Ron Krueger & Andy Wallendal Wisconsin Potato Industry Board: President: Heidi Alsum-Randall Vice President: Richard Okray Secretary: Bill Wysocki Treasurer: Keith Wolter Directors: John Bobek, Andy Diercks, Cliff Gagas, John T. Schroeder & Tom Wild WPVGA Associate Division Board of Directors: President: Sally Suprise Vice President: Casey Kedrowski Secretary: Cathy Schommer

Treasurer: Nick Laudenbach Directors: Paul Cieslewicz, Kenton Mehlberg, Zach Mykisen & Joel Zalewski Wisconsin Seed Potato Improvement Association Board of Directors: President: Bill Guenthner Vice President: Charlie Mattek Secretary/Treasurer: J.D. Schroeder Directors: Jeff Fassbender, Dan Kakes

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

Wisconsin Potato Growers Auxiliary Board of Directors: President: Paula Houlihan Vice President: Ali Carter Secretary/Treasurer: Deniell Bula Directors: Jody Baginski, Kathy Bartsch, Alicia Pavelski & Marie Reid

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

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 subscription rates: $30/year; $50/2 years.

Telephone: (715) 623-7683 Mailing address: P.O. Box 327, Antigo, Wisconsin 54409 Or, subscribe free online: http://wisconsinpotatoes.com/blog-news/subscribe/ ADVERTISING: To advertise your service or product in this magazine, call (715) 630-6213, or email: Joe Kertzman: jkertzman@wisconsinpotatoes.com.

The editor welcomes manuscripts and pictures but accepts no responsibility for such material while in our hands.

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5

Mark Your

Calendar

july

11-13 FARM TECHNOLOGY DAYS Kewaunee County Ebert Enterprises, Algoma, WI 12 ASSOCIATE DIV. PUTT-TATO OPEN GOLF OUTING Lake Arrowhead Golf Course Nekoosa, WI 15 2017 POINT DUATHLON UW-Stevens Point Stevens Point, WI 16-18 PMANA (POTATO MARKETING ASSOC. OF NORTH AMERICA) MEETING Wisconsin Dells 20 HARS FIELD DAY Hancock, WI 27 ANTIGO FIELD DAY Langlade County Airport Antigo, WI 29-30 ALMOND TATER TOOT

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Rhinelander, WI 4 UNITED OF WISCONSIN SUMMER

GATHERING

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Ellis/Stevens Point, WI 12 ANTIGO TATER TROT

City Park, 8:30 a.m.

Antigo, WI 19 WAUPACA AREA TRIATHLON South Park, 7 a.m.

Waupaca, WI 26 SILVER LAKE TRIATHLON

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Planting Ideas A picture’s worth 1,000 words, and thank goodness, because you don’t want me droning on here for 1,000 words. Instead, a picture of 84-year-old Harold Altenburg (at left above) of Altenburg’s Farm driving students through the fields in a John Deere Gator is a perfect way to get a point across. Of all the informative and interesting stories, news items, columns, press releases and new products in this issue of the Badger Common’Tater, the most touching and perhaps even most sincere is the story of the School at Altenburg’s Farm.

You see, Harold isn’t planning on living too many more decades, and Altenburg’s Farm has been a staple and tradition for Central Wisconsin families for more than 50 years, including community strawberry and pumpkin picking, sleigh rides in the winter, corn mazes and fall festivals.

So, Harold had a dilemma. He wanted the farm to stay in the community.

He also wanted kids, particularly high school students, to be an active part of the planting, growing, picking, marketing, selling and conducting of business with customers. Harold loves kids. He likes their facial expressions, innocence, sincerity, strengths, faults and weaknesses. He likes that they aren’t perfect, and he takes pride in turning the troubled ones around, showing them how to work and be proud of their accomplishments.

Harold had a vision—turning the farm into a not-for-profit school, where high school students get paid and earn credits for working. He envisioned it as “a place to learn by doing, a place to learn about agriculture, where work and learning become fun ...” Needless to say, Harold’s vision, thanks in part to a donation by the Wisconsin Potato & Vegetable Growers Association, as well as grants and donations from Incourage and more, is coming to fruition. You didn’t think I was going to tell you all that if there wasn’t a happy ending, did you? See the related feature article in this issue.

By the way, about the John Deere Gator above, Harold says students working at Altenburg’s Farm do everything from cleaning the farm market to pulling weeds, and that letting them drive the Gators makes it more interesting for them. That tells you as much about Harold as the picture.

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

Joe Kertzman Managing Editor jkertzman@wisconsinpotatoes.com

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Interview

Tim Damico, Certis USA

By Joe Kertzman, Managing Editor, Badger Common’Tater

NAME: Tim Damico TITLE: Executive vice president— North America COMPANY: Certis USA LOCATION: Columbia, MD HOMETOWN: Turtle Creek, PA YEARS IN PRESENT POSITION: 10 years PREVIOUS EMPLOYMENT: Thermo Trilogy (now Certis USA), Great Salt Lake Minerals (now Compass Minerals), Ciba-Geigy (now Syngenta) and Southern States Coop SCHOOLING: B.S. degree in horticulture, Pennsylvania State University ACTIVITIES/ORGANIZATIONS: Biological Products Industry Alliance (BPIA) Board member and committee chair, and Sacred Heart Church FAMILY: Wife, Andrea, and one married daughter, Kaylee Haupt HOBBIES: Landscaping, golf, kayaking, searching for sea glass and watching Penn State sports

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BC�T July

An early leader in the development of biological and botanical pesticides in the mid-1990’s, Certis USA manufactures and distributes a broad line of biopesticide products for the specialty agriculture, horticulture, and home and garden markets.

The predecessor of Certis USA was Thermo Trilogy Corporation, a company created in the ’90s through a consolidation of several pioneering biopesticide companies, including Grace Biopesticides of W.R. Grace & Co., AgriDyne, Biosys, Crop Genetics, and the Bt (Bacillus thuringiensis) businesses from Sandoz, Ciba-Geigy and Ecogen.

“In 2001, Mitsui & Co. of Japan acquired Thermo Trilogy and renamed it Certis USA,” explains Tim Damico, Certis USA’s executive vice president—North America. “Certis USA’s management team members came from the various predecessor companies and all have been working in the biopesticide industry for more than 20 years. Our team has exceptionally deep experience and expertise in biopesticides.”

What exactly are biological and botanical pesticides, and how do they work? Biopesticides are certain types of pesticides derived from natural materials, such as plants, microorganisms and specific minerals. They are usually inherently less toxic than conventional synthetic pesticides, thus they pose fewer risks

to the environment and non-target organisms (including humans).

Biopesticides are regulated by a separate division of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) than the one that regulates conventional pesticides. Biopesticides fall into two broad categories: • Biochemical pesticides are naturally occurring substances that control pests by non-toxic mechanisms.

Examples include botanical extracts, such as essential oils that repel or deter feeding by insects, Above: Tim Damico, executive vice presidentNorth America of Certis USA, is based at the company headquarters in Columbia, Maryland.

The predecessor of Certis USA was Thermo Trilogy Corporation, a company created in the 1990s through a consolidation of several pioneering biopesticide companies.

and sex pheromones that are used for insect mating disruption.

• Microbial pesticides contain microorganisms (bacteria, fungi, viruses or protozoa) as the active ingredients. They may work by causing a lethal infection of insect or nematode pests, by competing with root-infesting pathogenic fungi for space and nutrients, by producing biochemicals that kill pests or plant-pathogenic microbes, or by triggering a plant’s immune response to make it more resistant to pests and diseases.

The most well-known example of a microbial biopesticide is Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt)—a bacteria that produces proteins, which, in turn, destroy the digestive tracts of certain caterpillars, beetles and mosquito larvae.

What are neem extracts, and how do they fit into the picture? Neem (Azadirachta indica) is a tree native to South Asia that has been known for centuries to have medicinal and pesticidal properties. The olivelike fruit produces oil-rich seeds that contain high concentrations of complex biochemicals known collectively as limonoids.

The most prevalent of these, azadirachtin, is a chemical mimic of a key insect hormone (ecdysone) that regulates the process of metamorphosis. Azadirachtin, therefore, acts as a botanical insect growth regulator (IGR), disrupting the development of immature insects.

Other limonoids in neem oil also act as feeding deterrents or repellents and may inhibit germination of fungal spores.

Specific to potato and vegetable growing, Certis USA offers such products as Double Nickel biofungicide, MeloCon bionematicide, PFR-97 bioinsecticide, Trident Colorado potato beetle biolarvicide and LifeGard biological plant activator, to name a few. Does the company

manufacture all of them, and if so, where and how? With the exception of MeloCon nematicide, Certis USA manufacturers all of these products at its own plant in Wasco, California.

The MeloCon bionematicide technology is owned by Bayer Environmental Sciences and is sold by Certis USA under a special licensing and distribution agreement in the United States. MeloCon is also a fermented product.

All products are made by liquid fermentation under controlled conditions to optimize yield. Once the fermentation is harvested, it undergoes a series of downstream processes that result in the end product, either a liquid or a granular form that can be mixed with liquid.

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Does each product have a specific disease, pest or fungal target, and can you give me a brief rundown of what those that apply to potato and vegetable growing do? Each of the products does have a specific target. continued on pg. 10

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Interview. . . continued from pg. 9

nematode control and has effectively replaced oxamyl during its shortage. Carrot growers routinely use MeloCon as a stand-alone, and it has become the standard in some carrot growing regions.

Double Nickel for soil disease control is another product that is routinely used as a stand-alone in-furrow treatment for Rhizoctonia control.

Unique features, such as multiple modes of action, root colonization and crop safety, make any of these products an ideal choice for any vegetable grower.

LifeGard biological plant activator triggers the plant’s immune system to fend off economically damaging potato and vegetable diseases, such as early and late blight and white mold. For growers, LifeGard is an economical alternative to their standard fungicides or can be used as a rotational partner to improve disease control.

Double Nickel biofungicide is normally applied in-furrow, primarily to control soil-borne diseases, such as Rhizoctonia and Pythium in potato and vegetable crops.

Melocon is a nematicide that controls more than 15 species of nematodes, including root-knot species, sting and cyst nematodes.

Two insecticide options include PFR-97 and Trident. Trident is a Btt (Bacillus thuringensis variation of tenebreonis) that specifically controls Colorado potato beetle larvae and adults.

Many growers are using Trident in resistant management programs, since its mode of action is unique in comparison to traditional options. PFR-97 is a fungus that controls several piercing/sucking insects, such as whiteflies, aphids, mites and the potato psyllid that causes Zebra Chip.

Do Certis USA products complement or replace traditional products, and why? Depending on the crop and pest, the biopesticides I’ve mentioned can be used as stand-alone products or used to complement a pest control program.

MeloCon is used as a stand-alone for

PFR-97, Trident and LifeGard will traditionally be used in integrated programs to complement and improve results. Although LifeGard can be used as a stand-alone in some crop protection programs, it is often added to improve the overall control of early and late blight in potatoes and other crops.

What work is done at Certis USA’s fermentation facility in California, and how does fermentation fit into the biopesticide equation?

In our plant in California, we use fermentation technology to produce various kinds of bacteria and fungi and formulate them into biopesticides. For botanical products, we have a dedicated extraction plant in India that processes neem seeds and other botanical products.

Thirty of Certis USA’s products are OMRI-listed and organically approved. Are most used organically or conventionally for agriculture crops, and why? Many people have this perception that our business is all about servicing the organic

Above: Certis USA products include, from left to right, SoilGard Microbial Fungicide, Trident Btt Biolarvicide, LifeGard (the first biological plant activator) and MeloCon Bionematicide.

Left: Helicoverpa armigera worm (healthy above, dead below in the top image) is shown on beans controlled by Certis USA’s baculovirus Gemstar—an aqueous suspension concentrate insecticidal virus that infects and kills larvae of Heliothis and Helicoverpa. Worm pests are susceptible to the insecticidal virus, but beneficial insects, wildlife and work crews are not. Below the first image is a scanning electron micrograph of baculovirus protein crystals called occlusion bodies (OBs) that virally infect worm pests.

Photos courtesy of Mike Dimock, Ph.D. 10 BC�T July

markets. Just the opposite is true.

I estimate that more than 85 percent of our OMRI-listed products are used in conventional agriculture.

The reasons are numerous.

The primary reason is that the products are effective in controlling certain insects and diseases. As I mentioned earlier, many of these products like MeloCon and Double Nickel are becoming standards in certain regions of the country.

Also, growers are using Certis USA products for management of pesticide residues that are monitored through MRL’s (Maximum Residue Limits). Most, if not all, products are residue exempt, which provides maximum export flexibility to the grower when managing pesticide residues.

Right: At Certis USA’s fermentation facility in Wasco, California, various kinds of bacteria and fungi are produced and then formulated into biopesticides.

Most of the products in our portfolio permit early entry into the field, such as a 4-hour REI (Restricted Entry Interval) and zero days to harvest or PHI (Pre-Harvest Interval).

The ability to implement a resistance management strategy also ranks high

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with growers. The modes of action of biopesticides are not only unique, but some products, such as Double Nickel, also provide multiple modes of action. These reasons and many others are creating the demand for Certis USA’s biopesticides. continued on pg. 12

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Interview. . . continued from pg. 11

Why would or should commercial potato and vegetable growers at least consider biological and botanical products in the first place, as opposed to strictly chemical? In addition to the reasons I’ve stated, biopesticides provide a high level of worker safety, fewer posting requirements, they are soft on the environment, and they preserve beneficial insects and pollinators.

Lastly, biopesticides appeal to the customer, whether it be a packer, producer or consumer who is seeking produce that is planted, grown and harvested in an environmentally friendly manner.

According to the website, Certis USA exports products to more than 50 countries worldwide, and is actually owned by Mitsui & Co., a trading, investment and services firm. Why and how has the business grown to such a global enterprise? Bt is probably the oldest biopesticide that has been used for more than 50 years. We have been exporting Bt to many countries and have lately expanded our exports to include other new products we have developed.

Exports are a significant part of our business, and we are proud to export made-in-USA products.

12 BC�T July

Whether you name specific farming operations or not, who are your customers in Wisconsin and the Midwest? Certis USA typically sells to the traditional network of distributors and retailers who service the potato and vegetable markets in the Wisconsin and Midwest regions. Allied Coop, CPS Plainfield and Wilbur-Ellis in Almond, Wisconsin are at least three customers in this region who supply our products.

extend control throughout the season, the grower may augment with an in-season application by direct sprays and/or through some form of irrigation.

What products are they incorporating into their farms and why? Specifically for potatoes and specialty crops? Trident for Colorado potato beetle control is top-of-mind for many growers, since their traditional products are no longer as effective. They are seeking alternatives that can provide a resistance management strategy.

Do you have field representatives who help growers undertake a program that suits their needs?

Here in Wisconsin and the Midwest? Certis USA has two field representatives hired to specifically service the Great Lakes and Upper Midwest.

LifeGard will be added to early and late blight fungicide control programs to improve overall disease control in potatoes. White mold is another target for LifeGard.

How are the products typically applied? The products are applied similar to other conventional products. Since Double Nickel and MeloCon target soil disease and nematodes, they are routinely applied in-furrow at planting. To

PFR-97, LifeGard and Trident are used as foliar sprays in traditional application equipment to control their respective pests. Preventive applications and/or applications made during early development of the pests works best.

Anne Webster is located in Michigan and services the Great Lakes region, including Wisconsin. Chelsey Sitzmann is our Left: Certis USA’s Trident biological insecticide is a Btt (Bacillus thuringensis variation of tenebreonis) that specifically controls Colorado potato beetle larvae (shown) and adults.

Right: PFR-97, LifeGard and Trident are used as foliar sprays in traditional application equipment to control their respective pests. Rodney Griffin of Allied Cooperative operates a red Case 3330 to spray a field in Adams County, Wisconsin, in June 2016. Photo courtesy of Kathy Kuss, Allied Cooperative

newest representative who we added six months ago. She is based in Fargo, North Dakota and covers the Upper Midwest.

In addition to Anne and Chelsey, these regions are supported by two of our field development managers who provide technical support and guide our university research trials.

Are biopesticides, botanical pesticides and bio-insecticides taking market share from traditional fertilizer, pesticide and fungicide companies, or at least making inroads, and why? There is no doubt that the biopesticide sector is rapidly expanding. Various sources of market data indicate that the worldwide biopesticide market is growing at about 15 percent annually.

The traditional chemical sector also continues to grow at a 2-3 percent rate, so it appears that biopesticides are being used to complement traditional programs or are used in highly specialized cropping systems to meet certain needs of the grower.

From the retailer’s perspective, it is creating a new category for their business similar to seed and seed treatment, liquid fertilizer, soilmapping and custom application.

Are your goals the same as your competitors, and what are they?

Our goal is to be a reliable, quality supplier of biological products to help growers and to support

sustainable agriculture.

What does the future hold for biological products, such as those offered by Certis USA? Certis USA foresees a very bright future for the biological products that we produce, as well as other biopesticides.

Growers of all types of crops are seeing the value of biological products and are systematically incorporating them into their conventional programs. The future will bring us the proverbial “melting pot,” where biologicals and traditional chemistries will unite to complement one another.

What new products can growers expect in the future? This year, we are introducing LifeGard, the first biological plant activator. This unique technology was originally developed

by Dr. Barry Jacobsen at Montana State University.

LifeGard follows our introduction of Double Nickel a few years ago, which is a technology from Japan. We have a rich pipeline and will continue to bring out new products in the coming years.

Those products will include combinations of different microbial strains that will control an expanded spectrum of plant diseases. Also, we expect to introduce new formulations of current biopesticides that address the unique needs of certain crop markets.

Top: The active ingredient of MeloCon is a fungus shown here engulfing nematode eggs. Tim Damico says, “The MeloCon spores germinate and penetrate the nematode, killing it by feeding on the nematode’s body contents. MeloCon is brutal to nematodes and highly effective.” Photo courtesy of R. Holland, Macquarie University, Australia Bottom: A photomicrograph shows Trichoderma virens (the active ingredient of SoilGard) parasitizing the fungus Rhizoctonia solani (which causes black scurf in potatoes and infects many other crops). Tim Damico says, “When you apply SoilGard to your soil, you are, in effect, creating a battlefield of fungi versus fungi.” Photo courtesy of the U.S. Department of Agriculture

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WPVGA Supports School at Altenburg’s Farm Cash donation matched by Incourage helps project get off the ground

Above: In relating to kids such as these Port Edwards High School students, a spry 84-year-old Harold Altenburg (left) tells them they can’t get away with anything around him—he’s been there and knows.

By Joe Kertzman, Managing Editor, Badger Common’Tater On May 24, the Wisconsin Potato & Vegetable Growers Association (WPVGA) Board of Directors agreed on a $7,500 donation to the School at Altenburg’s Farm, the members viewing the vision of fruit and vegetable grower, Harold Altenburg, as a worthwhile endeavor.

At 84 years young, Harold, who’s been growing corn, strawberries and pumpkins on the same land off Highway 54 in Wisconsin Rapids since 1964, is easing into semi-retirement.

For over 50 years, Altenburg’s Farm has been a tradition for Central

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Wisconsin families, schools and students. With his four children following other career paths, as Harold looks to the future, it’s his wish to have Altenburg’s Farm continue to benefit the community beyond his lifetime.

He envisions a classroom made of earth and sky where students can get out from behind their desks, get their hands dirty and not just learn, but thrive.

With his passion for youth and their development, Harold’s vision is to form a not-for-profit farm school with the goal of helping young people develop life skills through on-farm learning.

Altenburg shared his vision with Incourage, a values-led leader

in philanthropy and community development. Incourage connects people like Harold, who wishes to benefit the community through his school, to resources, grants and other forms of capital.

With a goal of raising $75,000 in startup and working capital for the School at Altenburg’s Farm, Incourage offered a grant matching the first $25,000 raised, which includes the WPVGA’s donation.

A COMMUNITY FARM The farm will continue to provide the products and activities the community has enjoyed for many years. Although conventional farming methods are practiced, Altenburg’s already serves as more than a traditional farm.

Guests pick their own strawberries in the summer and pumpkins in the fall, and enjoy a fall festival several weeks each year, as well as winter sleigh rides that benefit the United Way of Wisconsin, petting zoos, corn mazes and more.

But it’s the students, the families and especially the young children who Harold enjoys interacting with daily.

“They’re a magnet to me, the kids,” he says. “Each of the children is so unique. Their expressions are so cute.

If there’s a stroller, I ask the mom in charge if I can take a peak under the blanket.”

“I think back to when I was growing up, and I tell the students who work here, ‘You can’t do anything and get away with it. I know.’ And that helps them to understand that we’re more on the same level,” he relates.

Altenburg already has an existing partnership with Eric Siler, youth apprenticeship coordinator for Lincoln High School in Wisconsin Rapids, as well as relationships with the Port Edwards School District and other area high schools, where students get paid and/or earn high school credits for working

on the farm.

As part of the startup funding, the School at Altenburg’s Farm is setting up a curriculum for students who work on the farm and earn apprenticeship credits. The initial goal is to have a minimum of five to nine students between the ages of 14 and 19 working on the farm.

Harold says the business plan specifies that eligible students be

Above: Part of Harold Altenburg’s (shown at left) vision for the School at Altenburg’s Farm is for it to be a place where work and learning become fun, a place where students are part of a team, and where they use their hands and put their heads to work.

enrolled in a school within a 50-mile radius of the farm, but that each school might have a different type of apprenticeship program in place. continued on pg. 16

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WPVGA Supports School at Altenburg’s Farm . . . continued from pg. 15

A VISION REALIZED Altenburg jotted down his vision for the school several years ago. It should be “a place to learn by doing,” he penned, “a place to work and get paid, a place where students get credits for school, a place to learn about agriculture. It should be a place where work and learning become fun, a place where you’re part of a team, where you use your hands and

put your head to work.”

With 35-40 tillable acres, in addition to the farm staples of strawberries, corn and pumpkins, other vegetables such as cucumbers and tomatoes have been raised on the land over the past 50 years.

“First, I teach the students how to get here on time,” Harold explains.

“Some are farm kids, but many are

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Above: Harold Altenburg (in blue jeans at center) has a passion for youth and their development.

His vision of a not-for-profit school, with the goal of helping young people develop life skills through on-farm learning, is coming to fruition.

students from town or are cousins from the city. Most of them need help, some very little, but others quite a lot.”

“I put them under my wing and guide them. What I’ve found in the past is that, when they come, their heads are often hanging down. They’re not proud of themselves, but after they’ve accomplished something, they hold their heads high,” says Harold, who often works with at-risk students.

“I always try to put their ideas to work here. We want new, young ideas. If they come up with something, then they’re part of the whole operation,” he continues.

“It builds their self-confidence and desire to keep doing better.”

The students do everything from working in and cleaning the farm market to moving benches, getting containers out and ready for strawberry picking, weeding and hoeing between rows of strawberries, and driving the farm’s John Deere Gators, which Harold says makes it more interesting for the kids.

ADVISORY COMMITTEE Altenburg and Incourage formed an advisory committee of teachers, community members and people interested in making the farm school a reality.

The School at Altenburg’s Farm Board of Directors is currently made up of Brad Kremer, president (Hillcrest Family Farms); Ashleigh Calaway, secretary (Wisconsin Farm Bureau

Federation); Gale West, treasurer (retired ag-business teacher and farmer); Jeff Boyd (Mortenson Bros.

Farms); Tracy Neve (Auburndale School District instructional technology coach/mentor); and Gus Mancuso (Incourage).

Harold has leased the use of his farm, though he and his family continue to own it, including the renting of the equipment and buildings, to the board so that his legacy will continue.

“I’m leasing the farm for a dollar,” he details.

“The school is paying for leasing the equipment and for the crops, but other than that, they get all the money generated by the farm through produce and other sales.

I hope they get enough to pay me some,” he jokes.

The board recently hired Greg

Gerdes, who has a background in cranberry growing, as farm director.

“Greg and I are the teachers,” Harold says. “A place of learning is a school.

A schoolhouse is just a building. Any place of learning is a school, and this is a non-profit school based on teaching.”

“We teach where food comes from and what it takes to get it there,” he concludes. “Some of the kids, their cousins and even their parents have forgotten. I’m just an advisor getting this going. I’m a working advisor.”

For more information about the School at Altenburg’s Farm or to make a financial contribution, please email altenburgschool@gmail.com, or contact Gus Mancuso at Incourage: gmancuso@incouragecf.org, phone: 715-818-6187. Please also visit the Altenburg’s Farm website at www.altenburgsfarm.com.

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Myanmar is Ripe for the Potato Picking

Wisconsin seed potatoes have the potential to play a role in Myanmar’s chip stock market

By Peter Joyce, consultant for Potatoes USA Why are Wisconsin potato varieties being grown in Myanmar? And, by the way, where is Myanmar?

Mynamar is the country formerly known as Burma and is bordered by the People’s Republic of Bangladesh, India, China, Laos and Thailand in Southeast Asia. Myanmar has been fairly isolated from the western economies until the 2016 election of the National League for Democracy, Aung San Suu Kyi’s political party.

There are two principle seed potato markets in Myanmar. One is seed for the fresh market in Myanmar, 18 BC�T July

and the second is seed for the chip stock export markets of Thailand and Indonesia. This article focuses on the chip stock markets for Thailand and Indonesia and how Wisconsin seed potatoes can play a role.

Thailand is the only country in the world where more chip stock is consumed than fresh potatoes. The country consumes about 90 percent chip stock and only 10 percent fresh market potatoes.1 Like many countries in the world, the potato was introduced to Thailand in the early 19th century.

Above: An artisanal producer from Heho, Myanmar makes his chips using palm oil from Thailand in a batch fryer over a wood fire.

Opposite Page: The location of Myanmar in Southeast Asia is highlighted on the map.

But unlike many countries, for whatever reason, Thailand never consumed many potatoes. That is, until they tried potato chips in 1990.

GROWING POTATO DEMAND Thailand consumed less than 20,000 metric tons (MT) of potatoes per year in 1990. Nowadays, Thailand produces about 100,000 MT and

imports an additional 52,000 MT of chip stock and 6,000 MT of seed potatoes.2 Thailand consumes about 4.85 pounds per person a year of potato chips. That is less than the roughly 22 pounds/person/year of chip stock consumed in the United States, but it is growing fast.

Consumption has grown more than eightfold since 1990, and it will probably double again in the next 10 years. At the same time, Thailand has probably maximized their yields and their existing farmland for producing chip stock. The country will need to import for its future chip stock needs.

Indonesia also needs chip stock.

Most of the population of Indonesia lives on the island of Java—over 140 million people out of Indonesia’s total population of 260 million. Java has a population density of 940 people per square kilometer compared to 35 people per square kilometer in the United States.

Most of the potatoes in Indonesia are grown on Java, and there simply is not enough room to grow enough for the country’s demand.

Wholesale potato prices and chip stock prices are often over $30/cwt. (hundredweight). continued on pg. 20

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Myanmar is Ripe for the Potato Picking . . . continued from pg. 19

DEMAND FOR CHIP STOCK Myanmar, with its abundant land available for growing potatoes and tariff-free market access, is a prime candidate to take advantage of the demand for chip stock in Thailand and Indonesia.

Although the country has intense disease pressure in the rainy season, there is much less in the dry season.

Myanmar can plant in the highland dry season in December and January,

and in the lowland dry season starting in October and November.

Aventine Ltd. is a Myanmar company that exports chip stock to Thailand and Indonesia. The company currently exports about 500 MT of chip stock, but anticipates exporting approximately 5,000 MT within three years.

Aventine has an 800 MT modern storage facility and wants to expand, so the company will need seed in the

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next couple of years to improve its export capacity. Currently, Aventine buys Atlantic seed potatoes from Europe.

The market for chip stock in Myanmar is probably low. It produces over 600,000 MT annually of fresh market potatoes, but there are only artisanal chip makers at this point in the country. While Frito-Lay may invest in a new plant in Myanmar, the company has not done so to date.

Myanmar essentially does not use certified seed potatoes. In general, the country uses informally saved seed of the Kufri Jyoti variety. Kufri Jyoti is one of the most popular varieties in the world. India alone produces about as much Kufri Jyoti as the United States produces potatoes.

However, in Myanmar, Kufri Jyoti does not get renewed, and growers are planting what probably amounts to the 50th generation of the variety.

Average yield in Myanmar for Kufri Jyoti is about 15.1 MT/Ha (hectare), Left: A potato tuber shows symptoms of tunneling by potato tuber moth (PTM) larvae. Most tubers that were exposed to the sun were also susceptible to PTM attacks.

Right: Potatoes are harvested in Myanmar so that trial data can be gathered.

or 170 cwt./acre.

THE TRIAL Potatoes USA conducted a variety trial in Heho, Myanmar in 2017. The collaborators included the Shan State Department of Agriculture Research Station and Aventine Ltd. The prearranged January 20 planting date was a difficult one to meet.

There were several delays in the shipment, and the potatoes arrived in Myanmar on January 6 at 46 degrees Fahrenheit (F).

The varieties did not have as much time to warm up as they should have.

Pre-sprouting the tubers helps the plant emerge quicker and gives it a better chance to yield well. Megachip had good sprouts, but Hodag, Pinnacle and Nicolet had very small sprouts.

The trial was planted at the research station, which is located on an old lake bed. The soils are dark with high organic content. Planted on January 20 in a randomized complete block design with 10 treatments and four replications, and harvested on May 6, the potatoes were watered three-tofour times via seepage irrigation.

45 and 75 days after planting. There was also a significant rainfall on April 13. Seepage irrigation is not ideal for potatoes because the ground is probably too dry at the surface and too wet 10 inches down.

Tubers set low have a high lenticel number, whereas tubers set high sometimes show cracks. The ground tends to crack on the surface, which gives potato tuber moth (PTM) an entrance to attack the tubers.

Above: A group of 20 local Myanmar potato growers (in blue hats) visited the potato trials on harvest day.

Growers are slowly starting to use sprinkler irrigation, but a large majority relies on seepage.

CUT SEED POTATOES There were not enough small-sized tubers of the Hodag variety, so seed potatoes were cut and planted for continued on pg. 22

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The trial was irrigated roughly at 30, BC�T July 21

Myanmar is Ripe for the Potato Picking . . . continued from pg. 21

the data rows as well as the guard rows. Nicolet and Pinnacle tubers were also cut before planting, but were used only in the guard rows.

Fortunately, the cutting worked well and all varieties had germination over 95 percent.

The potatoes were planted at 12 inches apart on 29.5-inch rows, for a 17,994 plants/acre density. They were fertilized with about 137 lbs./ acre of N (nitrogen), 195 lbs./acre of P2O5 (phosphate) and 259 lbs./acre of K (potassium).

The potatoes used 15-15 -15, 21-00, 0-45-0 and 0-0-60, split about 50 percent at planting and 50 percent 40 days after planting. They had four fungicide applications and many insecticide applications.

Potato tuber moth (PTM) was the biggest insect problem. Any tuber that was outside or close to the surface of the dirt was in danger of PTM. Any tuber that was attacked by PTM was essentially unmarketable.

Probably the bigger problem is the soft rot that is started by burrowing of the PTM larvae. Growers stated that they can lose 30-40 percent of their harvest due to this pest alone. Unfortunately, as their yields increase, their losses due to PTM also increase.

Potatoes USA was promoting wider spacing between rows to get more dirt to cover their tubers, finding

Variety Cal White Cal White Nicolet Hodag Kufri Jyoti Pinnacle Granola Defender Megachip Yukon Gem

Cwt./A 344 a 341 a 300 ab 297 ab 289 b 277 bc 237 cd 221 d 213 d 206 d

% of control 1.19 1.17 1.04 1.03 1.00 0.96 0.82 0.77 0.74 0.71

Table 1

that 1-2 inches is the best protection against PTM. Heho growers typically use 20-inch row spacing, while the trial used 29.5-inch rows. Losses in the trial were probably around 10-20 percent, but the damaged tubers were included in the trial results, unless the soft rot was too significant.

THE RESULTS Table 1 represents the commercial yield and the percent of the control for each of the nine U.S. varieties and Kufri Jyoti planted in the Department of Agriculture’s fields. Yield is expressed in hundredweight per acre.

There were four replicates for each of the 10 treatments, and one variety was planted in two separate treatments. Two letters in middle column of Table 1 indicates

no significant differences between treatments (Duncan’s Multiple Range Test, 5 percent).

Unfortunately, there was a mix-up in the United States, and Potatoes USA did not send Atlantic, which would have been the control variety for chippers. Otherwise the chip varieties did very well.

The control variety Kufri Jyoti yielded 289 cwt./acre, which is about 70 percent higher than its average yield of 170 cwt./acre. This is an excellent yield for Kufri Jyoti, and growers were impressed.

Nicolet, Hodag and Pinnacle yielded statistically the same as Kufri Jyoti.

The yields for all three varieties were very good and indicate their potential for Myanmar. Hodag was a little more susceptible to tuber cracking than the other varieties. Pinnacle had a high

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22 BC�T July

tuber set and smaller tubers.

Farm on Friday, August 4.

Megachip did not yield well for unknown reasons. The seed was well sprouted and was fully germinated after February 19. However, the plants remained small and just did not fill out the rows. Yields were significantly lower than Kufri Jyoti and the other chip varieties.

They would like to see how chip seed is produced in Wisconsin and learn more about chipping varieties. There is a lot involved in producing seed potatoes and they need to see how it is done in the United States.

Currently the potato varieties are being tested by Aventine Ltd. for their solids, color and percentage of defects. Once they evaluate the varieties for their ability to chip, they will select which varieties they would like for future trials.

Wisconsin potato and vegetable growers have a chance to meet the Myanmar importers and growers at the Rhinelander Seed Potato Field Day, August 4, 2017. The event is to be held at the UW-Lelah Starks Elite Foundation Seed Potato Farm, 10 a.m.-noon, with brats and burgers to follow.

Two senior agronomists from Aventine Ltd. and two potato growers from the Heho, Myanmar area will be visiting Wisconsin on August 2-4, 2017, and will be at the UW-Lelah Starks Elite Foundation Seed Potato

Let Potatoes USA know if you would like the Myanmar delegation to visit your farm this summer. To get involved, contact Potatoes USA’s Director of Marketing Operations Amy Burdett, amy@potatoesusa.com.

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Potatoes USA’s international seed program introduces U.S. certified seed potatoes to overseas developing markets, such as Myanmar, to strengthen the demand for them by increasing exports. Seed program strategies include: increasing foreign market access, educating foreign growers on the benefits and usage of U.S. seed stock, and working in high-opportunity markets to register varieties and to prove the viability and superior quality of U.S. seed potatoes.

In addition, the program elevates the industry’s engagement in seed potato exports and positions potatoes as a key crop in the fight against world hunger.

Potatoes USA leverages grower assessment dollars to obtain multi-fold U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) funding for emerging markets to promote U.S. seed potatoes using technical assistance.

Potatoes USA also uses USDA funding to cover the cost of seed potato samples and shipping, and to show foreign growers firsthand how to grow better spuds for their home markets using U.S. seed potatoes.

1

Kittpadakul, P, Jaipeng, B, Slater, A, Stevenson, W., Jansky S. 2016. Potato Production in Thailand.

American Journal of Potato Research. 93:380-385.

2

http://www.fao.org/faostat/en/#data/TP

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Now News Vodka Made from Locally Grown Potatoes Great Northern Distilling celebrates third anniversary with spirits!

It may have been a limited batch of three-year-aged whiskey that Great Northern Distilling in Plover, Wisconsin released in celebration of its third anniversary, Saturday, May 13, but there was plenty of potato vodka to go around. The anniversary celebration included food, live entertainment and, of course, craft cocktails.

distilling [thus the company tagline, handcrafted in Wisconsin]. For our Wisconsin Potato Vodka, we source local potatoes from the Central Sands, and we take the large potatoes that have hollow heart, that are cracked and have brown rings and streaks in the center.”

Founder and head distiller of Great Northern Distilling, Brian Cummins, was a frustrated chemical engineer who worked in the paper industry before making the decision to hang it up and follow his dream of opening a distillery.

“They are the potatoes that have too much sugar rather than starch,” Cummins continues. “They’re bad for potato chips and French fries, but they’re good for distilling potato vodka. We actually turn starches into sugars anyway, so it’s a way for us to get nice, fresh, quality potatoes for vodka.”

Cummins says, “We serve only what we can make through craft

Cummins sources potatoes from Okray Family Farms, and as he says,

24 BC�T July

“We’ve purchased from others as well. The Okrays do a nice job coordinating with us, and we take potatoes all the way into May and June before the next harvest begins.

I need a little bit of potatoes at Above: “Potato vodka is what started us out, and it’s still our top seller,” Brian Cummins, founder and head distiller of Great Northern Distilling in Plover, Wisconsin, says. Great Northern Distilling celebrated its third anniversary on May 13 with food, live entertainment and craft cocktails.

Opposite Page: Great Northern Distilling Founder and Head Distiller Brian Cummins holds one of the large Silverton russet potatoes he sources locally to make the distillery’s Potato Vodka.

Cummins estimates he purchases 100,000 pounds of potatoes a year and that it takes about 3,000 pounds of hollow-heart potatoes to make 200 bottles of vodka.

a time, and I can’t store them. There are also Bushmans involved.”

He estimates that Great Northern Distilling buys 100,000 pounds of potatoes a year, using Silverton russets. “They’re locally grown, and our goal is to keep as much of our commerce as local as we can,” he notes, “and support our neighbors like our neighbors support us.”

SUSTAINABLE SOURCING With a commitment to sustainable sourcing from within 150 miles of the distillery, Cummins purchases corn, wheat and rye grains from Lonesome Stone Milling in Lone Rock, Wisconsin for whiskeys and ryes; he uses malted barleys and wheats, saying there are high-quality malts here in Wisconsin; hand-gathered spruce tips for gin; and locally grown fruit as well as wine from Sunset Winery in Stevens Point for brandy.

“Wisconsin has such a great agricultural heritage, so why would

I want something from Idaho when you consider the shipping and carbon footprint? The quality and service I get from local growers, including storage and shipping, is unmatched.

They take care of their customers and that goes a long way with me,”

Cummins stresses.

“Potato vodka is what started us out, and it’s still our top seller,” he adds. Great Northern Distilling crafts Herbalist Gin, Vanguard Whiskey, an East Coast-style Rye Whiskey continued on pg. 26

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Now News. . . continued from pg. 25

and Opportunity Rum, all of which, including the Potato Vodka, have received at least one award in competition.

It takes 3,000 pounds of hollow-heart potatoes, ground in a food grinder to the consistency of tater tots and then pumped into a mash tank, to make approximately 200 bottles of vodka, or 15 pounds of spuds per bottle.

Great Northern Distilling’s spirits are crafted in small batches in a handmade copper still, or “from grain to glass,” as Cummins likes to say.

Pay a visit Monday through Saturday and take a seat at the mixology bar, or take advantage of the distillery tours offered Saturday afternoons at 1, 2 and 3 p.m. Call 715-544-6551 for reservations if your group exceeds 10 people.

Above: Each of Great Northern Distilling’s handcrafted spirits, including Potato Vodka, Herbalist Gin, Vanguard Whiskey, an East Coast-style Rye Whiskey and Opportunity Rum, has received at least one award in competition. A three-year-aged Wisconsin Whiskey was released in a very limited batch for the distillery’s third anniversary.

UMOS Offers Financial Assistance to Farmworkers Truck driving training available to eligible migrant and seasonal workers The UMOS National Farmworker Jobs Program (NFJP) offers financial assistance to eligible migrant and seasonal farmworkers who want a career in commercial truck driving.

The NFJP is funded by the U.S. Department of Labor/Employment & Training Administration.

Schools providing the training are the ATS Diesel Truck Driving School in Sun Prairie, Wisconsin (also provides room and board for students); the Sabertooth Commercial Driver Training Institute in Waupaca; and Fox Valley Technical College in Appleton.

UMOS works with reputable schools that provide short-term commercial truck driving training.

Upon successful completion of the course, students receive a “Class A” Commercial Driver’s License (CDL).

Students must have a good driving record and a valid driver’s license; must meet age requirements varying by school; be in good physical health; speak adequate English; and be able to pass a drug screen. Other

26 BC�T July

requirements may apply. The length of the training, also varying by school, is three to four weeks.

If you have done seasonal farm work, such as planting and harvesting fruits or vegetables, working in nurseries or on Christmas tree farms, or feeding livestock, in the last two years, contact UMOS to find out if you are eligible for help with job training and other services.

For more information, contact UMOS, Inc., 2701 S. Chase Ave., Milwaukee, WI 53207; phone: 800-279-8667.

Governor Signs High-Capacity Well Legislation into Law New law protects environment and brings certainty to the agricultural community Governor Scott Walker signed Senate Bill 76 into law on June 2, 2017, which relates to the replacement, reconstruction and transfer of an approved high-capacity well, as well the recommendation of special groundwater measures by the Department of Natural Resources (DNR) and metering requirements for certain high-capacity wells.

The Wisconsin Potato & Vegetable Growers Association (WPVGA) applauds the Governor’s signing of SB 76, the science-based water policy legislation sponsored by Senate Majority Leader Sen. Scott Fitzgerald (R–Juneau) and Representative Gary Tauchen (R–Bonduel).

“Wisconsin farmers who rely on high-

capacity wells to irrigate farmland and feed families across the globe applaud the Governor’s actions,” says WPVGA Executive Director Tamas Houlihan.

“We appreciate the leadership provided by Sen. Fitzgerald and Representative Tauchen, as well as the efforts of Sen. Pat Testin [R-Stevens Point] and Representative Scott Krug [R-Nekoosa], who worked hard to provide certainty for farmers,” Houlihan adds. “Farmers rely on the ability to utilize irrigation to grow nutritious vegetables in Wisconsin.”

The new law maintains Wisconsin’s stringent environmental requirements and well construction

standards for repaired, replaced and reconstructed wells. The law also importantly requires the DNR to conduct a critical study of highcapacity wells and their potential impacts on surface waters in areas in the Central Sands region of Wisconsin.

IN SUPPORT OF SOUND SCIENCE “Similar to the study completed on the Little Plover River, the WPVGA supports sound science in working out practical solutions,” Houlihan says. “We believe that these studies are critical to understanding the interaction between groundwater and surface water. We support this continued on pg. 28

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Now News. . . continued from pg. 27

scientific work that will generate reliable data upon which any necessary future regulations can be developed.”

Houlihan explains that he and members of his association remain committed to a healthy environment and a healthy agricultural economy.

“It’s not an either-or equation.

Our members are committed to advancing best practices when it comes to environmental stewardship and conservation because it is the right thing to do, and because it is good business,” he stresses. “The certainty provided by the new law will help our growers continue to invest in new technologies and new techniques to keep our land and water safe and abundant.”

The law requires any new well or any existing well that is repaired, replaced or transferred in a designated study area to have a water meter and report water usage using that meter.

Importantly, all high-capacity wells already report water usage to the DNR annually in March. This new metering requirement is expensive, but it may assist with the generation of more precise data in the study areas.

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About Wisconsin Agriculture: • Agriculture contributes $88 billion to Wisconsin’s economy

•C entral Sands region is a key area for potato and vegetable production and food security

• E ach job supports 1.4 indirect positions in related industries •W isconsin ranks third in potato production and second in processed vegetables

Volm Companies and Wyma Solutions Partner Packaging and equipment supplier and global produce handling expert combine Volm Companies, the leading North American supplier of fresh produce packaging and equipment automation solutions, today announced a formal strategic partnership with Wyma Solutions, the global expert in postharvest fresh and processed handling solutions.

The partnership will allow Volm Companies and Wyma Solutions to work in a closely integrated manner resulting in world-class turn-key solutions that leverage the global experience of both organizations.

28 BC�T July

The combined comprehensive equipment and engineering portfolio, coupled with coast-to-coast distribution and a technical service network offered via Volm Companies, will enable an unmatched customer experience.

As part of the evolution of this relationship, both companies will be adding significant sales, engineering, technical service and manufacturing resources. This will include the manufacturing of select Wyma products in North America for North America.

Above: Andrew Barclay (left), managing director of Wyma Solutions, and Daniel Mueller (right), president and CEO, Volm Companies, shake hands at the newly opened Volm Companies Center of Excellence for Material Handling and Robotic Palletizing in Ancaster, Ontario, Canada.

For over a decade, Volm Companies has represented Wyma Solutions in the fresh potato market space successfully. “As the relationship has strengthened over time, we are pleased to be a strategic partner and we look forward to showcasing the combined capabilities of both organizations,” says Matthew Alexander, vice president of sales and marketing for Volm Companies.

Wyma solutions has a global reputation for providing high-quality, post-harvest equipment. Andrew Barclay, managing director of Wyma Solutions, explains, “Wyma is confident this partnership with Volm will maximize the effectiveness of cooperation and ultimately benefit our customers with high-quality, complete solutions.”

About Wyma Solutions (New Zealand) Wyma Solutions designs, manufactures, distributes

and services post-harvest vegetable equipment and solutions worldwide. The product range includes equipment to tip, receive, remove waste, brush, polish, cool, dry, convey, grade, size and pack vegetables such as potatoes, carrots, onions and parsnips, as well as complete dry, wash or pre-pack line solutions.

About Volm Companies Volm Companies is a recognized leader in the fresh produce market as a manufacturer of innovative packaging equipment and engineering solutions serving fresh produce customers with the largest distribution and technical service network in North America.

Alsum Farms Launches Powered

by Potatoes Contest Post your active lifestyle images to the Alsum Farms & Produce Facebook page Alsum Farms & Produce invites sports fans, athletes and those seeking an active lifestyle to show the company how you are Powered by Wisconsin Potatoes this summer.

“Powered by Wisconsin Potatoes promotes the healthy, flavorful and fresh attributes of the spud targeting sports enthusiasts and athletes to fuel performance,” says Heidi AlsumRandall, national sales and marketing manager of Alsum Farms & Produce.

“Potatoes are a nutrient powerhouse, and we encourage shoppers to put fresh potatoes in their carts and make delicious Wisconsin potatoes a part of their summer celebrations and everyday meals,” she remarks.

Sports fans and potato lovers have now until July 31, 2017 to post an image of one of their winning and memorable moments involving sports or a photo that demonstrates their active lifestyles to the Alsum Farms & Produce Facebook page, with #poweredbypotatoes, to be entered for a chance to win the grand prize. continued on pg. 30 Right: The Alsum Farms & Produce merchandising sticker appears on Alsum Russet Potato display bins.

BC�T July 29

Now News. . . continued from pg. 29

The grand prize is a family four-pack to a Wisconsin Timber Rattlers home baseball game in August at Fox Cities Stadium in Appleton, Wisconsin.

ENTER TO WIN To enter, simply: 1) “Like” Alsum Farms & Produce on Facebook, https://www.facebook. com/AlsumFarmsandProduce/ 2) Post your image(s) of winning a sporting event, of a memorable moment involving sports or simply of your active lifestyle to the Alsum Facebook page, with #poweredbypotatoes, and you’re in the running for the grand prize.

In addition to the grand prize

30 BC�T July

package, Alsum Farms & Produce will select five lucky winners who will receive an Alsum grilling kit to be used for healthy outdoor barbecues.

All eligible entries will be judged by Alsum staff with one winning entry selected as the grand prize winner and five runner-up entries based on the above criteria and creativity.

Winners will be notified by early August.

The Alsum Powered by Wisconsin Potatoes contest is supported through in-store merchandising on Alsum Russet Potato display bins at retail that encourage shoppers to scan a QR code to learn more potato nutrition, potato recipes to fuel pre- and post-workouts and enter the social media

#poweredbypotatoes contest.

The contest encourages shoppers to post a photo of a winning or memorable moment at a sports game, 5K or playing ball in the backyard on the Alsum Farms & Produce Facebook page.

For more information on the Alsum Farms & Produce Powered

by Potatoes Contest, its full-line of products or for delicious potato recipes, visit http://www.alsum.com/ products/potatoes.

About Alsum Farms & Produce Alsum Farms & Produce, Inc., is a grower, packer and shipper of potatoes, re-packer of onions and a wholesale distributor of a full line of fresh fruits and vegetables. Headquartered in Friesland, Wisconsin, Alsum Farms is also a member of the eco-friendly Wisconsin potato Healthy Grown® initiative.

Marketplace

By Dana Rady, WPVGA Director of Promotions & Consumer Education

Wisconsin Potatoes Perfect for Powering any Activity If you’re about to participate in physical activity or exercise, eat a Wisconsin potato before you go to give your body the energy it needs to power through! If you’re just getting back from exercising or engaging in physical activity, eat a Wisconsin potato to aid your body and muscles during their recovery process.

The Wisconsin Potato & Vegetable Growers Association’s (WPVGA) “Powered by Wisconsin Potatoes” events offer many opportunities in the summer for those in the industry to not only promote Wisconsin potatoes, but also prove the science of potato nutrition pre- and postphysical activity.

For the annual events, the WPVGA pays the registration fees of participants who are part of the potato and vegetable industry.

What better way to be living proof

that America’s favorite vegetable, prepared in a healthy way, is one that everyone can indulge in without the guilt?

Check out our event lineup and find one that fits your schedule (first four have already been held).

If you’re interested in any of the upcoming Powered by Wisconsin

Above: Registered Dietician Sarah Agena (middle) catches up with Walk Wisconsin participants Paula Houlihan (left), who is president of the Wisconsin Potato Growers Auxiliary, and WPVGA Executive Director Tamas Houlihan (right), on June 3 at Pfiffner Park in Stevens Point.

Potatoes events, be sure to contact the WPVGA office at 715-623-7683, wpvga@wisconsinpotatoes.com.

If you’re a previous participant, watch for reminder emails about registrations and deadlines. It’s a great way to stay healthy and promote a fantastic vegetable! continued on pg. 32

Powered by Wisconsin Potatoes events Crazylegs Classic – April 29 Walk Wisconsin – June 3 Lake Mills Triathlon – June 4 (new) Wisconsin Triterium Triathlon – June 24 (new) Pardeeville Triathlon – July 8 Point Duathlon – July 15

Tri-ing for Children’s Triathlon (adult race) – July 30 (new) Antigo Tater Trot – August 12 Waupaca Area Triathlon – August 19 Silver Lake Triathlon – August 26 Devil’s Challenge Triathlon – September 17 (new) BC�T July 31

Marketplace. . . continued from pg. 31

Walk Wisconsin Participants Powered by Potatoes!

One of the first Powered by Wisconsin Potatoes events each season is Walk Wisconsin, which the WPVGA is pleased to have sponsored again

this year. Held at Pfiffner Park in Stevens Point, the event welcomes people of all ages and ability levels to non-competitively walk a full,

Top Left: Amy Laper of Alsum Farms and Produce receives a medal following her walk, as friend, Becky Williams, waits in line behind her.

Top Right: WPVGA Executive Director Tamas Houlihan (left) and his wife, Wisconsin Potato Growers Auxiliary President Paula Houlihan, finish their walk in speedy fashion, earning them medals at the June 3 Walk Wisconsin event in Stevens Point.

Bottom: Misti Ward (left) and Jennifer Hoernke (right), both of Wysocki Family of Companies, take a moment to relax after running their first-ever half marathon at Walk Wisconsin in Stevens Point.

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This year, two brave participants took their walk to the next level by running the distance! Misti Ward and Jennifer Hoernke, both of Wysocki Family of Companies, completed their first-ever half marathon at the June 3 event!

WPVGA Takes Nominations for Wisconsin Representative on Potatoes USA Nominations are now open for a Wisconsin representative on Potatoes USA. Nominees must be potato growers within Wisconsin who are in good standing.

Board Member Guidelines The Potatoes USA Board serves the good of both potato production regions and Potatoes USA by recruiting members who will take an active interest in participating on the Board. A board member should communicate the interests of his/her area to the Board and carry the message of the Board back to his/her growing community.

A nominee for Potatoes USA should be willing to: • Attend the Board’s Annual Meeting held in March for each year of the three-year term, 2017-2020 • Be active in the potato-growing community

• Be visible in community work, participate in local government, cultural or business affairs—someone who is a leader • Be willing to represent and communicate with his/her constituents on a regular basis • Take the time to actively support Potatoes USA programs in his/her area • Speak to grower groups, newspaper reporters and interested parties about Potatoes USA programs, relating the value of the Board to all growers, how the 3-cent per hundredweight assessment is invested and ask for input from those interested in becoming active in the promotion of potatoes Following is the list of current Wisconsin Potatoes USA representatives: • Mark Finnessy, Okray Family Farms (re-elected for second term)

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• Eric Schroeder, Schroeder Bros. Farms (re-elected for second term) • Keith Wolter, Hyland Lakes Spuds (elected to first term) • Erin Baginski, Baginski Farms (elected to first term) • Heidi Randall, Alsum Farms (incumbent running for 2018-2021 term) Potatoes USA Board representatives can serve two consecutive three-year terms.

In this election period, Heidi Randall of Alsum Farms and Produce is up for reelection for her second three-year term.

Mark Finnessy and Eric Schroeder have each begun their second three-year term. Keith Wolter and Erin Baginski have each begun their first three-year term.

The voting process will take place in July with the process complete by August 15. continued on pg. 34

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BC�T July 33

Marketplace. . . continued from pg. 33

Calling All Retailers: Enter Display Contest and Win!

Above: The WPVGA Promotions Committee presented Trig’s in Rhinelander with the 2015 Fat Bob Harley-Davidson in November 2016, as the store was the first-place winner of the firstever 2016 Wisconsin Potatoes Display Contest.

Standing behind the Harley, from left to right, are: The WPVGA Promotions Committee showcase the Powered by Wisconsin Doug Foemmel, WPVGA Spudmobile assistant; is officially conducting a Wisconsin Potatoes logo.

Paula Houlihan, president of the Wisconsin Potato Growers Auxiliary; Tamas Houlihan, Potatoes Display Contest for the Displays must be up during the month WPVGA executive director; Chris Brooks, WPVGA second year in a row, and planning Promotions Committee chairman; Jim Zdroik, of October 2017, and the winner has already begun!

WPVGA coordinator of community relations; will be selected in November. For Once again, the contest will be during additional contest details, visit: http:// Mark Maloney, branch manager at Russ Davis Wholesale; Ryan Briske , commodity buyer, Russ Wisconsin’s Potatopalooza month Davis Wholesale; Andy White, sales, Russ Davis wisconsinpotatoes.com/retail/. in October 2017. The retail store Wholesale; Scott Meinhardt, retail development, Client: Compeer Desktop Project Art Creative Productionlike Account Offering an item a UTVMediaas the DEPARTMENT: Proofreader Copywriter Russ Davis Wholesale; Dana Rady, WPVGA with the best Wisconsin potatoes Artist Manager Director Director Manager Service Type: Badger Common Tater director of promotions; Ken Cloutier, executive APPROVAL: Color: 4C display will win a 2016 Cub Cadet UTV grand prize provides good public vice president and CFO of Trig’s; and Bob Jaskolski, Trim: 7.25x2.25 relations opportunities over aLive:long (Utility Terrain Vehicle), complete president of Trig’s. Don Theisen, store director of No bleed Trig’s in Rhinelander, sits proudly on the Harley. period of time. For the 2016Bleed: contest, with a dump box and trailer that all

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Is Brushite the Next Best Dry Fertilizer?

Solid leftovers from sewage treatment give farmers a good balance between nitrogen and phosphorus

By David Tenenbaum, UW-Madison University Communications In a bit of high-tech judo, a University of Wisconsin-Madison spinoff has started selling a technology to transform phosphorus at wastewater treatment plants from a major headache into an asset.

A process invented in the lab of Phillip Barak, a professor of soil science, extracts phosphorus from a treatment plant and forms the calcium phosphate mineral brushite, which can be sold as dry fertilizer.

Removing the phosphorus makes pipes in the plant less prone to clogging. And the solid leftovers from sewage treatment are easier to recycle on farm fields because they carry less phosphorus, which is both a critical plant nutrient and a cause of algal pollution in waterways.

On March 23, Barak’s company, Nutrient Recovery and Upcycling LLC, signed a licensing agreement with CNP, a division of Centrisys, both of Kenosha. Centrisys manufactures centrifuges, which are a key piece

of equipment in the phosphorus removal process.

Barak did not expect to turn his attention to phosphorus removal and recycling. “I’ve been at UW-Madison for 26 years, and I was known as a theoretical scientist. I was about as surprised as anybody else when this theoretical work started to enter a realm that, unknown to me, was something the real world was concerned about,” he says.

Barak studied structures called compressed Langmuir monolayers, or layers of close-packed molecules creating ionically-charged surfaces.

He suspected that struvite, which is an ammonium magnesium phosphate mineral found in many kidney stones, could form on them.

SUCCESSFUL EXPERIMENT “I asked Menachem Tabanpour, who was then a high school student and an intern in my lab, to run an experiment to prove this, and in five

36 BC�T July

minutes, he succeeded,” Barak says.

“None of my other experiments had ever worked so fast or so convincingly on a first run!”

Having invented a fast way to make struvite, Barak still “could not imagine what in the world” it could be used for. Then he learned that struvite plugs pipes in wastewater treatment plants, a problem that he says costs treatment plants for mid-size cities like Madison about $250,000 annually.

But he reasoned that his struvite Above: Nutrient Recovery and Upcycling’s phosphorus recovery pilot plant is located at the Woodridge-Greene Valley Wastewater Facility in Woodridge, Illinois. It is there that brushite fertilizer is being made from biosolids. Photo courtesy of Nimi Ehr, Nutrient Recovery and Upcycling LLC Left: Brushite, a calcium phosphate compound, is the product of a new phosphorus-reduction technology invented by Phillip Barak, a professor of soil science at UW-Madison. Photo courtesy of Nimi Ehr, Nutrient Recovery and Upcycling LLC

process would extract phosphorus too late in the treatment plant to mitigate the clogging.

Then Barak found a way to make brushite, a different phosphorus mineral, early in the treatment process that could reduce struvite plugging. “From an operator’s standpoint, that’s a big advantage,” he says, “and this put me in a big hurry to figure out how that would look with brushite.”

When the Wisconsin Alumni Research Foundation declined to patent the brushite invention, Barak explains, “It meant I owned the patent and commercialization rights to brushite formation, but that required a gut check. How certain was I myself that this was likely to be a real thing?”

PATENTED PHOSPHORUS TECHNOLOGY In 2011, Barak and two of his former students, Tabanpour and soil scientist Mauricio Avila, formed Nutrient Recovery and Upcycling (NRU) to develop and sell the patented phosphorus technology. Avila is technical director, and Tabanpour is president of NRU. Research at NRU and Barak’s UW– Madison lab has been supported by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (Hatch Act and Small Business Innovation Research), the Madison Metropolitan Sewerage District, the State of Wisconsin Center for Technology Commercialization and

the founders of the company.

“It was a little nerve-racking at first,” says Barak, “but for a professor there is nothing better than being surrounded by former students.”

To date, NRU has installed one pilot system, with two more in the works for 2017. The company is also developing a process to recycle nitrogen from wastewater plants.

The sales pitch to the target market— wastewater plants—stresses multiple benefits from removing phosphorus: • Operating savings from preventing struvite precipitation in pipes • Better ability to meet tightened regulations on phosphorus content in liquid effluent • Income from selling brushite, which is “almost identical, pound for pound, to conventional phosphorus fertilizer,” Barak says.

NITROGEN/PHOSPHORUS BALANCE A final advantage concerns the solid leftover from sewage treatment.

These biosolids are typically trucked to farm fields to improve water retention and supply nitrogen and phosphorus fertilizer to crops.

With phosphorus, however, “less is more,” Barak says. “It’s crazy.

The biosolid will contain less phosphorus,” which gives farmers a better balance between nitrogen and phosphorus.”

“So, by reducing phosphorus,

Left: Phosphorus in surface water runoff plays a role in fertilizing algae in lakes. After about 15 inches of rainfall in June 2008, algae collected on the surface of Lake Mendota, Madison, Wisconsin.

A phosphorus-reduction technology invented

by Phillip Barak, a professor of soil science at UW-Madison, will reduce the level of phosphorus in biosolids, a solid leftover from municipal wastewater treatment plants. Photo courtesy of Bryce Richter Right: Standing in front of the Barak Lab at King Hall, UW-Madison, is the Nutrient Recovery and Upcycling team. From left to right, they are: Hannah Stern, Tyler Anderson, Mauricio Avila, Menachem Tabanpour, Phillip Barak, Christy Davidson and Nimi Ehr. Photo courtesy of Rick Wayne

sewerage districts will be able to load more biosolids per acre, which can save trucking costs and improve use of biosolids as a nitrogen source,” he enthuses.

The first pilot plant, in Woodridge, Illinois, performed well. “We were making tons of this brushite fertilizer—this is not a wimpy sort of thing,” Barak notes.

Visitors from a trade show at the Water Environment Federation (the professional organization of wastewater plant operators) saw “brushite raining out of the digester.

It was like snow in a snow globe, right there in front of the eyes of a busload of experts,” Barak remarks.

As NRU moves toward its first sales, he concludes, “Being able to criticize your own work is an essential part of being a scientist, and I keep looking for blemishes in the silver lining, but I am not finding any.”

BC�T July 37

NPC News

NPC Sends Regulatory Reform Comments Presidential decree seeks to lower regulatory burden on growers On May 12, the National Potato Council (NPC) submitted comments to the Trump Administration on Executive Order 13777, Enforcing the Regulatory Reform Agenda.

This presidential decree sets out a process, including the solicitation of public comments, for the individual agencies to develop and implement plans to “lower the regulatory burden on the American people.”

In addition, Executive Order 13777 requires the agencies to incorporate the regulatory reform objectives of executive orders issued previously during this administration and during the Bill Clinton and Barack Obama presidencies.

NPC’s comments focused on the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) pesticide regulatory programs 38 BC�T July

and recommended five areas for further review: 1. T he Office of Pesticide Programs should not rely on epidemiological data for risk assessment purposes.

The Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act (FIFRA) Science Advisory Panel could be useful to EPA in developing criteria that epidemiology papers should meet for inclusion in the process. This will help provide clarity on the reliability of such data.

2. B etter refinement of the use of models in assessing the potential risk of pesticide use in drinking water is needed.

3. T he development of biological evaluations of a pesticide product under the Endangered Species Act assessment needs more

Above: Thad Barnes of Allied Cooperative sprays a field near Adams, Wisconsin, in June 2016. Photo courtesy of Kathy Kuss, Allied Cooperative

transparency. U.S. Department of Agriculture should be given a partner role due to expertise in this area.

4. A return to the usual process protections prescribed by FIFRA, rather than using the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act, is called for. This would allow stakeholders to examine the EPA’s evidence and review the legality of its actions.

5. The Worker Protection Standard regulation, specifically the “authorized representative” provision, should be reconsidered due to its potential misuse.

Evidence Supports the Use of Chlorpyrifos The EPA Office of Pesticide Programs stated the staff is still working through 50,000 comments filed in January on the risk assessment of chlorpyrifos.

The office’s acting director spoke to a Senate Agriculture Committee on Thursday, May 11.

In March, the EPA denied a petition from environmentalists seeking a ban on agricultural uses of the pesticide.

That denial came after the EPA

requested a six-month delay until June 30, 2017 to decide whether to revoke the tolerances for chlorpyrifos.

The Ninth Circuit Court denied the requested delay and directed that final action by the EPA occur by March 31. The NPC had joined other agriculture groups in submitting an Amici Curiae brief in support of the agency’s request for additional time to review the scientific advisory

panel’s report and consider the evidence supporting the use of chlorpyrifos.

Bill Drafted to Protect Pesticide Applicators from Lawsuits The House passed legislation on Wednesday, May 24, to provide farmers and other pesticide applicators a shield against activist lawsuits when legally applying their crop protection tools. In a 256-165 vote the House approved HR 953, “The Reducing Regulatory Burdens Act,” sponsored by Rep. Bob Gibbs (R-OH).

This bill would reverse a 2009 court decision that applied a duplicate layer of federal regulation on pesticide applicators already operating under the Federal Insecticide Fungicide and Rodenticide Act (FIFRA).

Under that court ruling, despite full compliance with FIFRA, pesticide applicators would also have to obtain National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permits under the Clean Water Act (CWA) for applications on or near water bodies.

and has encouraged the House and Senate to provide the fix to President Donald J. Trump for his signature. The House has passed similar measures several times since a 2009 court

Act permits, but the Senate has not obtained the necessary 60 votes to move the fix forward.

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The duplicate layer of regulation carries substantial jeopardy as activists (utilizing the citizen suit provision of the CWA that are absent under FIFRA) could sue farmers for minor paperwork violations resulting in fines of as much as $40,000 per day.

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Auxiliary News

By Ali Carter, Vice President, WPGA

Another fiscal year has

come to a close for the Wisconsin Potato Growers Auxiliary.

While we find ourselves looking toward the future months and anticipating new activities and community outreach, there are two recent Auxiliary events, in particular, that occupy my mind at the moment.

Our Kids Dig Wisconsin Potatoes

program has seen another successful year! Ninety schools throughout Wisconsin participated in the program, and students and their teachers were given the opportunity to play games, harvest their potatoes and enjoy potato chip cookies at their very own Harvest Party at schools in Wisconsin Rapids, Rio and Mosinee.

Above: There were plenty of children raising hands with questions and comments during the Kids Dig Wisconsin Potatoes event at St. Paul’s Catholic School in Mosinee, Wisconsin, and that’s a good thing. Participation is a key to learning.

Wisconsin Potato Growers Auxiliary (WPGA) Board members Kathy Bartsch, in pink at left, Paula Houlihan (WPGA president), center in pink, and Jody Baginski, in yellow, do their best to field questions. Photo courtesy of Doug Foemmel, Spudmobile assistant

Along with the Harvest Parties hosted by the Auxiliary, members and volunteers traveled the state with the Spudmobile this spring. On the school stops, children were wowed by the Spudmobile and learned about the importance of the potato industry in our state.

Left: The fun ensued with potato sack races at a Kids Dig Wisconsin Potatoes event at St. Paul’s Catholic School in Mosinee, Wisconsin, and the kids learned about spuds, where they come from and how they’re packed at the same time. Photo courtesy of Doug Foemmel, Spudmobile assistant

For most of us, we surround ourselves with this industry and may forget that there are many areas in Wisconsin where the children do not know what a potato field looks like, or that potatoes have “eyes” and do not actually grow from a tiny little seed the way many other plants more familiar to them do.

These school visits are a wonderful opportunity to teach children, their 40 BC�T July

parents and teachers where their food comes from and the incredible technology and science that is behind growing a potato.

From educating children about potatoes to feeding children with potatoes ...

In June, our industry gave back in an incredible way. Our annual Feed My Starving Children MobilePack event saw over 300 volunteers gather

together in Stevens Point to pack more than 108,000 potato-based meals. That is enough to feed 325 children for a year!

With the heartbreaking statistic of approximately 6,200 children dying each day from hunger and hungerrelated disease, it is truly amazing to see the love and generosity poured out by you to help change

that number.

Thank you to all who donated your time and money! A special thank you to the Wisconsin Potato & Vegetable Growers Association (WPVGA), the WPVGA Associate Division and the Wisconsin Seed Potato Improvement Association for the financial donations allowing this event to take place.

Thank you to the WPVGA staff for the support as we planned the event and spread the word. And thank you to the growers and area businesses for your generous donations.

Wisconsin potato growers truly are feeding the world, and this event would not have been possible without all of you!

Left: Matt Jacowski, left in blue shirt, who sits on the Portage County Board’s Ag & Extension Committee and is running for County Executive, teams with Perry Worzella, center, of U.S. Bancorp Investments, and Perry’s son, Winston, right, to pack potato-based meals at the Feed My Starving Children event in Stevens Point on June 17.

Right: Judy Kirschling (left), who works for Warner & Warner Inc. in Plover, Wisconsin, and her daughter, Rachel Galecke, crowned the 2016 Young American Miss International Royalty Supreme, scoop potato-based MannaPack™ meals at the Feed My Starving Children Event on June 17. Following highly successful events the past five years, members of the Wisconsin potato industry, along with their families and friends, gathered at the Noel Hangar at the Stevens Point Municipal Airport to pack 100,000 servings of MannaPack Potato meals.

Bottom: As this group can attest, it takes teamwork to pack MannaPack Potato meals for Feed My Starving Children. Front and center, from left to right, are Jake Reif, and Rachel (daughter) and Sheila Rine (front-right in the green “Spudtacular” shirt), the latter two of Rine Ridge Farms Inc. BC�T July 41

Badger Beat

Reliance on Neonicotinoids May Hasten CPB Resistance

the genetic mechanisms associated with resistance and subsequently determining which specific genes may be involved.

Studies demonstrate concentration needed to kill Colorado potato beetle varies field to field

TRENDS IN CPB RESPONSES In a recent investigation, we uncovered trends in CPB responses to imidacloprid by estimating the LC90 values among different field populations. The LC90 values collected in 2008-2011, and more recently in 2013 and 2014, show that some field locations remain susceptible to selected neonicotinoids (Table 1), while even nearby fields (<100 km) can have quite high levels of resistance.

By Russell L. Groves1, Justin R. Clements2 and Scott A. Chapman1, University of Wisconsin-Madison Departments of Entomology1 and Molecular and Environmental Toxicology Center2

Neonicotinoid insecticides continue to be one of the most commonly used management tools for controlling Colorado potato beetle (CPB), Leptinotarsa decemlineata, in cultivated potato, a practice which has now lasted over 20 years.

Ease of application coupled with inexpensive, generic formulations of members of the neonicotinoid group has reduced the incentive for many growers to transition from these products to other mode of action (MoA) groups for early season control of CPB. The continuous use of neonicotinoids has resulted in resistant populations in several eastern and Midwestern production areas of the United States, although the magnitude of this resistance does still vary among populations.

In part, the continued use also results from the fact that they are longlasting tools, which control colonizing aphids and potato leafhoppers that together can cause significant yield losses.

The continued reliance on neonicotinoids will undoubtedly hasten CPB resistance development and result in additional insecticide inputs to manage these populations, especially later generations, in any given season.

Although we have not observed complete field failure following the use of these products, several recent studies have demonstrated that the lethal concentration to kill 90 percent of the CPB (LC90) in different field populations varies greatly, which may suggest that resistance among populations of CPB is heritable and involves genetic changes.

An important challenge in understanding resistance is assessing

June 2017

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We also worked to uncover the specific genetic mechanisms of resistance at each field location by isolating genetic material (mRNA) from adult beetles and analyzing differences in gene expression.

Not surprising, strong differences were observed in up- and downregulated genes among different field populations.

Understanding the genetic mechanisms, and whether these genetic changes are shared among

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Massey is hooked to a oats A cultimulcher tractor for seeding WI. Ferguson 7490 Farms Inc. in Antigo, at Guenthner

42 BC�T July

Badger Common’Tater

These observations continue to suggest that populations of CPB are discrete in the distances they move from over-wintering areas in the landscape, resulting in unique susceptibility to insecticides even at relatively short distances (e.g. < 400 m).

wisconsinpotatoes.com/blog-news/subscribe

populations, is important in predicting the evolution of resistance in other potato growing regions.

Specifically, we have determined that different populations are most likely using a mixture of some similar, but many dissimilar, genes to combat insecticides.

This insect is certainly capable of possessing these shared mechanisms of detoxification, because the native host plants for CPB (wild nightshades) contain high levels of glycoalkaloids, and CPB undoubtedly has adapted to these toxicants across their native range.

In addition, we speculate here that although resistant populations of CPB were collected from very similar geographic and agricultural regions in the state of Wisconsin, populations may have adapted to the unique trends in pesticide application at each field location, leading to the observed differences in up-regulated genes associated with each population.

ROTATING INSECTICIDES To date, resistance management recommendations for CPB have more simply focused on rotation of insecticides within the growing season. Growers using at-plant neonicotinoids for early-season CPB control are encouraged to rotate insecticide classes, or unique modes of action (MoA - http://www. irac-online.org/documents/moaclassification), not only between generations, but also across years to delay resistance development.

Unfortunately, however, some of the genes were shared across locations, suggesting that some resistance mechanisms may becoming more prevalent across populations, and could impart some level of crossresistance to newer insecticides.

Although this short-term insecticide rotation has likely prolonged the utility of neonicotinoid insecticides, reducing reliance on a single MoA

soil application at planting will improve the longevity of newer, more reduced-risk and even biological alternatives.

As neonicotinoids continue to lose efficacy throughout many portions the United States, the incorporation of newer, reduced-risk, biological alternatives will, out of necessity, be an important step forward in resistance management using newer MoA groups.

Recent biological and microbialbased insecticides, including fermentation products such as spinosyns (e.g. Blackhawk® and Radiant®) and avermectins (AgriMek®), have significantly improved the environmental impact scores of potato insect pest management over recent years (Fig. 1).

As evidenced by our 2017 research trials, conducted at both the Hancock and Arlington Agricultural

Jim Hoffa 715-366-4181 715-340-4757

continued on pg. 44

Todd Schill 715-335-4900 715-498-2020

Crop Protection Products Variable Rate Fertilizer Application Soil Fumigation • Liquid Fertilizer Bulk & Bagged Fertilizer Seed: Dyna-Gro, Dekalb, Syngenta, Mycogen BC�T July 43

Badger Beat . . . continued from pg. 43

Research Stations, agrichemical companies continue to devise and invest in new pest control strategies based upon biological approaches and compounds.

These include new plant extracts, soil microbes and their fermentation products, arthropod venoms, and advanced genetic solutions including RNA interference (RNAi).

The significant investment into biologicals is relatively recent and somewhat new for the industry, but the idea itself is not that new. Make no mistake, the plant protection industries would relish the opportunity to find other agriculturally useful, broad-spectrum and long-lasting chemicals, but the likelihood of obtaining these registrations is very difficult in the current regulatory climate.

Figure 1: This is the estimated field use Environmental Impact Quotient (EIQ) scores per acre for insecticides registered for control of Colorado potato beetle since 1970. Individual points represent the first screening event conducted by the Vegetable Entomology program at the University of Wisconsin, Hancock Agricultural Experiment Station, Hancock, Wisconsin.

(Huseth et al. 2014, J. Integ. Pest Mngmt., 5(4) DOI: http//dx.doi. org/10.1603/IPM14009).

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

WISCONSIN CERTIFIED SEED POTATOES 44 BC�T July

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.

The Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act requires that the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) evaluate any new, proposed pesticide to assure that its use will not pose unreasonable risks of harm to human health and the environment, and for this reason biologicals are receiving far greater attention.

scrutiny of the EPA.

REASONABLE CERTAINTY? EPA also determines whether there is a reasonable certainty of no harm from pesticide residues in food or feed and sets tolerances, or exemptions from tolerances, for allowable residues of pesticides in food and animal feed. The challenge for the industry now is finding one or two useful compounds that will pass

Even small companies are exploring these options, as many of the “biostimulants” are very lightly, if at all, regulated by a patchwork of state laws instead of the EPA. And if naturally derived compounds, or pesticides, are generally regarded as safe, the EPA usually requires fewer tests for commercial registration.

Table 1: Shown are dose response estimates resulting from bioassays of adult Colorado potato beetle at the Arlington (AARS) and Hancock Agricultural Research Stations (HARS), plus agricultural fields classified as systemic-1, 2 and 3 in 2011, 2013 and 2014.

1

Several agricultural development corporations are now underway with screening tens of thousands of microbes, looking for organisms that can keep insects, weeds or fungi at manageable levels, along with microbes that provide yield enhancement to the plant.

Where a chemical pesticide might take 10-12 years from discovery to environmental approval, a biological can typically require half of this time.

Despite all the development of biologicals, we still have significant knowledge gaps in determining how they specifically function. For many of our traditional pesticides, the exact way these compounds interact with pests is well known and studied.

With some biologicals, however, the manner in which they interact with an organism is often not well understood. Into the future, it will be quite challenging to continue with more targeted microbial discovery if we do not fully understand these biological mechanisms.

Moreover, the EPA is currently reassessing the Group 4A MoA Class

Population

Year

N1

LC90 (ppm)

95% CI

Arlington Hancock systemic-1 systemic-2 systemic-3 Arlington Hancock systemic-1 systemic-2 systemic-3 Arlington Hancock systemic-1 systemic-2 systemic-3

2011 2011 2011 2011 2011 2013 2013 2013 2013 2013 2014 2014 2014 2014 2014

600 525 425 524 500 400 300 350 350 350 500 500 500 500 500

0.027 0.48 0.72 0.62 0.73 0.09 0.91 1.83 1.10 1.20 4.72 8.69 12.81 43.67 52.68

(0.028-0.34) (0.4-0.6) (0.59-0.87) (0.41-0.94) (0.51-1.04) (.08-.12) (.49-4.30) (.21-12.36) (.58-1.61) (.94-1.57) (1.57-10.74) (5.00-15.19) (8.73-19.96) (23.60-109.27) (25.31-154.56)

Resistance Ratio2 NA 17.77 26.66 22.96 27.03 NA 10.11 18.18 11.11 12.12 NA 1.84 2.71 9.25 11.16

Number of adult Colorado potato beetles used in the dose response assay

Resistance ratio estimates comparing test populations to the reference control population (AARS) in each year. When estimated resistance ratios exceed 10, populations are regarded as “resistant.”

2

neonicotinoids for their impact on bee health, and it has already proposed restricting their use during some developmental stages of crops, and even on entire crop groups more completely.

MARKET LEADING CONTROL OF COLORADO POTATO BEETLE AND FAST, EFFECTIVE CONTROL OF OTHER KEY PESTS.

® Trademark of The Dow Chemical Company (“Dow”) or an affiliated company of Dow. Blackhawk is not registered for sale or use in all states. Contact your state pesticide regulatory agency to determine if a product is registered for sale or use in your state. Always read and follow label directions. ©2017 Dow AgroSciences LLC M35-373-001 DAS (4/17) 010-43767

BC�T July 45

People Billie Bula Passes Away at 100 Years Old Industry mourns loss of pioneer in seed potato production Billie Bula, of Antigo, Wisconsin, died Thursday, May 18, 2017 at Care Partners under the care of his family and LeRoyer Hospice. He was 100 years old.

the U.S. Army where he attained the rank of Sergeant. He served on the west coast of the United States and in Germany during World War II, and was discharged in October of 1945.

Born on February 15, 1917 in Uniontown, Pennsylvania, a son of Stanley Sr. and Mary (Klamerus) Bula, he married Waymeth Roy on January 3, 1941. She preceded him in death on July 17, 2001.

Following military service, Bula returned to Antigo and began a 32-year career working for the Chicago Northwestern Railroad as a switchman. He retired in 1976.

Billie was raised in the town of Ackley, Wisconsin, where he worked with his brothers on his father’s family farm (milk cows and potatoes) for many years. He also worked in the Civilian Conservation Corps in Ashland and Camp McCoy. In January of 1941, he enlisted in 46 BC�T July

Billie loved to farm. While working on the railroad, he farmed with his father, Stanley, and brother, George, in the town of Ackley, and then, in the mid-1960s, he and his sons, David, Ed and Dan, had an opportunity to start their own potato farm when they went to an auction for the former VandenBerg Strawberry Farm in Mole Lake.

Above: Billie Bula (right) helps sort freshly harvested potatoes as they enter storage at Northern Sand Farms in October 2013. At left is Al Brockmeyer.

RAISED CERTIFIED SEED POTATOES The Bulas bought the farm and established what is now Northern Sand Farms, with additional acreage added over the years. Northern Sand Farms was the first in the Bula family to raise certified seed potatoes.

In retirement and into his 90’s, he farmed at Mole Lake with his sons.

He was a member of the United Transportation Union, Antigo Rails, the Msgr. Conrad Saile Knights of Columbus Council 1002, SparksDoernenburg American Legion Post #3, Leland Tollefson Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 2653 and

St. John Catholic Church.

Survivors include two sons, David and Edward Bula of Mole Lake; a daughter, Mary (Stephen) Bradley, Antigo; a sister, Angeline Cejka, Antigo; a brother, Raymond (Mary) Bula, Cross Plains; six grandchildren: Richie (Terri) Bula, Cindy Bula, Paul (Kate) Bradley, Sarah (Carl) Meidl, Stan Bula Sr. and fiancée, Britney, and Justin Bula; and 10 great-

grandchildren: Jake, Alex, Stan Jr., Sierra, River, Connor, Holden, Sydney, Meredith and Lainey.

In addition to his wife and parents, he was preceded in death by two sons, Charles and his wife, Angie, Bula, and Daniel Bula; three sisters, Anne (Jumbo) Ziebarth, Martha (Alex) Zaganczyk and an infant sister, Dorothy Bula; four brothers, Stanley (Edna) Bula, Jr., George (Mae) Bula,

Theodore Bula and Edward Bula; and a brother-in-law, Norman Cejka.

A funeral Mass was celebrated on Monday, May 22, 2017 at 10:30 a.m. at St. John Catholic Church with Rev. Charles Hoffmann officiating.

Burial took place in Queen of Peace Cemetery where the Antigo veterans conducted military honors. A parish wake service was held at the Bradley Funeral Home.

70th Alice in Dairyland Selected Crystal Siemers-Peterman named Alice in Dairyland Crystal Siemers-Peterman of Cleveland, Wisconsin has been chosen as the state’s 70th Alice in Dairyland. As Alice, Siemers-Peterman will work as a communications professional for the Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection (DATCP).

Her job will be to educate the public about the importance of agriculture in Wisconsin. “As Alice in Dairyland, I will promote positive messages about Wisconsin’s agricultural products to both rural and urban audiences,” says Siemers-Peterman.

“I will use my various experiences, education and outgoing personality to deliver consistent messages about Wisconsin’s agriculture industry to diverse audiences.”

Siemers-Peterman found her passion for the state’s diverse agricultural industry on her family’s registered Holstein dairy farm. She was actively involved in the Manitowoc County Junior Holstein Association, Wisconsin Junior Holstein Association and Manitowoc County 4-H. Through these organizations, she represented Wisconsin at national competitions in the dairy quiz bowl and dairy judging. She will graduate in May from the University of

Minnesota-Twin Cities with a major in agricultural and food business management and a minor in marketing.

Previously, she interned at Sassy Cow Creamery, FLM+ Advertising Agency and Land O’Lakes Inc. On campus, she was involved in the National Agri-marketing Association, National Grocers Association and Gopher Dairy Club.

THREE-DAY AUDITION Siemers-Peterman was selected as Alice in Dairyland at the culmination of three days of final interview events in Brown County. The events included agribusiness tours, speeches, a public question-and-answer session and media interviews.

The other candidates were: Abrielle Backhaus, Kewaskum; Jenna Crayton, Oak Creek; Alexis Dunnum, Westby; Kaitlyn Riley, Gays Mills; and Kelly Wilfert, Two Rivers.

Siemers-Peterman will start working as Alice on June 5. She succeeds 69th Alice in Dairyland Ann O’Leary of Evansville. As Alice, SiemersPeterman will travel about 40,000 miles, speaking at events and giving media interviews. She will present lessons in more than 100 Wisconsin classrooms in partnership with the Wisconsin Milk Marketing Board.

Above: Crystal Siemers-Peterman started her new role as Alice in Dairyland on June 5. Photo courtesy of Wisconsin Department of Agriculture

A number of other Wisconsin organizations contribute to make Alice in Dairyland visible and recognizable to the public. For example, Siemers-Peterman will wear a custom mink garment to promote Wisconsin’s fur industry, and she’ll drive an E-85 flex-fuel Ford Explorer 2017 to promote the state’s ethanol industry.

While working, she will wear a 14-carat gold and platinum brooch or tiara, both of which feature amethysts and citrines, gems indigenous to Wisconsin.

To schedule the 70th Alice in Dairyland for an event or classroom visit, contact Program Manager Ti Gauger at 608-224-5115 or Ti.Gauger@ Wisconsin.gov. Follow Alice online at facebook. com/DATCPAliceInDairyland or twitter.com/Alice_ Dairyland.

BC�T July 47

POTATOES USA NEWS Fifty Potato Recipes Result from Honest Cooking’s Bloggers The Potatoes USA consumer marketing target audience is food enthusiasts, a vibrant, adventurous demographic that spans from millennials to baby boomers who are united by their love for and involvement with food. They are both at-home cooks and heavy users of foodservice, and see potatoes as a great canvas for exploration.

To engage this food-conscious consumer, the “9th Wonder of the World” marketing campaign demonstrates how potatoes can be a perfect component of any culinary adventure, whether you’re seeking new, innovative global flavors or taking a unique spin on a family favorite.

Potatoes USA’s fiscal year 2017 partnership with Honest Cooking for the 9th Wonder of the World consumer campaign concluded in March, with 50 new potato recipes from Honest Cooking’s network of bloggers and two new Honest Cooking-produced recipe videos.

All recipes focused on one of two

Above & Left: Potatoes USA’s fiscal year 2017 partnership with Honest Cooking for the “9th Wonder of the World” consumer campaign concluded in March, with 50 new potato recipes from Honest Cooking’s network of bloggers and two new Honest Cooking-produced recipe videos.

Recipes such as “Grilled Hasselback Potatoes with Spanish Romesco Sauce” (above) and “Sumac Potatoes and Cucumber Salad” (left) elevate spuds to a whole new level.

major themes: a recipe that can be made in 30 minutes or less to communicate convenience, or a recipe that features potatoes as center of plate to communicate that potatoes can indeed be the entrée.

The program consisted of static and video potato recipe content that was featured on many different digital and social channels: http:// honestcooking.com/category/ potatogoodness/ on the Honest

Cooking website, blogs, Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, Pinterest and eNewsletters.

Overall, the program delivered 7.3 million impressions of amazing potato dishes and 267,000 engagements, and had a media value of $99,000 for all social impressions that Potatoes USA received from the social posts by the Honest Cooking bloggers.

Fresh and Frozen Potato Exports Grow U.S. Exports of frozen potato products for the July 2016-April 2017 marketing year to date are 841,693 metric tons valued at $949 million, representing increases of 3 percent by volume and 4 percent by value versus the same 10 months the previous marketing year.

Notable market changes are a 30 percent decline in exports to China due to the resumption of production in China by Simplot. Exports to Japan have recovered up 11 percent for the year, while exports to Mexico are flat 48 BC�T July

due to the weak peso increasing the cost of the U.S. product.

U.S. exports of dehydrated potatoes have declined 15 percent to 97,220 metric tons for the 10-month period. Exports have declined to almost all markets, but have been particularly impacted by a 13 percent decline to Mexico and a 20 percent decline to Japan, the two largest markets after Canada.

U.S. exports of fresh potatoes are up 12 percent to 359,483 metric

tons despite a 9 percent decline to Mexico. The increase is bolstered by a 22 percent increase to Canada, the largest export market for fresh potatoes. Exports are also up 36 percent to Japan and 95 percent to Taiwan, the two largest markets in Asia.

For the complete export figures go to the Global Database on the Potatoes USA grower website: http://traderegulationdatabase.com/ uspb/.

EYES ON ASSOCIATES

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

Greetings everyone! It

was somewhat of a wet beginning for our growers getting into the fields in some areas of Wisconsin. With that said, I hope everyone has been able to have a successful and safe planting season.

At the May Associate Division Board meeting, we worked on finalizing plans for the 2017 Putt-Tato Open golf outing to be held July 12 at Lake Arrowhead in Nekoosa, Wisconsin.

I hope to see many of you there in support of this great industry fundraising event. We have some very nice raffle items again this year and are hoping for ideal weather for this fun-filled day.

Also, please mark your calendars for the Hancock Agricultural Research

Station Field Day to be held July 20.

We will be having Swine and Dine cater this event again, as they always do a fantastic job and the food is exceptional.

On that note, I would like to talk about the opportunity to network with other members of the Wisconsin Potato & Vegetable Growers Association (WPVGA), and particularly the Associate Division of the WPVGA, at these events. The WPVGA initiated the Associate Division and membership so that, together, we can grow and maintain a struggling farm and agriculture-related industry.

The Associated Division members spend a fair amount of time volunteering, sponsoring events and supporting the association in general.

I would encourage you to look at your

05-17 Badger Common'Tater 1-3page AD (7x3).v1.2.outlines.pdf

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membership list from the WPVGA and consider doing business internally with others that are working to support this association. If we all work together and agree to support each other, then we all benefit.

In reviewing the Associate Division Directory, we have so many great companies and individuals to work with, and knowing they all support this great industry is a comforting thought when it comes to your business needs.

I look forward to seeing you all at the Putt-Tato Open at Lake Arrowhead!

Thanks for reading and be safe.

Sally Suprise

WPVGA Associate Division President

BC�T July 49

Exceptional Work Rewarded Scholarships honor outstanding students whose immediate families are WPVGA members

By Joe Kertzman, Managing Editor, Badger Common’Tater

Kayla Smith

Alexis Schroeder

Matthew Carter

It starts long before the previous school year is out. The WPVGA Associate Division and Wisconsin Potato Growers Auxiliary raise funds

through golf outings, membership dues, cookbook sales, potato booths and more, all year long, to be able to present high-caliber students

with scholarships.

Serving Wisconsin & Michigan’s Upper Peninsula Antigo (715) 627-4844 Amherst Junction (715) 824-3151 Wautoma (920) 787-3307 Wisconsin Rapids (715) 423-6280 www.insightfs.com

AGRONOMY • SEED • BULK FUELS • LUBRICANTS • PROPANE 50 BC�T July

The largest of the awards—the Avis M. Wysocki Memorial Scholarship— goes to the top candidate. It is funded not only through a silent auction the Associate Division holds during the Grower Education Conference & Industry Show, but also from a special contribution made by the Auxiliary.

Established in 2016, the Avis M. Wysocki Memorial Scholarship honors its namesake, who was a founding member of the Auxiliary and an integral part of the Wisconsin potato industry.

To remain objective, the names of the students are taken off their applications when the board members review and evaluate them, thus the awarding is done completely on the merits of the applicants themselves and the information they provided.

In all, the Auxiliary and Associate Division teamed to reward seven deserving students whose families are members of the WPVGA with nearly $9,000 in scholarships.

KAYLA SMITH, winner of the Avis M.

Wysocki Memorial Scholarship, is the daughter of Gary, a regional sales manager for Riesterer & Schnell, and Gina Smith of Bancroft. A student at UW-River Falls, Kayla has earned 87 credits toward an agriculture business major and a crop science minor.

She is an active member of the Agriculture Business and Marketing Society, the Collegiate Farm Bureau and the university’s Crops and Soils Club, as well as a 1st vice president, executive team member and Professional Development Committee coordinator for the Sigma Alpha Sorority.

Kayla has been employed by Riesterer & Schnell, Crop Production Services, Plover River Farms and Insight FS, and has volunteered her time working in the Spudmobile and teaching others about the potato industry.

ALEXIS SCHROEDER is the daughter of Rob, co-owner of Schroeder Brothers Farms, and Susan Schroeder of Antigo. Having completed her freshman year at UW-Madison, Alexis has earned 25 credits and says, regardless of career choice, she would like to make a difference in the world and loves working with people, especially children.

She has been the president of the student council, a vice president of DECA, an international association of marketing students, in the FCA (Fellowship of Christian Athletes), SADD (Students Against Destructive Decisions), the Key Club, forensics, the Spanish club, art club and yearbook committee.

In high school, she lettered in volleyball and track and advanced to the state level of competition twice for forensics, earning silver and gold awards. She has volunteered for St. John’s Church functions and tutored at All Saints Catholic School in Antigo.

MATTHEW CARTER is the son of Mike Carter, CEO of Bushmans’ Inc., and Linda Isola. Matthew’s step-mother,

Alison Carter, is vice president of the Wisconsin Potato Growers Auxiliary.

A graduate of D.C. Everest Senior High, Matthew will be attending UW-Madison in the fall, majoring in political science and minoring in legal studies.

Matthew was in the National Honors Society in high school for two years, a Mount Olive Youth Group member and volunteer for Feed My Starving Children. He was part of the D.C. Everest curling team and marching band, the Central Wisconsin Math League and Moody’s Mega Math Challenge.

JORDAN HARTMAN, daughter of Jonathon and Jolene Hartman of Hartman Farms in Antigo, is a graduate of Antigo High School and plans to attend UW-River Falls to major in dairy and animal science and minor in veterinary medicine.

Jordan was active in FFA (Future Farmers of America), volleyball and bow league in high school, working in the Antigo Athletic Office and Frisch Greenhouse.

Planning to further her education at the University of Minnesota for a doctorate degree in veterinary medicine after graduating from UWRiver Falls, Jordan already learned how to make sutures and stitches and give shots in ag classes, and took a veterinary medical class through Northcentral Technical College.

Jordan Hartman

Maggie Gallenberg

Mitchell Schroepfer

Her dream is to become a large animal vet, open a veterinary clinic, and provide free or reduced immunization clinics and traveling vet services for large animals to rural farmers.

MAGGIE GALLENBERG is the daughter of Roy and Melissa Gallenberg of Gallenberg Farms in Bryant. A graduate of Antigo High School, Maggie will be attending UW-La Crosse with a major in biology

Sarah Soderberg

continued on pg. 52 BC�T July 51

Exceptional Work Rewarded . . . continued from pg. 51

(pre-med) and a minor in chemistry.

Maggie is a member of the National Honor Society and earned a grant through the UW-La Crosse Eagle Apprenticeship strategic initiative for exceptionally talented students.

She was involved in FFA throughout high school, one term as a treasurer, and SADD for three years, as well as attending Lead Vacation Bible School and volunteering to ring bells for the Salvation Army. Maggie was a member of the student council and involved in soccer, volleyball and choir.

an all-conference football player, on the 4-H leadership council and a 4-H Dairy Management Contest High Individual. In addition to the National Honors Society, he was also a member of the physics club and track team.

OB/GYN Interest Group and served on numerous committees with the Health Occupations Students of America. She has worked for University Health Services and the College of Agricultural and Life Sciences.

SARAH SODERBERG, daughter of Robert and Lori Nagel of Hilbert, is married to Samuel Soderberg, grandson of Louis and the late Avis Wysocki. She is the niece of Jacquie Wille, past president of the Wisconsin Potato Growers Auxiliary, and Jim, Gary and Russell Wysocki.

“As a young child, my parents would often come home to find me playing doctor, with dolls strewn around the house supporting makeshift casts and IV’s crafted from Ziploc bags,” Sarah says.

MITCHELL SCHROEPFER, son of David and Jolynne Schroepfer of Birnamwood, is employed by Kakes Farms in Bryant. A graduate of Antigo High School, Mitchell plans to attend UW-Madison in the fall where he will major in biological systems engineering with a minor in dairy science.

A first-year student in the doctorate program at the UW School of Medicine and Public Health in Madison, Sarah anticipates becoming a medical doctor with a minor in public health. She is a “Graduate with Distinction,” earning a Bachelor of Science degree from UW-Madison in 2016 and making the Dean’s List in all semesters, from 2012-2016.

Spending 14 continuous quarters on the honor roll in high school, he was

Sarah is a Share the Health Clinic coordinator and member of the

“With parents who were active farmers and veterinarians that started their own practice in rural Wisconsin, I grew up in a world surrounded by agriculture and medicine,” she reveals. “While this early exposure sparked my interest in the sciences, I always felt a draw to the human side of medicine.”

Congratulations go out to all the scholarship recipients, with wishes of good luck to them in their future careers. Rest assured, the world of agriculture is in good hands.

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

Jul-15

Aug-15

Sep-15

Oct-15

Nov-15

Dec-15

Jan-16

Feb-16

Mar-16

Apr-16

May-16

Jun-16

Year-to-Date

CWT

1,679,466.61

553,089.04

813,734.14

2,731,844.59

3,574,243.15

2,242,764.68

2,598,955.03

2,196,655.93

2,183,506.81

2,518,493.48

2,731,815.46

23,824,568.92

Assessment

$100,717.55

$33,240.32

$48,851.85

$163,910.77

$214,454.02

$134,565.79

$155,926.56

$131,803.69

$130,977.86

$150,127.66

$163,866.90

$1,428,442.97

Aug-16

Sep-16

Oct-16

Nov-16

Dec-16

Jan-17

Feb-17

Mar-17

Apr-17

May-17

Month

Jul-16

Jun-17

Year-to-Date

CWT

1,596,377.06

706,549.40

1,283,527.92

2,874,985.48

3,531,201.37

1,995,664.44

3,035,619.25

2,285,371.71

2,515,966.21

2,349,690.78

2,289,738.80

24,464,692.42

Assessment

$96,214.65

$46,392.12

$87,862.17

$200,067.53

$246,554.05

$139,662.51

$212,457.84

$160,044.60

$175,977.76

$164,565.93

$160,266.08

$1,690,065.24

52 BC�T July

Super Poly Tanks from AG Systems

New Products Dynamic Systems Offers SIMBA Traceability Software

Tanks: 70 Gallons to 12,000 Gallons Gallons to packed, 16,000 Gallons GrowersVertical knowTanks: what16has been what isCone in inventory • Tanks come standard with total drain bolted fitting inhibitors molded in for longer tank life and what has•• UV been shipped • Conical bottom with flat spot for total drainage Easy to read molded in gallonage indicators

• 18” lid is standard on all large tanks • Molded in tie down lugs • Siphon tubes to help with drainage having a partner that keeps you up to labeling and production reporting needs with • UV inhibitors molded in for longer tank life • 18” lid is standard on all large tanks SIMBA from Dynamic Systems. SIMBA is a full software and hardware solution date with the newest regulations.

• Engineered welded steel stand available • Molded in tie down lugs for securing tanks that collects information in real-time onofyour plant floor. The solution sitswarranty from • 3 - Year date ofisshipment • 3 - Year warranty from date shipment SIMBA designed to fit your process, • 2” or 3” outlets available on larger tanks

Solve traceability,

on the packing floor Don’t and uses touch screen technology (see photo on theand hose from forget to pick up your Pumps, fittings, accessories Agmake Systems. not to yours fit that of the www.agsystemsonline.com following page) to collect the information about product quickly. company.

You own your data and there are no monthly fees.

This affordable solution traces what you shipped. Produce highEND-TO-END TRACEABILITY quality labels automatically. product from field to customer SIMBA manages production, packing, using not only touch screen, but also inventory and shipping processes. The Imagine being able to print a lot barcode technology. Know what you system produces barcode labels to traceability report on demand. any SPREADER specification, provides complete have in inventoryPULL (both raw material Imagine being fully PTI (Produce TYPE SPREADERS, HIGH CLEARANCE continued on pg. 54 and packed), what packed and Traceability Initiative) compliant and 2002 CASE IHwas 3200B $95,000

USED EQUIPMENT

W/NEW LEADER L2000G4 SPINNER BOX 5662 HOURS, 380/90R46 TIRES, CHASSIS SANDBLASTED & PAINTED, RAVEN VIPER PRO,SPINNER SPEED CONTROL

2015 BBI JAVELIN SPREADER

$38,900

AG 800 ADJUSTABLE WHEEL TRACK SPREADERS SPRAYERS 12’ 304SS BOX, ADJ. AXLE, 380/90R46 TIRES, PLUG TO TRACTOR HYD. DRIVE, ROLL TARP, DUAL SPINNER, VRA CAPABLE, 120’ SPREAD PATTERN

2011 AGCO 1396

$129,000

2011 John Deere 4830

$119,500

2,584 1,300 GALLON SS TANK, 90’ BOOMS, VIPER PRO, ACCUBOOM, 380 TIRES, CHEM EDUCTOR, NICE MACHINE OurHOURS, all-new adjustable wheel

track spreaders provide years 2,800 HOURS, 1,000 GALLON SS TANK, 90’ BOOMS, GREENSTAR CONTROLS, CHEM INDUCTOR, 380 TIRES, OVERALL NICE MACHINE 2009 CASEuse.

IH 4420 of rugged

$85,000

2009 AGCO SS884

$69,500

2008 AGCO 1074SS

$69,500

2000 1254 pieceAGCO body construction.

$29,995

3,910 HOURS, 1200 GALLON SS TANK, 100’ BOOM, AIM COMMAND, VIPER PRO, ACCUBOOM, AUTOBOOM & TRIMBLE AUTOPILOT 3,485 865 features GALLON SS TANK, 90’ BOOMS, RAVEN VIPER PRO, AUTOBOOM, ACCUBOOM, 380/90R46 TIRES TheHOURS, AG-800 a high-grade

304HOURS, stainless one- TIRES, 90’ BOOM, RAVEN 5000, CHEMICAL INDUCTOR, FOAMER 2,419 1,000 steel GALLONunitized SS TANK, 380/90R46 4010 HOURS, 1,200 GALLON SS TANK, 90’ BOOM, 380/90R46 TIRES, RAVEN 661, FOAM MARKER

Conveyor trough, 2012 AGCO 8300 metergate, rear

FLOATERS

$149,500

skid gearbox mounts and AIR MAXsection, 1000, 70’ BOOM, 2,165 HOURS, CVT TRANSMISSION, 1050/50R25 TIRES 75%, FOAM MARKER, RAVEN VIPER PRO, SMARTTRAX & RGL600 LIGHTBAR 2011 3520 rollerCASE chainsIHare also constructed

2049 HOURS, 1050/R25 TIRES, 810 FLEX AIR, 70’ BOOMS, RAVEN VIPER PRO & SMARTTRAX STEERING.

$155,000

of 304 stainless steel for longer 2007 CASE IH 4020

$79,500

2008 AGCO 8244

$70,000

WITH 14’NEW LEADER L3220G4 BOX 7,272 HOURS, VIPER PRO, PHOENIX 200, 54” FRONT & 66” REAR TIRES, 5’ MULTIPLIER INSERT, ROLL TARP durability.

WITH AIR SPREADER 2,854 HOURS, VIPER PRO, SLINGSHOT, 54” FRONT & 1050 REAR TIRES, CAT ENGINE, FOAM MARKER, 70’BOOMS

AG

SYSTEMS, INC.

WWW.agsystemsonlIne.com

4180 ReaRdon Rd., ag systems, inc deFoRest WI 53532 4180 Reardon Rd., DeForest, WI 53532-2759

608.846.9064 • 800.523.2350 800-523-2350

BC�T July 53

New Products . . . continued from pg. 53

SIMBA keeps detailed inventory records, tracing the carton to a location or accumulating cartons onto a pallet.

Move the carton, remove it from one pallet and put it on another—all is tracked by SIMBA. end-to-end traceability, and can integrate into any accounting system so that you and your salespeople have current inventory moment to moment.

SIMBA keeps detailed inventory records, tracing the carton to a location or accumulating cartons onto a pallet. Move the carton, remove it from one pallet and put it on another—all is tracked by SIMBA. Minute by minute, SIMBA records production as it happens. All production information is recorded in detail (product, lot, carton number, date, etc.) when the label is printed.

The system is fast and easy to use.

The system responds to customers’ traceability requirements and prints their compliant labels. Each lot, carton or pallet can be traced back to its origin. SIMBA can print labels faster than you can put them on the boxes!

With the “Van Loading” feature, SIMBA records which carton or pallet is loaded onto what van. A bill of lading (receipt obtained by the shipper of goods from the carrier) and a manifest are created with weight automatically calculated. This complete record eliminates customer short-shipment disputes.

For more information, contact Dynamic Systems Inc., 1141 N.E. 124th St., Ste. 275, Kirkland, WA 98034, phone: 800-342-3999 or 425-216-1204, or visit www.dynamic-systemsinc.com/software/ produce/.

54 BC�T July

CAMSO Debuts Conversion Track System It can be bolted on in two hours and reaches speeds close to wheeled combines The CAMSO Conversion Track System (CTS) increases your machine’s mobility and flotation for better access to fields with soft ground conditions, which is particularly relevant considering the wet spring many experienced in much of the country.

Its large footprint reduces ground compaction, minimizes field damage and increases stability, maximizing the overall efficiency and quality of your work. continued on pg. 56

GZA: We get you from the

water table to the kitchen table Surface Water Assessments

“We are passionate about partnering with the agricultural community to meet the water supply challenges to support and promote sustainable farming prac�ces”

Groundwater Investigations Groundwater Modeling High Capacity Well Permitting Watershed management Sustainability

GZA GeoEnvironmental, Inc. Proactive by Design: Our Company Commitment.

Wetland Restoration Stormwater management

Global Water Center • 247 W Freshwater Way, Suite 542 • Milwaukee, WI 53204 • 414.831.2540 • gza.com Waukesha Location • 20900 Swenson Drive Suite 150, Waukesha, WI 53186 • 262‐754‐2560

BC�T July 55

New Products . . . continued from pg. 55

Flexible and adaptable like no other, it can be used on different machine models and applications. The CAMSO CTS is engineered for the toughest conditions and reduces ground pressure by over 65 percent.

“Our past systems lost 30 percent of speed because of wheel size,” says Martin Lunkenbein of Camso.

“The CTS High Speed has a slightly different suspension and smaller main wheel.” The new CTS also has an integrated gear box.

The CTS High Speed can be completely bolted on by the growers in two hours and reaches speeds close to those of wheeled combines on roads, leaving operators with minimal speed loss.

“Farmers shouldn’t have to take off

“It has been put through its paces, and we’re very comfortable with the performance” the CTS system for road travel, but they still easily can,” says Lunkenbein.

“It’s entirely the grower’s choice now.”

LARGE FOOTPRINT IN THE FIELD As for field performance, the CTS High Speed has a 12 percent larger footprint than previous Camso offerings, which helps prevent compaction. Further, its suspension system and double oscillating wheels perform better than ever on uneven ground.

“It has been put through its paces, and we’re very comfortable with the performance,” says Eric Blondeau of Camso. The CTS High Speed has been on the market and in use for more than a year in Europe.

It was tested in North America in 2016 and in Europe prior to its launch there.

The new CTS can be purchased for $89,900 per pair of tracks and needs no adaptors or multipliers. As of now, it is only available for John Deere STS and S series combines.

Camso’s AG 2500 track series was created to be a modestly-priced, high-quality track meant for row-crop work, and buyers should expect to use the tracks only 100 to 500 hours a year.

“Our competitors use a molded process,” says Blondeau. “We use more of an assembling process, and all our tracks are single-cured.”

Camso used a shorter tread bar to create the 2500 series, which the company says is just as effective but prevents the rubber from wearing down so quickly.

After four to five years of research, Camso is confident that this track, which is much thinner than its other offerings, can outlast track competition based on wear quality.

For more information, visit camso.co.

56 BC�T July

Ali's Kitchen A Lightened-Up Tradition

Column and photos by Ali Carter, Vice President, WPGA Auxiliary There are two culinary favorites that this particular foodie enjoys immensely each year during our Midwest summer weather. The first is cooking with fresh herbs and veggies from the garden, and the second is having family cookouts with potato salad.

Combining these favorites occurs often in our home kitchen!

I love a traditional potato salad with its creamy, tangy dressing and soft, sliced, boiled eggs. But sometimes my family craves something a little bit lighter. Tossing together a simple vinaigrette with a handful of easyto-grow herbs, and mixing in a few

veggies and greens offers a light and healthy twist on the traditional version.

Give this delicious, lightened-up version of the traditional potato salad a try. I think that that you'll agree with me when I say that bringing this salad to your next cookout is a fabulous idea!

TIP: The ideal potato variety for a salad is the Wisconsin Russet—it holds together very well when boiled, yet cooks up fluffy enough to absorb the aromatic peppery flavors of the vinaigrette. continued on pg. 58

Herb & Vinaigrette Potato Salad INGREDIENTS: 4-5 medium-sized Wisconsin Russet potatoes ¼ cup finely chopped parsley ¼ cup finely chopped basil 2 green onions, thinly sliced 1/3 cup olive oil 3 tablespoons white vinegar 1 teaspoon salt ¼ teaspoon black pepper 6-ounce jar marinated artichoke hearts, roughly chopped ¼ cup fresh shelled peas (can use frozen) ½ cup baby arugula ¼ cup shaved Parmesan cheese Additional salt and pepper to taste

continued on pg. 62 BC�T July 57

Advertisers Index

Ali's Kitchen. . . continued from pg. 57

AG Systems – BBI Javelin...............35

Herb & Vinaigrette Potato Salad Instructions: 1. Wash and then dice the potatoes into bite-sized pieces. Place the diced potatoes into a large saucepan or pot.

AG Systems – AG-800....................53 AgCountry Farm Credit Services....25 Allied Cooperative.........................39

2. Fill the saucepan with enough water to cover the potatoes and bring to a boil. Cook until tender, about 12 to 14 minutes.

Ansay & Associates........................20

3. While the potatoes are cooking, prepare the herbed vinaigrette:

Big Iron Equipment........................11

4. Place the parsley, basil, green onions, oil, vinegar and salt and pepper into a small canning jar. Place the lid tightly on the jar and shake well.

Set aside.

Bushmans’ Inc. ...............................3

5. Drain the potatoes and place them into a large bowl. To the bowl, add the artichoke hearts, peas and arugula.

Compeer Financial ........................34

6. Give the canning jar one more good shake, then pour the vinaigrette over the potatoes and veggies and stir well.

7. Sprinkle the shaved Parmesan cheese on top and add a bit more salt and pepper if you'd like, then gently toss everything together.

This salad can be served immediately while warm or placed in the fridge to be enjoyed later as a cold potato salad.

Antigo Tater Trot..............................5

Central Door Solutions..................15

Crop Production Services..............43 Dow AgroSciences.........................45 Fencil Urethane Systems...............14 GZA Environmental........................55 Insight FS.......................................50 J.W. Mattek....................................17 Jay-Mar..........................................32 Nelson’s Vegetable Storage Systems Inc.......................9 North Central Irrigation.................27 Oak Ridge Foam & Coating Systems, Inc...................................30 Oasis Irrigation..............................60 Riesterer & Schnell........................21 Roberts Irrigation ............................2 Ron’s Refrigeration........................13 Ruder Ware...................................33 Rural Mutual Insurance.................23 Sand County Equipment................59 Schroeder Brothers Farms...............7 T.I.P................................................19 V&H Inc. Trucks.............................16 Volm Companies............................49 Wick Buildings LLC.........................56 WPVGA Subscribers.......................42 WPVGA Support Our Members.....22 WSPIA............................................44

58 BC�T July

Maximize Your Farm’s

EfficiEncy!

In the heart of potato country. Serving all of Agriculture.

NEW PATENTED Fill Conveyor System to the Crop Cart!

All -Season crop cart, from Planting to Harvest!

Features a raised front end to reach over high-sided planters and semi trailers.

Visit us on FACEbook

Self-loading potato seed conveyor is removable, making Crop Shuttle not just for harvest anymore!

Unload your bulk seed truck in minutes, hold over 500 bags, & reduce time by meeting the planter.

Eliminate slow seed conveyors and generators all while boosting efficiency up to 30% per planter.

Fastest unloading time in the industry!

See the in Action!

Servicing Shop: (715) 335-6652 • Cell: (715) 498-6651 E-mail: paul@sandcountyequipment.com ALL Makes 8364 Monica Road, PO Box 228 • Bancroft, WI 54921 of Equipment www.sandcountyequipment.com

(701) 284-6100 E-mail: jacob@safe-t-pull.net Patents Pending

www.CropShuttle.com

P.O. Box 327 Antigo, WI 54409

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

CHANGE SERVICE REQUESTED

THE LINDSAY ADVANTAGE

THE BEST LINE OF IRRIGATION SOLUTIONS. PERIOD.

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Pumps, pivots, filtration and remote control all work together to maximize your yields.

Visit your local Zimmatic ® by Lindsay dealer to customize the right system for your needs. www.lindsayadvantage.com

Oasis Irrigation LLC 715-335-8300

N6775 5th Avenue • Plainfield, WI 54966

Separators and Filtration Solutions

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