Potato Country February 2019

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For more information, contact your retailer or Bayer representative or visit www.Movento.us. © 2019 Bayer Group. Always read and follow label instructions. Bayer, the Bayer Cross, and Movento are registered trademarks of the Bayer Group. Not all products are registered for use in all states. For additional product information, call toll-free 1-866-99-BAYER (1-866-992-2937) or visit our website at www.CropScience.Bayer.us.

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w w w . Po t a t o Co u n t r y . c o m

Vol. 35 No. 2

PO Box 333 Roberts, Idaho 83444 Phone: (208) 520-6461

Country Western focus. National impact.

Table of Contents

February 2019

Dave Alexander ...........................dave@ColumbiaMediaGroup.com Publisher, Advertising

Denise Keller ..............................editor@ColumbiaMediaGroup.com Editor

Andy Jensen.......................................... www.nwpotatoresearch.com Insect Identification

Jeff Miller .....................................................jeff@millerresearch.com

6 Spud Capital of the World

Disease Identification

Bruce Huffaker ................................................. napmn@napmn.com

Potato Expo

Market Report

Dale Lathim ............................................................... dale@pgw.net

10 NPC Assembles in Austin

Potato Growers of Washington

Brian Feist ...................................brian@ColumbiaMediaGroup.com

National Potato Council Annual Meeting

Operations Manager, Advertising

12 Famous Idaho Potato Bowl

EDITORIAL INFORMATION Potato Country is interested in newsworthy material related to potato production and marketing.

Contributions from all segments of the industry are welcome. Submit news releases, new product submissions, stories and photos via email to: editor@ColumbiaMediaGroup.com.

26 Crop Protection Essentials Buyers' Guide

28 Novel Nematode Eradication Efforts 30 Confirming Calcium Claims 35

Contacts

ADVERTISING For information about advertising rates, mechanics, deadlines, copy submission, mailing, contract conditions and other information, call Dave Alexander at (208) 520-6461 or email dave@PotatoCountry.com.

SUBSCRIPTION INFORMATION U.S. $24 per year / Canada $40 per year / Foreign $80 per year Subscriptions can be entered online at www.potatocountry.com or call (503) 724-3581.

Email address changes/corrections to brian@ColumbiaMediaGroup.com or send to Potato Country, PO Box 333, Roberts, ID 83444.

Potato Country magazine (ISSN 0886-4780), is published eight times per year and mailed under a standard rate mailing permit at Idaho Falls, Idaho and at additional mailing offices.

What Are You Eating?

It is produced by Columbia Media Group, PO Box 333, Roberts, ID 83444

Potatoes USA

Copyright 2019. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, for any purpose without the express written permission of Columbia Media Group. For information on reprints call (208) 520-6461.

38 Myth Busting Contract Concerns

Editorial Board

Potato Growers of Washington

Bill Brewer

Chris Voigt

Specialized equipment allows researchers to extract the active ingredient from mustard seed meal, concentrate the extracts and formulate a shelfstable powdered product to control pale cyst nematode.

See the story on page 20.

On The Cover Brian Moses, executive chef with Olive & June, prepares his winning dish in the Spud Nation Throwdown at the 2019 Potato Expo, held January 9-10 in Austin, Texas.

See the story on page 6.

4

Potato Country

February 2019

Executive Director

Executive Director

Washington State Potato Commission

Oregon Potato Commission

(509) 765-8845

(503) 239-4763

Departments 16 32 34 37

Disease Quiz Calendar Insect Quiz Market Report

Nina Zidack

Frank Muir

Jim Ehrlich

Montana Seed Potato Certification

Idaho Potato Commission

Colorado Potato Administrative Committee

Director

(406) 994-3150

President/CEO

(208) 334-2350

President/CEO

(719) 852-3322

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MADE IN THE USA

Potato Expo:

Spud Capital of the World Story and photos by Dave Alexander, Publisher

A

ustin, Texas, bills itself as the Live Music Capital of the World. A dizzying number of live music clubs can be found on Austin’s famous Sixth Street with any music genre imaginable. Austin is also the state capital of Texas, with countless state government buildings and a

magnificent capitol building. On Jan. 9-10, it was also the spud capital of the world when the Potato Expo brought over 1,800 potato industry visitors to town.

Those registrants hailed from a dozen countries, including England, France, China, Japan and Mexico. Over 160

Ryan Spesock, executive chef at Cimarron Hills Country Club, competes in the Spud Nation Throwdown.

Potato Country’s Dave Alexander speaks with Mila Pearce (left) and Curtis Rainbolt (center) with BASF. Visit www.thepotatopodcast.com to hear the interview.

To bring awareness to its new “What Are You Eating?” campaign, Potatoes USA hosted a boot-campstyle workout before Potato Expo opened on the second day.

6

Potato Country

February 2019

companies set up booths on the trade show floor. More than 50 speakers and panelists taught in break-out sessions and on the Innovation Hub stage. It took two giant hotels to get attendees stacked in.

Everything, it seems, is bigger in Texas. In reality, though, these numbers are nothing new for Expo.

Monica Heath with Potatoes USA stands next to what the staff dubbed “Big Tex,” nabbed from Texas A&M University.

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The trade show floor is always a great place to learn about new products and network with peers. Taking up a large chunk of real estate was the Potatoes USA booth. It was jammed most of the time with a crowd, resembling a Sixth Street bar guaranteed to make any fire marshal shudder.

Games and beer always draw interest on Sixth Street and at trade shows, but put the word “free” in front and a crowd forms. The booth featured free games like basketball and Plinko and free potato beer.

The lager, called Spuds McGregor by Austin brewer Hops and Grain, was a hit with attendees and added another product to an already long list featuring America’s favorite vegetable. Late Wednesday, five kegs had gone dry, and the rest were finished off the next day.

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Another new item on the potato products list is Potato Energy Bites. These portable snacks were featured front and center, on display and available to sample at a new event this year, Workout like a Potato Grower, sponsored by Potatoes USA. This boot-camp-style workout took place at 7 a.m. on the second day of Expo. The event was well-attended considering the early start time and all of that potato beer consumed the day before.

LD The workout was the perfect complement to Potatoes USA’s new marketing campaign, “What are you eating?” This new campaign shows how the nutrition in potatoes fuels and boosts athletic performance.

Potatoes USA is looking for help from those in the industry to promote the new campaign and loans out marketing materials like tent displays for booths.

Handouts and performance sports gear is also available through its website.

Tracks from known locations in the field to precise layers and areas in storage

fr o m

to TRUCK

Potato Energy Bites provide nutrition on the go.

The recipe can be found at www.potatogoodness.com/recipes/ potato-energy-bites-performance.

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Potato Expo

Keynote Speaker

The Expo’s keynote speaker was Austin local Roy Spence. Spence has a long and distinguished career in an advertising agency. He has worked with the late Sam Walton, George H. Bush and Bill Clinton.

Southwest Airlines, BMW and the state of Texas are among his clients.

Spence is also co-founder and CEO of The Purpose Institute, a consulting firm that helps people and organizations discover and live their purpose. Spence delivered listeners a positive message and said, “We’ve got to inspire our young people. If you can dream it, you can build it.”

Expo keynote speaker Roy Spence has worked with U.S. presidents and major corporations and coined the phrase “Don’t Mess with Texas” for an anti-littering ad campaign.

Potatoes USA provides real potato lager for attendees.

Spud Nation Throwdown judges watch three finalists prepare potato dishes for the cooking contest.

For a FREE Certification Directory, email Dr. Nina Zidack at potatocert@montana.edu

Uncompromising Standards, Generation after Generation. We have the seed for you! www.montanaspud.org

8

Potato Country

February 2019

167820MonPot13h.indd 1

9/18/17 11:45 AM

Attendees can find virtually anything on the trade show floor at Potato Expo. Crop inputs, equipment, seed, insurance and software are all represented.

Changes

The Potato Expo had shorter hours this year, ending on Thursday rather than midday Friday as in previous years. The short Friday generally had poor attendance at the trade show, so the Expo presenter, National Potato Council, listened to feedback and adjusted.

“We like to get feedback and figure out how to make the Potato Expo the most positive experience and the most worthwhile investment for everybody,” said Hollee Alexander, who organizes the Expo for the NPC.

What Happens Here...

The 2020 Potato Expo will trade live music clubs for casinos as the event moves to the Mirage in Las Vegas. With all there is to see and do at Expo and in Sin City itself, attendees would be wise to pack some energy-providing Potato Bites in their luggage.

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NPC Assembles in Austin • Agricultural guest worker issues including the recently announced increase in the Adverse Effect Wage Rate for 2019, as well as legislative and legal efforts to prevent it from occurring • Opportunities to see positive improvements on truck weights and electronic logging devices under an infrastructure bill • Ensuring that science is utilized in making decisions about potatoes’ inclusion in various federal nutrition programs

Like Potato Expo, the National Potato

Council (NPC) opted for a condensed schedule for its annual meeting, gathering for just one day in Austin, Texas, following Expo. The shorter timeframe didn’t stop the NPC and its committees from discussing a long list of issues including: • Impact of Mexican retaliatory tariffs on potatoes • Mexico fresh market access for U.S. potatoes • China trade dispute • Ensuring that U.S. potatoes are able to benefit from tariff reductions originally negotiated under the Trans-Pacific Partnership Agreement • Farm bill enhancements in export programs directly benefitting potatoes, and a $25 million annual increase in funding for specialty crop research • Regulatory reform concerning Waters of the United States (WOTUS) and the Worker Protection Standard

John Keeling, National Potato Council vice president and CEO, receives the Potato Man for All Seasons award from The Packer’s Tom Karst. Photo by Bill Schaefer

New Leaders

A new leadership team is in place to continue working on these issues. During the meeting, Larry Alsum of Wisconsin was installed as NPC’s 2019 president.

The NPC delegates also approved the 2019 Executive Committee, which includes Britt Raybould, Idaho, first vice president, Government and Legislative Affairs; Dominic LaJoie, Maine, vice president,

Growing Quality Seed For 50 Years!

Cully Easterday, 2018 National Potato Council president, (center) presents President’s Awards to Lynn Olsen (left) and Ed Schneider (right) in appreciation of their encouragement, support and guidance. Photo by Bill Schaefer

Environmental Affairs; R.J. Andrus, Idaho, vice president, Grower Outreach and Industry Research; Jared Balcom, Washington, vice president, Trade Affairs; Bob Mattive, Colorado, vice president, Finance and Administration; and Cully Easterday, Washington, immediate past president.

Special Recognition

Left to right: Sid, John, Jonathan, Carl, Nick and Cliff.

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Potato Country

February 2019

The meeting was also an opportunity for NPC leaders to give – and this year, also receive – special recognition. John Keeling, NPC vice president and CEO, was honored as the 2018 “Potato Man for All Seasons” in recognition of his contributions to the potato industry during his nearly two decades of leadership for the NPC. He plans to retire later this year.

Cully Easterday, 2018 NPC president, presented President’s Awards to Washington potato growers Ed Schneider and Lynn Olsen in appreciation of their encouragement, support and guidance during his year as president.

The NPC Summer Meeting will be held July 10-12 in Wisconsin Dells, Wisconsin.

Famous Idaho Potato Bowl Photos by Allen Thayer

T

he Idaho Potato Commission (IPC) has been the title sponsor of the Famous Idaho Potato Bowl since 2011 and is contracted to sponsor the bowl through the year 2021.

The game is played in Boise, Idaho, every December. IPC President Frank Muir says it has been and continues to be one of the commission’s best advertising campaigns. For its $450,000 investment as title sponsor, the IPC sees a return of $16 million in media value.

Over 2 million people generally watch the game on ESPN. In this year’s matchup on Dec. 21, Brigham Young University beat Western Michigan University 49-18.

To hear Muir discuss the marketing leverage of the bowl game and other marketing ideas, visit www.thepotatopodcast.com The Famous Idaho Potato Bowl translates into $16 million in media value for the Idaho Potato Commission.

Miss Idaho, Nina Forest, and Frank Muir with the Idaho Potato Commission enjoy the game.

Fans cheer on their teams in the Famous Idaho Potato Bowl.

12

Potato Country

February 2019

Potato Bowl

Spuddy Buddy holds the title of #1 college football bowl mascot from SBNation.

Idaho potatoes fill the 2018 Famous Idaho Potato Bowl championship trophy, which went to Brigham Young University.

The Grinch and Santa Claus take time out of their busy schedules in December to attend the Famous Idaho Potato Bowl.

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HEALTHY

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From sprout to harvest, Luna® fungicide protects potatoes throughout the growing season, improving plant health for beautiful crops and abundant potato yields. As a breakthrough systemic fungicide, Luna provides unparalleled control of White mold, Early blight and other problematic diseases. Make Luna a cornerstone of your fungicide program to consistently produce a high-quality crop – and more of it.

Find out what Luna can do for you at LunaFungicides.com/potato. © 2019 Bayer Group. Always read and follow label instructions. Bayer, the Bayer Cross, and Luna are registered trademarks of the Bayer Group. Not all products are registered for use in all states. For additional product information, call toll-free 1-866-99-BAYER (1-866-992-2937) or visit our website at www.CropScience.Bayer.us. Bayer CropScience LP, 800 North Lindbergh Boulevard, St. Louis, MO 63167. CR0119LUNNAAB038S00R0

Know Your Potato Diseases

Disease Identification Quiz Dr. Jeff Miller, a plant pathologist, is the president and CEO of Miller Research, Rupert, Idaho.

He can be contacted by phone: (208) 531-5124; cell: (208) 431-4420; jeff@millerresearch.com

Do you know the difference between a disease and a pathogen? Below are three photos of potatoes with disease symptoms and three photos of pathogens (or at least, parts of the pathogen). Can you name each disease and match it with the pathogen that causes the disease?

Dr. Jeff Miller

Here are a few hints. Photo 1 is a picture of a structure called a sporangium. The sporangium can produce zoospores (spores that can swim in water) or germinate directly. Photo 2 is a picture of specialized fungal cells (hyphae) which have developed dark, thick walls. These masses of cells are called microsclerotia. Photo 3 is a picture of a cystosorus, which is a sponge-like aggregate of thick-walled resting cells.

A

1

B 2 C 3 Answers Page 32

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Potato Country

February 2019

CELEBRATE THE PERFORMANCE-BOOSTING BENEFITS OF POTATOES

NEW PERFORMANCE STRATEGY IS CHANGING POTATO PERCEPTIONS. IN 2018, POTATOES USA ADOPTED A GROUNDBREAKING STRATEGY FOCUSED ON POTATOES AS A PERFORMANCE FOOD AND LAUNCHED A BOLD NEW MARKETING CAMPAIGN.

1

THIS CAMPAIGN WAS DESIGNED TO CREATE A MOMENT OF REEVALUATION BY ATHLETES AND OTHERS THAT POTATOES SHOULD BE USED AS FUEL FOR ATHLETIC PERFORMANCE AND ANY ACTIVE LIFESTYLE. For years the potato industry has been telling people why you can eat potatoes. With its new marketing program, Potatoes USA is now telling people why they should eat potatoes—because potatoes fuel performance. This surprising truth is the industry’s big opportunity.

Most people don’t consider the potato a performance food and are surprised when they learn it is; so, moving from “you can” to “you should” is a huge shift that can fundamentally change how people perceive potatoes. This campaign focuses on making America’s favorite vegetable also America’s favorite fuel.

It is based on the idea that beating your personal best isn’t just about how you train; it’s about what you eat. The campaign is designed to provoke a moment of re-evaluation and discovery among consumers with a clear message: Potatoes. Real Food. Real Performance.

BASED ON SOUND NUTRITION SCIENCE The campaign is anchored by a strong foundation in science that shows the potato’s role as a nutritional powerhouse. For athletes and others to perform at their best, they need to fuel with the proper nutrition, and potatoes contain the complex carbohydrate, potassium and energy people need to achieve peak results. A medium-size 5.2-ounce potato with the skin on has 26 grams of carbohydrate and 620 mg of potassium, and is more energy packed than any other popular vegetable. Potatoes also contain many other important nutrients that athletes seek, such as 27 mg of vitamin C, 2 grams of fi ber and 3 grams of protein. By stressing this, the campaign highlights to athletes and consumers that, when it comes to potatoes, what fuels you is what’s inside.

THE CAMPAIGN IN ACTION Extensive research led to a strategy based on this key truth: Potatoes fuel performance.

The What Are You Eating? concept was born and research showed it taps into the internal competitive mentality of athletes, who train with the goal of doing better than the day before and, ultimately, improving on their personal best.

With this sound foundation, the What Are You Eating? campaign launched in July 2018.

The campaign’s core messaging features real athletes, who fuel up with potatoes to perform at their personal best. It contains several key elements intended to inspire athletes, and ultimately the broader population, to think of potatoes as a performance vegetable. One important element targets key infl uencers, such as nutrition and exercise professionals, while other elements challenge athletes and consumers to rethink potatoes. At the core of this campaign is PotatoesFuelPerformance.com, a website dedicated to showcasing potatoes as performance fuel.

1. U.S. Department of Agriculture, Agricultural Research Service, Nutrient Data Laboratory. USDA National Nutrient Database for Standard Reference, Release 28 (Slightly revised).

2

TRUSTED INFLUENCERS 3

ENLISTING FITNESS AND NUTRITION PROS AS ALLIES A key focus of the What Are You Eating? campaign is nutrition and training professionals—from registered dietitians and sports dietitians to nutritionists, coaches, trainers and others—who directly impact athletes’ dietary decisions.

By getting these influencers to fully understand and believe in the performance power of potatoes, Potatoes USA is aligning with a valuable resource to spread the potato performance message.

These professionals are being reached through a variety of targeted activities, which include attendance and presentations at annual meetings and conferences, educational webinars, email content and educational videos. These activities keep the potato’s performance benefits front and center for these trusted influencers, so that they can then educate and influence athletes on the power of potatoes.

As part of this, strategic partnerships have been formed with many of the country’s top nutrition- and fitness-based professionals and organizations. These include Alan Tran (chef and dietitian for the U.S. Olympic Ski and Snowboard team), the IDEA Health & Fitness Association (IDEA), the National Strength and Conditioning Association (NSCA), the Collegiate & Professional Sports Dietitians Association (CPSDA), the Society of Health and Physical Educators America (SHAPE) and the National High School Coaches Associations (NHSCA). Each partnership brings an array of digital and print advertisements, social media posts, webinars and conference sponsorships that will continue to expand the reach of the potato performance message.

POTATOES FUEL ELITE ATHLETES Elite athletes are viewed as the epitome of performance and carry clout within their sports, which trickles down and inspires the everyday athlete. Because of this influence, Potatoes USA is partnering with elite athletes to spread the positive message about potatoes as a performance fuel. Not only are these athletes incredible competitors, they are also able to serve as authentic ambassadors for potatoes because they genuinely use potatoes to fuel their performance.

In August 2018, these elite athletes began actively posting across their social media accounts about potatoes and their role in athletic performance. Topics focus on how they integrate potatoes into their lives, including potatoes’ role in working out, keeping up energy levels and recovering post-workout, as well as consuming potatoes while dining out and living a great, healthy lifestyle. In addition to posting on social media, these athletes are training and competing in What Are You Eating? athletic gear.

LEVERAGING THE LARGER ATHLETIC COMMUNITY VIA TEAM POTATO Potatoes USA also launched Team Potato to create and engage with a community of competitive athletes who trust in the power of the potato to help perform at their best and who are uniquely positioned to amplify the campaign’s performance message.

Team Potato is made up of ordinary and extraordinary athletes who are dedicated to performing their best athletically and in everyday life. These athletes know that what they feed their body can make the difference between winning, achieving a personal record (PR) and reaching their goals, no matter what their sport.

To join, athletes fill out a short survey on how they fuel their performances with potatoes. Once a member, they receive a Team Potato T-shirt to wear while training, as well as a Potato Power recipe booklet and a copy of Performance Magazine.

Throughout the year, members post and share their experiences training and fueling with potatoes with the hashtag #TeamPotato to earn Team Potato gear, such as performance shirts, running jackets and race entries.

Their experiences bring the performance message to life with real-world stories shared by friends and family.

4

IN JULY 2018, A YEAR-LONG PARTNERSHIP WITH THE ROCK ’N’ ROLL MARATHON SERIES KICKED OFF, WHICH PROVIDES A UNIQUE OPPORTUNITY TO CONNECT WITH ATHLETES AND CONSUMERS ALL ACROSS THE COUNTRY, IN PERSON AND ONLINE.

CONSUMER CAMPAIGN BROADENS REACH The partnership gives Potatoes USA a physical presence at race events nationwide, including the Humana Rock ’n’ Roll Chicago Half Marathon (July 2018), the Rock ’n’ Roll Philadelphia Half Marathon (September 2018), the Humana Rock ’n’ Roll San Antonio Marathon & Half Marathon (December 2018) and the United Airlines Rock ’n’ Roll Half Marathon San Francisco (April 2019). These events offer a great platform for reaching a diverse audience consisting of thousands of athletes and spectators.

At each race, potatoes are featured via multiple touchpoints with attendees throughout the weekend. In the days leading up to the race, participants and their friends and family can find potatoes among other performance-focused products and brands at the prerace Health & Fitness Expo. They can also interact with Potatoes USA representatives, sample potato recipes specifically developed for athletic performance, learn about how potatoes fit into their training diet and receive branded collateral and take-home items.

On the day of the race, the What Are You Eating? campaign is visible with on-course signage, and all attending are able to interact with the Potatoes USA team yet again at a finish-line festival photo booth. Additionally, the partnership allows for digital What Are You Eating? campaign messaging at all U.S. Rock ’n’ Roll Marathon Series races for the entire year.

Beyond the Rock ’n’ Roll partnership, a fully integrated communications campaign is underway to reach performance athletes with key messaging about how potatoes fuel performance. The performance message is amplified across a variety of different media channels—from social media to digital advertising—with authentic and respected publishing partners such as Women’s Running, Triathlete and Competitor Running.

New PotatoesFuelPerformance social media sites for both Facebook and Instagram were created to drive communications and engagement through advertising, recipes, ongoing stories on athletes, nutrition news and updates on everything an athlete needs to know to fuel with potatoes.

Influencer marketing is also an essential component of the What Are You Eating? campaign as Potatoes USA has partnered with popular and trusted online nutrition and fitness personalities who dispense frequent advice and inspiration to a large audience.

These influencers have authored blog posts and created engaging potato-forward content to their legions of Instagram followers, igniting potato love and inspiring performance athletes to bring potatoes into their daily routines to perform at their best.

5

While the potato performance campaign features athletes, it is not about marketing solely to them. It is about showing the power of the potato through people who can influence consumers to think about potatoes differently. To that end, elements of the campaign seek to broaden its reach to a wider audience.

PERFORMANCE WEBSITE TESTIFIES TO POTATO POWER PotatoesFuelPerformance.com At the core of this campaign is PotatoesFuelPerformance.com, a consumer website dedicated to showcasing potatoes as performance fuel. The website provides valuable content, including nutritional information, with a by-the-numbers look at how potatoes fuel athletic performance. New recipes and preparation inspiration show great new ways to consume potatoes. A key feature of the site are the stories of real athletes all across the country who fuel with potatoes. Aspiring Team Potato members will also find everything they need to join this community of athletes.

EVERY MEMBER OF THE POTATO INDUSTRY CAN—AND SHOULD—GET INVOLVED! For this campaign to succeed, every member of the industry needs to get involved.

It’s easier than you think. Start by logging onto PotatoesUSA.com/growers/whatare-you-eating. This online performance hub is the one-stop shop for everyone in the potato industry to access everything you need to start changing perceptions of potatoes.

One of the key components of the performance hub is the event toolkit that has information and materials you can use to sponsor events in your own area.

These include how-to documents, sample press releases, recipe cards and, best of all, props and display materials that are available at no cost to the industry.

The toolkit also includes directions on getting involved with Rock ’n’ Roll Marathons and other local events, including media tips and sampling guidelines.

You can download ads and logos to customize for your business, so you can include potato performance messaging in your advertising, community activities and even on your packaging. Use the videos and materials to spread the word through your own website. Don’t forget to shop at the hub’s online store to outfit your entire crew with What Are You Eating? gear.

Finally, the industry can spread the performance messaging to your local community by following the campaign on social media at Facebook and Instagram, then reposting and forwarding to friends and family. Online and offline, we need you to be talking about how potatoes fuel an active and healthy lifestyle and asking everyone you meet: What Are You Eating?

6

ABOUT POTATOES USA Potatoes USA is the nation’s potato marketing and research organization. Based in Denver, Colorado, Potatoes USA represents the more than 2,500 potato growers across the country. Potatoes USA was established in 1971 by a group of potato growers to promote the benefits of eating potatoes. Today, as the largest vegetable commodity board, Potatoes USA is proud to be recognized as an innovator in the produce industry and dedicated to positioning potatoes as a nutrition powerhouse.

PotatoGoodness.com PotatoesUSA.com Š 2019 Potatoes USA. All rights reserved.

PotatoCountry.com

25

Crop Protectio Agri-Stor Companies www.agri-stor.com SmartBlock

SmartBlock is a post-harvest sprout inhibitor that achieves extended sprout control in stored potatoes. It can be fogged directly into potato storage units. SmartBlock works great alone, but can also be combined with other sprout inhibitor products. It effectively burns off “peeping” or even fully-sprouted tubers and restores dormancy.

Agri-Stor is an experienced SmartBlock applicator.

BASF

www.agriculture.basf.com Serifel Bio-fungicide

Aerifel bio-fungicide is a protective biological fungicide that exhibits broad-spectrum disease control and a novel mode of action. When used as part of an integrated disease management program, Serifel bio-fungicide provides conventional growers with a unique solution to address challenges in the food production value chain. It has a favorable toxicological and environmental profile for users, the environment and consumers.

FMC

www.fmccrop.com Beleaf, Exirel, Avaunt, Ethos

FMC has an expanded portfolio offering a full lineup of products to help protect potato crops. Beleaf 50 SG insecticide helps control both piercing and sucking insects.

Exirel insect control offers unique, cross-spectrum activity on a broad spectrum of pests including aphids, psyllids and Colorado potato beetle while also having a low impact on many beneficials. Avaunt insecticide offers fast protection from yield-robbing pests including European corn borer, cabbage looper and potato tuberworm. FMC also offers Ethos XB insecticide/fungicide, which offers the broadest spectrum of defense against soil insect pests and diseases such as Rhizoctonia, Pythium and Fusarium.

Jet Harvest Solutions www.jetharvest.com Jet-Ag

Jet-Ag is a peroxyacetic acid (PAA) broad-spectrum fungicide, bactericide and algaecide. The Jet-Ag special patented process superheats and produces a special fog, which is the vaporization of the solution into the air.

This patented process of super-oxides and hydroxyl radicals kill all microorganisms including bacteria, fungi and viruses, such as Rhizopus rot and black rot, on contact.

Fogging Jet-Ag provides broad-spectrum efficacy against gram-negative and gram-positive bacteria, fungi, yeast, molds and food spoilage micro-organisms. The product acts as a surface sanitizer and produces a dry fog, keeping potatoes dry. Its desiccant action dries wounds and sets skin. Treatment takes about four hours.

26

Potato Country

Decay Co JETAG

• PA ch st • Ap in • Ki an co

February 2019

• 20

on Essentials Nichino America, Inc. www.nichino.net

Moncoat MZ Fungicide, Moncut SC Fungicide

Moncoat MZ Fungicide is a potato seed-piece treatment that controls black scurf and stem canker caused

by Rhizoctonia solani. The active ingredients in Moncoat MZ, flutolanil and mancozeb, deliver long-lasting broad-spectrum disease control. Moncoat MZ provides added suppression of Fusarium dry rot and silver scurf and helps reduce the spread of seed-borne late blight.

Moncut SC is a liquid formulation fungicide that provides reliable, effective control of soil-borne potato diseases with extended residual activity. The active ingredient in Moncut SC, flutolanil, protects both the seed piece and tuber set. Moncut SC is a curative and preventative treatment, stopping disease progress and preventing future infections. The systemic activity of Moncut SC delivers protection to the entire plant and developing root systems.

Both products provide excellent disease control so the potato crop can reach its full yield and quality potential, even under the most severe disease pressure situations.

NovaSource

www.novasource.com Sectagon-42

Sectagon-42 soil fumigant is an important tool for producing high-quality, high-value potatoes.

When controlling soil-borne pests is key, Sectagon-42 provides effective, economical suppression of weeds, diseases and nematodes. These soil pests can build up between harvests and rob fields of their full yield potential.

Sectagon-42 can be applied using soil injection, soil bedding or chemigation methods. The application requirements for soil fumigants are complicated, so NovaSource advises growers to read the label and consult with a crop advisor or local government agency for more information.

Syngenta

www.syngenta.com Elatus Fungicide

Potato growers will find Elatus fungicide to provide enhanced, early-season control of soil-borne diseases. The application of Elatus in-furrow at planting for the control of Rhizoctonia, black dot and silver scurf, has been shown to suppress Verticillium levels (2ee label recommendation).

Use as a management tool in combination with the use of resistant potato varieties, fertility and irrigation management (optimum phosphorus and potassium soil concentrations and avoiding water stress after flowering), crop rotation (green manure crops) and fumigation for best results.

Vive Crop Protection www.ViveCrop.com

AZteroid FC Fungicide, Bifender FC Insecticide

New AZteroid FC fungicide and Bifender FC insecticide from Vive Crop Protection are the first fertilizer-compatible products for potato growers. AZteroid FC can be mixed right in the fertilizer tank to provide broad-spectrum disease control, clean up the soil around the growing plant and improve tuber quality, even when disease seems low. Bifender FC insecticide mixed with starter fertilizer creates a larger “safety zone” around the seed piece and tuber, free from wireworms, rootworms, flea beetles and white grubs.

AZteroid FC and Bifender FC use the Allosperse Delivery System, which helps crop protection products blend easily with liquid fertilizers. They can stay mixed with fertilizer for days, with easy application in the field – even in cold weather – with no crystallizing or clogged screens and no end-of-season tank cleanout.

PotatoCountry.com

27

Novel Nematode Eradication Efforts

By Louise-Marie Dandurand, Matthew J. Morra, Inna Popova and Amanda Gray, University of Idaho

M

ustard seed meal extract is proving its potential in an effort to eradicate potato cyst nematodes. University of Idaho researchers have developed a new shelfstable product from the extract and are working to evaluate its efficacy.

The Problem

Plant parasitic nematodes are among the most invasive and widespread pests of crops. Difficult to detect and control, nematode problems are insidious and can be costly. Often less obvious than symptoms caused by other pests or pathogens, symptoms of nematode infection are not specific and are often mistaken for drought or nutrient stress.

Plants are rarely killed outright, but rather patches of plants in a field may appear stunted, wilted or yellow, and damage can be manifested gradually over many years.

If left untreated, nematode attack can substantially reduce yield. In the United

States, nematode-related damage has been estimated to reduce yield by nearly 25 percent. Globally, nematode damage is estimated to reduce yield by 12 percent at a cost of $157 billion.

In potato production, two nematode species top the list in importance. The invasive and highly damaging potato cyst nematodes, Globodera rostochiensis and Globodera pallida, are internationally recognized quarantine pests. In highly infested fields, potato cyst nematodes can reduce yields by up to 80 percent.

Although not widely distributed in the U.S., both are present and are regulated

by USDA-APHIS and the relevant state agency, either the Idaho State Department of Agriculture or the New York State Department of Agriculture.

The golden nematode, G. rostochiensis, first discovered in New York, has been contained to 5,945 acres in eight counties.

The pale cyst nematode (PCN), G. pallida,

Teton Seed...

Discover PEAK Performance In Your Crop

208-456-0904

University of Idaho researchers have developed this mustard seed meal extract in a wettable powder form as a possible tool in the effort to eradicate pale cyst nematode.

Russet Burbank • Ranger Russet Russet Norkotah • Teton Russet • Shepody Dennie Arnold Farms • Skyline Farms

Contact Fred at 208-313-1399 or tetonseed@silverstar.com www.tetonpotatoseed.com 28

Potato Country

infests 3,277 acres in portions of two counties in Idaho. Spread mainly through soil contaminated with cysts, adherence to a stringent phytosanitary program has prevented spread of cysts to other potatogrowing areas. PCN remains contained to less than 1 percent of Idaho’s total acreage planted in potatoes.

For the United States, G. pallida is a quarantine pest for which there is zero tolerance. The presence of G. pallida in Idaho was viewed with extreme alarm by other states and countries that import Idaho potatoes. Prior to implementation of the current quarantine measures, import of Idaho fresh potato products and nursery stock was banned by some of Idaho’s most important trading partners including Canada, Mexico and Japan.

Consequently, eradication of G. pallida is a top priority for the Idaho potato industry.

A critical component of this work has been undertaken by USDA-APHIS through fumigation of infested fields with methyl bromide. However, methyl bromide use was discontinued in 2015, and in 2016 the registrant pulled its supplemental Idaho label. USDA-APHIS currently relies on fumigation with 1,3-dichloropropene.

February 2019

A Potential Solution

In Idaho, where potatoes cannot be planted on infested land, preliminary data suggest that PCN costs the state approximately $25 million per year. Given the current withdrawal from use of methyl bromide and the very limited availability of other inorganic nematicides, the need to consider other strategies for nematode control has become acute. Potentially viable alternatives exist in the form of natural products derived from plants in the mustard family.

Plants in the mustard family produce a broad range of glucosinolates (GSLs) that hydrolyze to toxic metabolites that can be utilized in bio-fumigation for nematode control. Sinigrin, which is found in high levels in Brassica juncea or Oriental mustard, was identified as the GSL with the most activity. Our University of Idaho research team has shown that sinigrin in B. juncea seed meal can eliminate PCN. Exposure to B. juncea seed meal applied at a rate of 4 tons per acre completely killed PCN, but decreasing the application rate to a more feasible amount of 2 tons per acre resulted in variable kill of PCN (Table 1).

tons per acre) tested compared to the nonamended control (Table 2). Subsequent to bio-fumigation, PCN was unable to reproduce on potato when extract was applied at 1 ton per acre, whereas reproduction was reduced by 99 percent when applied at 0.5 ton per acre (Table 2). The ability to reduce the amount of material being applied to soil by using an extract has the potential for integration into a G. pallida eradication program.

Table 2. Percentage hatch of Globodera pallida eggs after two-week exposure to five rates of Brassica juncea seed meal extract, followed by a greenhouse bioassay to assess reproduction of exposed cysts on potato.

Extract rate (tons/acre)

Hatch (%)

Non-amended

9.6 ± 4.0 a 0.8 ± 0.8 b 0.6 ± 1.3 b 0.4 ± 0.5 b 0.2 ± 0.4 b

0.5 1.0 1.5 2.0

Cysts/ sample 60.4 ± 26.8 a 0.2 ± 0.2 b 0b 0b 0b

A Globodera pallida cyst is filled with unhatched eggs.

A field micro-plot trial evaluates the efficacy of a mustard seed meal extract application.

Values ± standard errors are the average of six replicates. Values within a column followed by a common letter are not significantly different according to Tukey-Kramer test (P < 0.05).

Table 1. Percentage hatch of Globodera pallida eggs exposed to Brassica juncea seed meal extract (2 tons/acre) in Shelley, Idaho.

Treatment Bare soil B. juncea extract P-value

Hatch (%) 19.0 ± 2.9 1.9 ± 2.8 0.001

Values ± standard errors are the average of six replicates.

The rate of mustard meal required for field application limits the utility of using meals in nematode-control strategies. To overcome this obstacle, we have developed procedures to extract the active ingredient (sinigrin) from mustard seed meal, concentrate the extracts and formulate shelf-stable powdered products.

Our shelf-stable sinigrin extract effectively kills PCN even at low rates of application. In our Shelley, Idaho, field trial, exposure of PCN to B. juncea seed meal extract containing the active ingredient sinigrin reduced egg hatch by 90 percent compared to a nonamended control (Table 1). In greenhouse experiments with PCN, B. juncea seed meal extract significantly reduced hatch by 97 to 99.7 percent at all rates (0.5 – 2 PotatoCountry.com

29

Confirming Calcium Claims Story and photos courtesy Oro Agri, Inc.

N

oel Currie thought he knew quite a bit about calcium and potatoes. After all, as president of Aroostook Testing and Consulting Laboratory in Presque Island, Maine, he has conducted trials for a myriad of calcium products from Maine to Florida for over 35 years.

In addition, his father, who founded the consulting business 40 years ago, was a “calcium nut,” according to Currie. His 1.075 he explained, strongly believed father, that calcium was the essential nutrient

that drove critical physiological functions within potato plants, so the younger Currie was indoctrinated about the importance of calcium starting early in his professional career.

However, he learned from his applied field research on calcium products over the years that many supplemental calcium products are mostly useless in supplying essential levels of calcium to potato plants Specific Gravity and especially to the tubers. With that in mind, he was skeptical, he says, when he

was asked by Oro Agri last spring to look at Encourage Nanocal, the company’s new soil-applied, sub-micronized liquid calcium product. However, he felt obligated to trial the product because so many of his growers’ potatoes require supplemental calcium, and the best products he could recommend, he and his clients knew, were not that effective. He agreed to run some trials – at no charge to Oro Agri – on the off-chance the product claims were true. He placed trials with

Specific Gravity

1.07

1.065

Specific Gravity Specific Gravity

1.06

1.055

1.05

1.045

1.04 A*

B**

C Grower Grower

Control

Control

D

E

NANOCAL @ 1 qt/acre

NANOCAL @ 1 qt/acre

* Grower A applied Nonocal @ 2 qts/acres later than recommended to compensate for calcium deficiency in early season tissue sample. ** Grower B trial sampled 30 days before harvest - 15 days earlier than other trials.

30

Potato Country

February 2019

F

In field trials of Encourage Nanocal, the soil-applied, sub-micronized liquid calcium product increased specific gravity and periderm calcium.

clients who grew processing and seed potatoes in a 110-mile, north-to-south swath centered in Aroostook County. After finishing the field trials and analyzing the data, Currie says he switched from skeptic to believer.

What’s the Difference?

Encourage Nanocal differs from other supplemental calcium products in several key attributes. First, the calcium carbonate particles in Nanocal are milled to an average of 0.7 microns compared to a range of 3 to 80 microns for other calcium products. The Nanocal particles’ small size makes them readily available for root uptake upon application without waiting

for the calcium to mineralize.

The small size of the Nanocal particles also means that an application floods a plant’s root zone with significantly more calcium particles than the 3- to 80-micronsized particles of other calcium products.

To illustrate, picture the number of marbles in a five-gallon bucket versus the number of tennis balls in the same size bucket.

More particles in the soil means more will come in contact with the meristematic region of growing roots for more rapid and efficient calcium uptake.

Second, it is well established that calcium moves primarily through the plant’s transpiration system. For effective distribution of calcium in the plant, it must

be taken up by the roots and translocated throughout the plant, including to the tubers. Since foliar-applied calcium does not move very far in the potato plant, developing tubers are often starved for calcium even with several foliar applications.

Nanocal is designed to be soil-applied, so it comes in direct contact with the roots for the most efficient uptake into the plant. It is formulated with Oro Agri’s patent-pending TransXylem technology that facilitates easy movement of material upward from the roots to other parts of the plant, including rapidly developing tubers.

The effectiveness of Encourage Nanocal can also be attributed to its application

Milled to an average size of 0.7 microns, the calcium particles in Encourage Nanocal are designed to be readily available for root uptake.

PotatoCountry.com

31

Calcium Claims timing. The product is designed to be applied just prior to or at hook. This is the growth phase of the tuber when calcium is most needed for healthy tuber development. It is not meant to correct calcium deficiencies in the soil, but rather to be a readily available source of calcium during the critical cell division phase of tubers following hook. Even if gypsum or limestone is applied as part of a soil fertility program, enough calcium may not be available to the potato plant during the high-demand period of tuber formation because of the slow mineralization of those materials. Starving tubers of calcium at this critical point can make them susceptible to physiological effects like pressure bruising and hollow heart. It can also limit the plant’s ability to fulfill its genetic potential for yield, specific gravity, marketable tubers and other key results.

What Changed?

After collecting 1,850 data points across nine parameters related to yield along with specific gravity and tuber calcium measurements, Currie no longer lumps Nanocal in with all the mostly ineffective

Calendar

(from page 16)

Potato D.C. Fly-in

Capital Hilton Washington, DC Hillary Hutchins hillaryh@nationalpotatocouncil.org

Mar. 11-14

Potatoes USA Annual Meeting Hilton City Center Denver, Colo.

Chelsea Madix chelsea@potatoesusa.com

June 12

6th Annual Ag World Golf Classic Canyon Lakes Golf Course Kennewick, Wash. www.agworldgolf.com

Editor’s note:To have your event listed, please email Denise Keller at editor@ColumbiaMediaGroup.com.

Please send your information 90 days in advance.

Potato Country

positive response to Nanocal in 80 percent of the trials Currie conducted. Even a trial in which Nanocal was experimentally used to correct a soil calcium deficiency and was applied late showed a positive yield response.

“I have never seen this happen before with a calcium product,” Currie said of the results.

In addition to these direct effects, Currie ran some pro-forma financial results. When he calculated the change in calculated yield, size distribution and mean weight per tuber for all his trials and assumed a 300 cwt/acre yield and a $10/ cwt price, all three parameters resulted in a positive financial impact and return on investment of 13 percent, 14.3 percent and 4.7 percent, respectively.

Currie now admits that after his experience with Nanocal, he can still learn a thing or two about calcium. And, he says he’s finally comfortable that he can recommend, with a high degree of confidence, a calcium product to his growers that will deliver a better potato and a better payday.

Know Your Disease Answers

Feb. 25-28

32

calcium products he has tested over the years. He is particularly impressed with Nanocal’s performance in a tough year that started off cold and with no rain between April 15 and May 15 and continued under drought conditions with high temperatures.

While the majority of the parameters Currie tested show a positive response to Nanocal, three key metrics are of particular importance to Currie’s growers. In regard to specific gravity, 100 percent of the trials showed an increase in specific gravity.

The increases ranged from 0.004 to 0.009 with an average increase of 0.00633. This increase in specific gravity is especially significant to Currie because the majority of his growers serve the chipping and French fry markets.

Looking at tuber calcium, 100 percent of the trials resulted in an increase in periderm calcium at trial application rates and indicated there is a rate response to increasing rates of Nanocal. Currie feels this will have a significant reduction in pressure bruising and will be a huge benefit for his seed growers.

Considering, field weight and calculated yield, these two related metrics showed a

February 2019

A disease is not the same thing as a pathogen. A plant disease is a malfunctioning of plant cells or tissues that result from a pathogen or environmental factor which leads to the appearance of symptoms. As a result, it is not truly correct to say that a disease spreads, but it is correct to say that pathogens spread.

Photo A is powdery scab, and it is caused by Spongospora subterranean f. sp. subterranea, the pathogen in Photo 3. This pathogen is not truly a fungus, but it is treated like a fungus for the sake of convenience. The pathogen produces cystosori (plural of cystosorus) in lesions on potato roots and tubers. It is estimated that cystosori can live in the soil for over 10 years. As a result, crop rotation is not an effective method of disease control. Chemical control is very limited and may not be cost-effective. It is best controlled by keeping the pathogen out of the field.

Photo B is pink rot caused by Phytophthora erythroseptica, the pathogen shown in Photo 1. Similar to the powdery scab pathogen, this organism is also not a true fungus. Sporangia are produced from mycelia (thread-like growth of the pathogen) or from oospores which survive in the soil. Small, swimming spores can be released from sporangia and swim toward susceptible host plant roots. The pathogen can also grow directly from this spore. Potato roots and stolons can be infected almost anytime during the growing season. Long periods of saturated soils favor the production of the sporangia and zoospores.

The plant in Photo C is showing symptoms of Verticillium wilt, caused by Verticillium dahliae. The microsclerotia of this fungus are shown in Photo 2.

Microsclerotia can survive in the soil for many years. However, the longer the time between the potato crops, the fewer microsclerotia will be present in the soil, thus reducing disease pressure.

Spudequipment.com Pilers

2007 Milestone 42” all belt, 230 3ph remote 2003 Milestone 42” all belt, 230 3ph remote 1999 Double L 831 36” x 49’ BC, 3ph remote 1998 Spudnik 560 hyd 36”x 49’ BC, 480 volt 3ph 1997 Double L 831 36” x 49’ BC 3ph Remote 1994 Double L 831 36” x 49’ BC 3ph Remote 1989 Spudnik 550 30” BC, 3phase 1986 Double L 831 36” x 49’ BC 3phase

Scoopers

Spudnik model 150 24” - 3ph

Conveyors - Telescopic

1998 Spudnik TC 36/42/60 3ph Refurbished 1996 Double L 820 30” x 60’ 3ph 1994 Spudnik 1250 TC 30/36/ 60 3phase 1992 Double L 810 Tel. conv. 30’’x50’ 3ph

Conveyors - Straight

Rock/Clod/Eliminators 2014 Spudnik Air Sep 2014 Lockwood Air Vac 2014 Harriston Clod Hopper 4240 x 4-96”drums 2010 Harriston Clod Hopper 3240 x 3-96” drums with sizer 2007 Harriston Clod Hopper 240 x 2 -96” drums 1996 Harriston Clod Hopper 200/80” 230 Volt 3ph 1994 STI 1260 Sand Machine

Even Flows

2002 Spudnik 1000 cwt 3ph 2000 Spudnik 1800 600cwt 3ph 48” elev.

1995 Spudnik 1800 600cwt 3ph 48” elev.

1995 Agritech 250cwt 1ph /Stinger

Spudnik 1205 30” x 40’ 3ph Double L 809 30” x 38’ 3ph Double L 808 30” x 25’ 3ph Spudnik 30” Conveyor Line 250’ 3ph Double L 30” Conveyor Line 250’ 3 ph

Stingers

Sizers/Eliminators

2011 Logan LP24 PTO only 1993 Double L 801 20’ Elec.

2009 Double L 978 DE/sizer 3ph 2002 Spudnik 925 72” 3ph 1997 Double 807 Dirt Elim.

62” BC 3ph Stingers 72” Sizer 03 Spudnik 995 72” BC Peg Belt, Finger rolls, sizer, 3ph 1997 Milestone MSDES 72” 3ph Dirt Elim Sizer 94 Spudnik 900 Sizer 60” 230V 3ph 89 Milestone 72” Belt, Finger Rolls, Sizer, Table 1ph

Dirt Eliminators

09 Double L 978 3ph, Belted Chain & Dirt Rolls 99 Milestone 60” Finger rolls, Table, 3ph 97 DL 807 62” BC with 3 stingers 3ph 1995 Double 806 Collector 44” 2-pups 87 Spudnik 900 48” 220 volt 1ph

2015 Logan 30” x 10’ belt 230 Volt 3ph 1990 Double L 832 30” BC/Finger rolls x 2 1988 Spudnik 2200 30” x 10’ BC/ fingers x 2

Beds

Trucks

2007 Sterling 13spd MB 425hp, no bed, frame for 22’ bed, has PTO. 1991 Ford Aero/Max L9000 Cat 425hp 9 spd 260K original miles DL 20’ bed dual drive 1985 IH 5000 Pay-Star 290 hp Cum., manual

Crossovers/Wind Rowers

2008 Spudnik 6140 Four Row RH 50/50/50 2008 Spudnik 6140 Four Row LH 50/50/50 2008 Spudnik 6140 Four Row RH 40/40/36 2003 Lockwood 5000 Four Row LH 50/50/50 1998 Double L 851 Four Row RH 50/50/45 Lenco 6 row pull type

Harvesters

2014 Lockwood 574 4 row 2012 Double L 965 3 row, w/Multi-sep table 2010 Lockwood 474 50/56/56/56/50 2010 DL 953 4 row 36” row 2009 DL 973 4 row 36” row 2009 Spudnik 6400 50/50/45/45/45 2008 DL 973 4 row return flo, galaxy table 2008 DL 953 4 row 36” 2008 Lockwood 474H 4 row 2007 Double 853 4 row 50/50/45/45 2002 Spudnik 5640 4 row 1996 Lockwood 4620 two row 1994 Logan 90 series two row

Seed Cutters 2013 Better Built 72” 2011 Milestone 72” 2009 Milestone 72” 1998 Milestone 60” 1999 Milestone 48” 1993 Milestone 36”

Treaters

New Excel 10”x 10’ Liquid/ powder Stainless New Excel 10” x 10’ Liquid/powder Mild Steel 2012 Better Built CDT10 – 10 AF Duster 1ph 1998 Milestone 42” duster 1993 Better Built CDT-10’x 8” auger 1ph

Planters

2009 Harriston cup planter 8 row pull loaded 34” 2009 Underhaug 3760 8 row 34” Raven controls 2 products 2007 Gruse Bed planter 4 row low acres 2005 Harriston model 4016 cup, Raven Controller 36” 2005 Lockwood 6 row Pick 36” 2003 Kverneland 3300 Six row 34” 2002 Spudnik 8400 cup 4 row 36” 1998 Kverneland 8 row 34” rows Rear steering 1995 Kverneland 3300 6 row 34”

Planter/Tare/Piler

1990 Milestone Utility PIler 16” DL 815 30” x 24’ hyd belt chain DL 815 24” x 24’ 3ph DL 814 24” x 30’ hyd belt chain

Water Dammers

2006 Spudnik 8060 Cultv. Bed Shaper Diker 2002 Ag Engineering 8 row Dammer diker 1994 Ag Engineering 4 row Tillage Master 9 shanks Hyd reset

Shredder/Vine Beaters 2012 Newhouse P1952 Pull hitch Tire Roller 36” 2005 Alloway/Woods 6 row

Warehouse/Packaging

WYMA Wet Hopper & Floating Debris Remover WYMA Vege-Polisher Roller Table 5’8” W x 22’6”long Incline conveyor 6’ 2” W x 19’L x 1’6” H, 12” flaps x .75’’ Brush Roller Table with Nozzles 5’10” W x 8’L Stainless Stainless Sponge Drying table with offset squeeze rollers 7’6” W, 10’6”L 3’7” H Stainless Incline Elevator 3’9” W x 27’L 1’4” H Flap Height 3” Air Knife Drying system 5’3” W x 7’L x 10” H Holding Bins 280 cwt 5’8” W x 23’ L x 12’6” H. discharge H 3’10” adjustable, fall breaker, feed conveyor, Holding Bins 140 cwt and 160 cwt Morray Bagger and Auto Bag Placer M720 & M958 WASP Tilt belt Warehouse Even flow 600cwt 8’6” x 26’ x 14’ 30” belt 230 V 3ph 2012 Kwik Lok 865 Bag closer

Bruce: (208)390-5120 | brucen@tristeelmfg.com Evan: (208)757-8481 | evann@tristeelmfg.com

PotatoCountry.com

33

Insect Biology Quiz

This material is provided courtesy of Andy Jensen, Ph.D., Manager of the Northwest Potato Research Consortium. For more information, visit www.nwpotatoresearch.com.

Dr. Andy Jensen

Beet leafhopper transmits the phytoplasma pathogen that causes purple top disease in potato. Monitoring for leafhopper flights using yellow sticky traps is important to integrated pest management (IPM). Many species of leafhopper are caught on yellow sticky traps near potato fields, and recognizing beet leafhopper among them is crucial.

Below are six common species of leafhoppers. Only one of them is beet leafhopper. Which one?

A

B

F

D E 34

Potato Country

February 2019

C

Answers Page 36

Potatoes USA

What Are You Eating?

By John Toaspern, Chief Marketing Officer, Potatoes USA

A

s a potato industry member, I’m sure your answer to the question “What are you eating?” is potatoes. But what if you are a competitive athlete? As a result of the new Potatoes USA performance strategy, the answer is increasingly “potatoes.”

The “What Are You Eating?” campaign is positioning potatoes as real food that leads to real performance. The campaign is directed toward competitive athletes (people who work out at least three times a week and participate in individual or team competitions) and the nutrition influencers to whom they listen (trainers, coaches, sports dieticians, active lifestyle bloggers and elite athletes). To encourage consumers to look at potatoes in a whole new way, we must create a broad conversation about the nutritional benefits of potatoes, and this must be led by influencers.

A core part of the program strategy is building strategic partnerships with several athletic performance-oriented organizations, each of which is designed to reach a different sector of the athletic influencer audience. Potatoes USA has partnered with SHAPE America to reach K-12 and collegiate physical activity instructors, the National Strength and Conditioning Association to reach 49,000 strength and conditioning coaches and personal trainers, and the IDEA Health and Fitness Association to reach nearly 300,000 fitness and wellness professionals.

We’re connecting with over 400,000 coaches, sports registered dieticians and administrators through the National High School Coaches Association and the Collegiate & Professional Sports Dieticians Association. To reach the registered dietician/nutritionist audience, Potatoes USA has partnered with the Academy of Nutrition & Dietetics and the Produce for Better Health Foundation.

Athletes have indicated that they look to other successful athletes and coaches for inspiration, motivation and education.

To bring forward potatoes as a preferred choice of athletes, Potatoes USA has partnered with a core squad of known and respected athletes across many sanctioning sport bodies, including the USA Olympic Team, USA Track and Field, USA Swimming, USA Wrestling and Ironman Triathlon. Beyond elite athletes, Potatoes USA has partnered with social media influencers rooted in fitness and nutrition.

They have large social media followings and have been leveraged to bring forward positive potato nutrition stories to help impact the way in which performance athletes train and eat.

As the Official Performance Vegetable and Event Partner of the Rock ‘n’ Roll Marathon Series, Potatoes USA is reaching hundreds of thousands of competitive athletes and race spectators. Potatoes USA has engaged with athletes at races in Chicago, Philadelphia and San Antonio, with a fourth to happen in San Francisco in April. This includes two days of athlete education and potato sampling pre-race, as well as an interactive “What Are You Eating?” photo booth post-race. Feedback from athletes has been very positive, with many consumers excited to learn about the performance benefits of potatoes.

To reach competitive athletes with compelling and engaging performanceforward potato messaging, Potatoes USA is running paid advertising across several platforms and media vehicles, including Facebook and Instagram. The “What Are You Eating?” campaign encourages athletes to re-evaluate the foods they are using to fuel themselves. The campaign consists of a series of videos depicting athletes competing in running, cycling and soccer while fueling with potatoes to perform at their best. In addition, there are many messages running across social media with compelling nutrition and preparation information to inspire athletes to fuel with potatoes.

As part of the overarching Potatoes Fuel Performance strategy, Potatoes USA partnered with leading publications to inspire and educate competitive athletes on how and why they should fuel with potatoes to achieve their personal best.

This partnership, which includes online advertising, articles, video content and email marketing, is being driven by two key influencers, Dr. Allan Lim and Jessica Cerra, both accomplished cyclists with expertise in sports nutrition. Lim and Cerra created a series of videos highlighting potato preparations that are running across the publications’ sites as well as social media.

Potatoes USA has also officially launched Team Potato, a community of athletes who train and compete fueled by potatoes. Sharing their Team Potato athletic experiences on social media earns participants Team Potato gear as they continue to “level up.” Industry members are encouraged to join Team Potato, as well.

Through these activities, Potatoes USA is changing the way many consumers think about potatoes and increasing potato consumption for athletic performance. But to truly make an impact and have potatoes recognized as the performance vegetable, the rest of the potato industry must get involved. To find out how you can get involved, visit http://growers.potatoesusa. com/what-are-you-eating.

PotatoCountry.com

35

Market Report

Trend Yields: Causes and P

otato yields have been in a constant uptrend since World War II. Between 1900 and 1940, the average annual yield increase was less than 0.5 cwt per acre.

Between 1940 and 1950, the national average potato yield jumped from 80 cwt per acre to 153 cwt per acre, an average of 7.3 cwt per year. Since 1950, the average annual increase has been 4.3 cwt per year.

The relentless uptrend has been a boon for consumers. The consequences for potato growers have been mixed.

Causes

The trend yield is a large-scale phenomenon, the result of interactions between several competing forces in the marketplace. Yields on any given piece of ground are determined by growing conditions, disease pressure, cultural practices, and inputs of seed, water, fertilizer and chemicals. In general, those factors have been improving over time, which has been a driving force in the yield trend. The trend has been augmented by shifts in production from less productive ground to more productive fields.

Unintended consequences of World War II drove the surge in potato production between 1940 and 1950. During the war, the U.S. needed nitrogen to produce the explosives needed to produce bombs.

Even before the war ended, manufacturers had excess nitrogen production capacity.

Crop production offered a compelling market for the excess nitrogen production.

Ready availability of cheap nitrogen triggered a yield revolution for all cropland agriculture, including potatoes. The resulting surge in crop yields provided the platform that has encouraged the development of improved cultural practices, variety development, improved seed quality, irrigation technology, disease and weed control, etc. All of those factors support the upward trend in yields.

Yields on individual farms do not follow a trend. The introduction of successful farm improvement practices can boost yields on the adopting farm by 50 cwt per acre, or more, during a single year. The reasons that large-scale yields trend upward more gradually are complex, involving adoption rates for new farming practices and technology, the fact that innovations are not universally applicable and the potential for innovations to fail.

Is there a limit to how high yields can go? While it is not hard to imagine that there is some limit beyond which ground cannot hold potatoes, in practical terms that limit is well beyond the current trend yield. Reports of potato yields in excess of 1,000 cwt per acre on individual fields are becoming more common. The current yield estimate for the 2018 U.S. potato crop is 444 cwt per acre. That exceeds the 20-year trend yield by 6 cwt. At the average yield growth rate since 1950, 4.3 cwt per acre per year, it would take 130 years for the national average yield to reach 1,000 cwt per acre. In practical terms, it seems safe

to say that average potato yields are likely to continue increasing for the foreseeable future.

Consequences

Yield improvements have been a boon for consumers. They have allowed inflation-adjusted prices for potatoes to decline over time, making them more affordable. Consumers have access to more variety of potatoes and potato products and better quality than has been available in the past. However, the agricultural revolution has expanded the selection of all food items, making it easier to spread food dollars between a wider variety of products.

The impact of yield improvements on farming operations has been more checkered. Growers must be continually seeking new and improved ways to produce their crops in order to keep ahead of the trend. Yield improvements are not automatic. If farming practices remain unchanged, so do the results. While being on the leading edge of technology involves risk, growers that fall behind find themselves in an unenviable position.

They face higher production costs than their competitors. They usually are unable to sell crops for enough to make the improvements needed to catch up.

Equipment maintenance and replacement falls behind. Growers in that position find their operation in a downward spiral that is difficult to escape.

Know Your Insects Answers (from page 26)

Sponsored by: To participate in

www.ThePotatoPodcast.com Contact dave@PotatoCountry.com 36

Potato Country

February 2019

Photo D is beet leafhopper. This specimen represents the darkcolored form that occurs in winter and spring. Later in summer, beet leafhopper is much paler, a light straw color.

Consequences Potato yields continue to grow faster than demand for potatoes. Finding alternative uses for potato ground that is no longer needed is a major problem for growers. In general, growers who boost yields see no reason to cut back on acreage.

Those on the leading edge of technology typically have lower production costs and can weather the lower prices resulting from surplus production better than growers who have fallen behind. Market conditions eventually force acreage cuts, but the process is painful for all involved.

USDA reports that growers harvested 1.025 million acres of potatoes in 2018.

During the last 50 years, the largest harvested area for potatoes was 1.426 million cwt in 1996. With a 444 cwt per acre yield, that much ground would have produced 633 million cwt of potatoes in 2018. That is 180 million cwt more than the actual crop. The all-time peak in U.S. potato acreage was 3.901 million acres in 1922. However, acreage peaked at different times in different states. The combined total of peak acreage for each of the states is 6.031 acres. Obviously, growers have had to find alternative uses for a lot of potato ground. That process will continue in the future unless demand growth starts to outpace the growth in yields.

Staying ahead of the yield trend is a challenge for growers. It may not be possible on marginal potato ground. Some growers have managed to prosper by growing specialty products that command higher prices. While that may be a viable solution, it will not remove growers from the necessity of finding ways to improve yields and cut costs. While it changes the competitive platform, competitors will still be seeking ways to improve profitability.

Those who fail to make improvements are likely to find their operations falling into a downward spiral.

By Bruce Huffaker, Publisher North American Potato Market News

HUFFAKER'S HIGHLIGHTS

• The relentless upward trend in potato yields will continue for the foreseeable future.

• Potato acreage will need to continue declining as long as yields rise faster than demand.

• Finding ways to stay ahead of the yield trend is the key to survival and prosperity in the potato industry.

• Operations that fall behind the yield trend face

the prospect of a downward spiral in their financial fortunes.

Editor’s note: To contact Mr. Huffaker, or to subscribe to North American Potato Market News (published 48 times per year), write or call: 2690 N. Rough Stone Way, Meridian, ID 83646; (208) 525-8397; or e-mail napmn@napmn.com.

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PotatoCountry.com

37

Potato Growers of Washington

Myth Busting Contract Concerns

By Dale Lathim, Potato Growers of Washington

R

ecently, a processor brought up a very interesting concern. The processor suggested that details of future price increases need to be kept under wraps because it seems that whatever increase processors agree to goes to the growers’ suppliers with very little staying in the growers’ pockets.

At first, this sounded like a very logical concern, as it does seem like whatever price increase we negotiate for the growers matches the cost increases they incur.

Considering that potatoes are the only major crop in Washington that is priced via negotiations prior to planting, it seemed logical at first that suppliers set their prices accordingly. However, after diving into this deeper, it has become very clear that setting the price through negotiations is not at all what is determining the price of growing inputs.

Nearly all costs incurred by potato growers involve fertilizer, chemicals and equipment such as tractors that are common to many other crops. Even those items specific to potatoes such as storages and handling equipment are far more influenced by the costs of steel,

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38

Potato Country

February 2019

Pat

manufacturing and freight than the contract price of potatoes.

So why does this concept seem so true? The reason is that both the processors and the team at Potato Growers of Washington do a very good job of getting the best information available to forecast the cost of production for the growing season for which we are negotiating a price. On the rare occasion that either of us are very far off on our forecast, like occurred in 2009, the price is renegotiated to align with actual cost of production changes.

To verify this, I reviewed the cost of production studies done by Washington State University in 2001, 2006 and 2015 and compared those costs with the average contract price paid by processors in the Columbia Basin for those years. The results showed that contract price kept pace with the increases in the cost of production.

So then why do growers feel like today’s contracts do not pay as well as those in the past? Well, I have to admit it is because that is partially true. As the costs of production have increased and we, as growers, decided in 2014 to help our processors better compete in the world market, we have let our profit margins shrink. Our help to the processors has been successful, as evidenced by the new processing lines in the Columbia Basin and the reported record profits.

But the help that we have given the processors has not been equally returned. Their customers continue to increase demands for higher and higher quality, which increases the risk to the grower as quality tolerances decrease and expectations of nearly zero tolerance for defects increase. Growers have been very responsive to the processors’ need for continually improved quality; however, the increased quality has raised many of the averages for quality attributes to levels very near the cap in the incentive scales, which greatly reduces the upside potential. While the upside declines, each step that the average moves closer to the cap adds more steps to the downside risk. For example, the 2018 bruise-free clause in a grower storage Russet Burbank contract had zero upside as the average has now exceeded the cap in the incentive clause. However, if a grower dropped below the 78 percent average for bruise-free, he could lose up to $980/acre on a 32-ton crop and still meet the minimum contract requirements.

For the past several years, I have talked at length in our grower meetings about the ever increasing risks that have been coming into your contracts. It has been a top priority at the negotiating table, and we have made some progress with a couple of the processors, but there is a long way to go. We are starting this battle for you and we hope that you will support us in doing everything we can to make these contracts consistently more profitable.

The processors’ concern over suppliers raising prices to match price increases in contract negotiations and the growers’ concern over the contract price not keeping up with the rising costs of production both look at first glance to be true; however, looking deeper, we can see that neither is 100 percent correct.

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The scientific explanation.

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A calcium deficiency in plants results in dividing cells being unable to stay bound together. This causes poor quality potatoes such as reduced size, growth cracks and hollow heart.

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Foliar-applied calcium does not translocate to tubers.

The only efficient way to move calcium into developing tubers is through root and tuber uptake. Soil-applied NANOCAL’s particle size allows immediate movement into the meristematic region of growing roots.

Soil-applied NANOCAL calcium particles are immediately available to developing tubers.

Benefits of improved calcium uptake at tuber initiation include: • Dramatic reduction in hollow heart • Improved shelf life and storability • Better uniformity at maturity • Increased firmness • Increased yield

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