Potato Country July/August 2021

Farming Through Water Woes

PotatoCountry.com • July-August 2021 • Western focus. National impact.

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Bagging & Packing Essentials French Fry Market Cross Currents Minimize Defects, Maximize Returns

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Vol. 37 No. 5

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

Country Western focus. National impact.

Table of Contents

July/August 2021 6 Farming Through Water Woes Mike Mitchell Farms

Contacts 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 Disease Identification

Bruce Huffaker ................................................. napmn@napmn.com Market Report

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

Potato Growers of Washington

12 Alternatives to Manage Potato Early Die 14 Bagging & Packing Essentials Buyers' Guide

16 Minimize Defects, Maximize Returns 20 Potato University: Helping Operators Succeed Beyond the Menu Potatoes USA

24 French Fry Market Cross Currents Market Report

Brian Feist ...................................brian@ColumbiaMediaGroup.com Operations Manager, Advertising

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.

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.

It is produced by Columbia Media Group, PO Box 333, Roberts, ID 83444 Copyright 2021. 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.

Editorial Board

Gary Roth

Chris Voigt

A consumer readies a convenient medley pack of potatoes for cooking.

Check out the latest products to help get your spuds from field to market in the Bagging and Packing Essentials Buyers’ Guide starting on page 14.

On The Cover

Washington State Potato Commission

Oregon Potato Commission

(503) 239-4763

Departments

Brothers Clay and Tyler

11 Calendar

Mitchell farm 1,000 acres of

18 Insect Quiz

where water is in short supply.

See the story on page 6.

Photo courtesy Vibrant Valley Photography Potato Country

Executive Director

(509) 765-8845

potatoes in Monte Vista, Colo.,

4

Executive Director

July / August 2021

19 Disease Quiz 21 New Product

Nina Zidack

Frank Muir

Jim Ehrlich

Montana Seed Potato Certification

Idaho Potato Commission

Colorado Potato Administrative Committee

Director

President/CEO

President/CEO

22 In the News 26 PGW Column 26 Advertiser Index

(406) 994-3150

(208) 334-2350

(719) 852-3322

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Mike Mitchell Farms

Farming Through Water Woes

By Denise Keller, Editor

W

ater is a precious resource on every farm, and Mike Mitchell Farms in Monte Vista, Colorado, is certainly no exception. A water shortage has been impacting the farm for more than a decade, prompting the growers to practice water-saving measures in their potato production.

Brothers Clay and Tyler Mitchell and their dad, Mike, farm 2,400 acres in Colorado’s San Luis Valley. This includes 1,000 acres of potatoes, with about 90 percent of the spud ground planted in russet varieties for the fresh market and the balance in yellow potatoes.

The Mitchells and other water users in the region are dealing with a declining aquifer. Crop patterns have changed since wells were dug in the 1960s and

‘70s, Mike says. Crops with higher water consumption have moved into growers’ rotations, and the intensity of farming has increased.

In an attempt to return the aquifer to a sustainable level, programs are in place to pay farmers to not pump irrigation water. However, even with the cutbacks, irrigators are still pumping more water than is coming into the system during drought years. Higher commodity prices make matters worse.

“Stronger commodity prices are a friend to the farmer but may be the enemy of the irrigator because it’s causing more demand on the water,” Mike explains.

“People aren’t willing to cut back to save water. They’re able to pay the expenses and keep pumping.”

In addition to the depleting aquifer, the region has a desert climate with low humidity and about 9 inches of precipitation per year. Competition for land with surface water continues to drive up the cost of farm ground, which has doubled in the last 10 years, according to the growers.

“With the amount of water we have and how bad the situation has gotten, we have to be progressive in water savings,” Clay says.

With the help of an irrigation consultant, the Mitchells have made changes to increase water efficiency on the farm. They installed new nozzles on all their sprinklers and utilize smart irrigation scheduling with soil moisture monitoring. And they time year-end

Mike Mitchell (center) serves as a consultant to sons Clay Mitchell (left) and Tyler Mitchell (right) who recently took over ownership of the family farm.

Photo courtesy Vibrant Valley Photography

6

Potato Country

July / August 2021

tilling with rain or snowfall to save irrigation.

The growers have also selected potato varieties that require less water and have modified their rotation crops, as well.

In the last two years, they eliminated malt barley in order to save the expense of pumping extra water. They continue to grow quinoa, which uses 8 inches of water less than a barley or potato crop.

The rotation also includes a green manure crop for soil health, grown with 6 to 8 inches of water.

“The biggest challenge is shortterm sustainability versus long-term conservation,” Clay says. “We’re trying to do things to limit erosion and limit our water use, but at the same time, we have to stay in business. So we can’t make huge jumps. It has to be an evolution to get more efficient.”

Pictured from left, Sophia, Kenley, Parker and Madeline Mitchell help sort seed during planting.

Photo courtesy Clay Mitchell

Supply and Demand

Growing predominately for the fresh market, the Mitchells take on the challenge of balancing supply with demand.

“As farmers, we can definitely oversupply the market. Farmers are pretty good at what they do. And if something is profitable, we produce more of it to the point that it becomes unprofitable,” Clay says. “I think that’s the balance with potatoes is to keep the supply matched with demand so it stays profitable.”

Aligning supply and demand has been especially difficult since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic in March 2020.

At the time, the Mitchells had purchased seed and prepped fields but had not yet planted potatoes. They were able to slightly modify plans before planting at the end of April, including eliminating half of a circle and growing a smaller size profile better suited for retail sales.

Still, Colorado growers ended up with too many potatoes, and the delayed reopening of businesses left the Mitchells with potatoes in storage about a month later than usual. This year, they stayed the course and planted their usual crop with hopes that the economy and potato sales will return to normal.

PotatoCountry.com

7

Mike Mitchell Farms

Crews unload Canela Russets into an even flow bin. Photo courtesy Vibrant Valley Photography

The Next Generation

Clay and Tyler are third-generation farmers in Colorado. Their grandfather Marvin and his brother Roger relocated from Nebraska in the late 1930s, worked on a dairy and began sharecropping potatoes. In the early 1950s, they were among the first in the San Luis Valley to transition from hand harvest operations to mechanical harvesting, with a tractorpulled harvester loading spuds directly into a bulk truck, Mike says. The brothers divided the farm in 1960.

Mike returned from college to take over his dad’s farm in 1976. After growing up on the farm, Clay and Tyler studied agriculture at Colorado State University, graduating in 2004 and 2006, respectively, before returning to the farm.

Mike says Clay and Tyler’s desire to follow in his footsteps motivated him to continue farming. About a year ago, the time was right to sell the farm to his sons.

“The one thing that encourages me is

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Potato Country

July / August 2021

Tyler Mitchell runs the harvester at Mike Mitchell Farms in Colorado’s San Luis Valley, located at an elevation of 7,600 feet and surrounded by 14,000foot mountains. Photo courtesy Vibrant Valley Photography

in the 15 years I’ve been farming with the boys, the farm has continued to increase production. Production costs have followed, but their consciousness of what it takes to produce a crop is probably greater than I ever had,” Mike says. “My advice to them would be to stay on top of the changes and be aware of the surprises that can happen. Try to be solid enough that you can weather the bad storms because that’s the nature of the potato industry; you can have a bad year every so often.”

To weather those storms, Clay says it’s important to be aware of market conditions, make sure your salespeople have a home for the potatoes you plan to grow and to produce high quality potatoes so customers come back for more. Tyler agrees that careful crop management, along with proper variety selection, will help the farm be successful.

PotatoCountry.com

9

Mike Mitchell Farms

The Mitchell family farms 2,400 acres including 1,000 acres of potatoes, mostly for the fresh market. Pictured in front, from left, are Kenley Mitchell, Parker Mitchell, Madeline Mitchell and Sophia Mitchell. In the back, from left, are Gina Mitchell, Clay Mitchell, Glena Mitchell, Mike Mitchell, Tyler Mitchell and Melissa Mitchell. Photo courtesy Vibrant Valley Photography Clay Mitchell plants quinoa. The crop has been part of the farm’s rotation for five years. Photo courtesy SkyDeadPixel

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Potato Country

July / August 2021

Calendar July 26-29

Potato Association of America Annual Meeting Online www.potatoassociation.org

July 27-30

National Potato Council Summer Meeting Online www.nationalpotatocouncil.org

Aug. 2-4

Potatoes USA Summer Meeting

Louisville, Kentucky Chelsea Madix, (303) 873-2332 or chelsea@potatoesusa.com

Aug. 19

Miller Research Potato Pest Management Field Day Rupert, Idaho www.millerresearch.com

Oct. 28-30

PMA Fresh Summit New Orleans www.freshsummit.com Mike Mitchell Farms planted 360 acres of quinoa in 2021, but has planted as many as 750 acres.

Photo courtesy SkyDeadPixel

“My favorite thing about farming is always continually trying to improve,” Tyler says. “We make mistakes every year, but we learn from those mistakes and always try to grow a higher yielding or higher quality crop every single year.

That’s what excites me. We can always do better.”

Recent efforts to grow a better crop include moving to more vertical tillage.

By completing multiple processes in a single pass, the growers are achieving the cultivation they want with less disturbance of the soil. They also purchased new planters to get better stands and a new harvester to dig in rockier ground.

In addition to farming, the Mitchells are involved with National Potato Council, the Colorado Potato Administrative Committee and United Potato Growers of America. Being active in the industry to help solve problems has helped make the farm profitable in the past, the growers say, and is important in building a family farm for the next generation.

“The biggest excitement is seeing my son and daughter get excited about farming and wanting to come with me to work. Seeing them interested in it makes me want to keep things going,” Clay says.

Nov. 17-18

Pacific Northwest Vegetable Association Conference and Trade Show Three Rivers Convention Center Kennewick, Wash.

Sheri Nolan, (509) 585-5460 or www.pnva.org

Editor’s note: Information was correct at presstime. Please contact event organizers to check for possible changes.

Subscribe at PotatoCountry.com/subscribe PotatoCountry.com

11

Alternatives to Manage Potato Early Die

By Luisa Parrado, Emilie Cole and Marisol Quintanilla, Applied Nematology Lab, Entomology Department, Michigan State University

P

otatoes are the world’s most important vegetable crop. In the United States, there are over 1 million acres in potato production with an approximate value of $3.9 billion dollars.

However, a potential threat to potato productivity and revenue are pests.

One of these pests, known as “potato early die” (PED), is caused by the fungus Verticicillium dahliae and the plant parasitic nematode Pratylenchus penetrans, commonly known as the root lesion nematode.

Detection of these two pathogens can be done by simple soil sampling, which is helpful in determining how likely and severe potato early die can be and whether or not you should avoid planting in that field.

Although avoidance is highly recommended, it is not always feasible, which can lead to tremendous potato yield losses if PED is not managed. Therefore, in the Michigan State University Applied Nematology Lab, we are interested in finding strategies to help growers manage the potato early die complex.

A

May

P. penetrans/100cc of soil

90 80

Jun

N.S

Jul

A potato stem infected with V. dahliae shows vascular discoloration.

Sep

70 60 50 40 30 20 10 0

Untreated Control

B

Double High Nickel+MeloCon Carbon+MeloCon

450

Tuber yield (CWT/A)

400

361

376

371

Poultry+Cattle Compost

403

Poultry+Cattle Poultry Manure Compost+MeloCon

N.S

381

394

Poultry Manure+MeloCon

Poultry Manure+Vydate

386

396

Poultry Manure+MeloCon

Poultry Manure+Vydate

Cruiser Maxx

Vydate

371

368

Cruiser Maxx

Vydate

350 300 250 200 150 100 50 0

C

Vascular Discoloration

60

Untreated Control

Double High Nickel+MeloCon Carbon+MeloCon

Poultry+Cattle Compost

Poultry+Cattle Poultry Manure Compost+MeloCon

c

50 40

b

30

b

b

b

b

a

a

20

b

b

10 0

Untreated Control

Double High Nickel+MeloCon Carbon+MeloCon

Poultry+Cattle Compost

Poultry+Cattle Poultry Manure Compost+MeloCon

Poultry Manure+MeloCon

Poultry Manure+Vydate

Cruiser Maxx

Vydate

Figure 1. A. Average P. penetrans per 100cc of soil from at-planting (May) through at-harvest (September), B. Tuber yield in century weight per acre Figure A. Average P. penetrans 100cc aofsignsoil (May) through (CWT/A) and C.1.

Proportion of potato tubers with vascularper discoloration, of V. from dahliae. at-planting Treatments labeled with different lettersat-harvest are significantly different (Tukey HSD, a=.05).

N.S. indicates no significant differences (ANOVA, a=.05) (September), B. Tuber yield in century weight per acre (CWT/A) and C. Proportion of potato tubers

12

with vascular discoloration, a sign of V. dahliae. Treatments labeled with different letters are July / August 2021 significantly different (Tukey HSD, a=.05). N.S. indicates no significant differences (ANOVA, a=.05)

Potato Country

In 2020, we evaluated different combinations of soil amendments such as poultry manure, pine bark and cattle manure compost, and poultry manure + cattle manure compost with available biocontrol agents such as MeloCon (Purpureocillium lilacinum, CertisUSA) and Double Nickel (Bacillus amyloliquefaciencs, CertisUSA) for PED management.

From our trials, we gathered various results (Fig. 1). First, poultry manure, poultry manure + cattle manure compost + MeloCon, poultry manure + MeloCon, poultry manure + Vydate, Cruiser Maxx, and Vydate kept P. penetrans populations low throughout the season. However, the populations did not significantly differ between treatments (Fig. 1a).

On the contrary, V. dahliae incidence significantly increased from July to August with no treatment effect.

As for yields, we observed an increase of 41 CWT/acre under the poultry manure + cattle manure compost treatment compared to the untreated control (Fig. 1b).

Lastly, after inspecting the tubers for vascular discoloration, caused

by V. dahliae, we found plots treated with poultry manure + cattle manure compost + MeloCon and Cruiser Maxx had significantly reduced proportions of tubers with vascular discoloration compared to the untreated control (Fig. 1c).

Based on our results from this year and previous years, we’ve seen increases in yield when utilizing manures or manurebased compost. Poultry manure kept P. penetrans populations low throughout the season. But as for V. dahliae, we are still looking for management strategies.

To help manage Verticillium, we recommend incorporating a fungicide such as Elatus. Although we observed some nematode reductions under field conditions, research under controlled conditions is required in order to provide a better understanding of the interaction between organic soil amendments and biocontrol agents. The good news is we are working toward it. Stay tuned.

The root lesion nematode Pratylenchus penetrans devastates potatoes and other vegetable crops.

Potato tubers infected with V. dahliae show vascular discoloration.

A potato plant has wilting lower leaves and stems, symptoms of potato early die.

This potato field is healthy and does not show symptoms of potato early die.

A potato field shows symptoms of potato early die, which leads to significant yield losses.

PotatoCountry.com

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Bagging & Packing Essentials Buyers' Guide Chinook Equipment, Inc. www.chinookequipment.com edp Electro-bagger

The new Electro-bagger from edp Australia, model EB-2218-DF, is currently available in stock. The machine has new control features on the touchscreen such as bag counters for each of the two preset programs. Users can adjust machine and belt speeds as well as monitor weight averages. The new model also has pneumatic bag clamps and the ability to do bags or cartons with optional carton holders. A photo eye also can be used when bagging to ensure the belts won’t run without a bag in place.

Kerian Machines www.kerian.com Kerian Speed Sizer

The Kerian Speed Sizer sorts potatoes by size quickly, accurately and gently. The constantly rotating rollers help the turning flaps align the potatoes with the rollers so that both round and long potatoes are consistently sorted by size. The Kerian Speed Sizer is proven in use for reds, russets, round whites and many other varieties of potatoes.

Lockwood Manufacturing www.lockwoodmfg.com

GD-7 Sizer

Lockwood’s GD-7 Sizer allows growers to control the size up to three ranges at a time with near 100 percent accuracy. The VFD controls the speed and production flow needed. The unit includes fingertip controls for ease of operation with minimal greasing points and moving parts for less maintenance. Adjustable legs allow equipment to be stable on uneven ground. The GD-7 includes an 84-inch-wide sizing table, and varieties are sized by diameter, not length. It is easily adjustable. The moving roller design reduces bruising and skimming to help provide the best product possible.

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July / August 2021

Milestone

www.milestone-equipment.com Inline Sizer, AccuSizer

Milestone’s inline sizers and AccuSizers offer gentle and accurate sizing in a compact package. Standard inline sizers are available in numerous configurations and can incorporate the company’s proprietary quick adjust and sizing star for increased sizing accuracy. The AccuSizer has been many growers’ go-to for washed or peeled potatoes for over 30 years. The tried-and-true design, along with robust construction, has earned the AccuSizer a reputation of precise and low-maintenance operation.

Rietveld Equipment

www.rietveldequipment.com PIM Weighing and Bagging Machines

Rietveld Equipment is marketing, selling, installing and servicing PIM weighing and bagging machines. PIM is offering applications for carton-filling and bagging in a range from one-half pound through 50 pounds. PIM utilizes a belt feeding system, intelligent software, self-learning control system and superior sensor technology, which results in more accurate weighing and speeds up to 18 50-pound discharges per minute with a 10-scale machine.

In addition to weighing and bagging machines from PIM, Rietveld Equipment offers full potato washing/grading lines from Allround, dust extraction systems from Meconaf, optical sorters from Protec and packaging machines from Tosca.

Symach

www.symach.nl/en/applications/4/potatoes Symach Rotax Palletizing Head

Symach introduces the Rotax, a new palletizing gripper head design to supplement the company’s existing lineup of machine features. This patent-pending design brings much faster palletizing speeds, enabling additional fillers to be linked to one palletizer, maximizing configuration and flexibility of floor space.

The Rotax palletizing head features a four-way design, allowing bags to be fed in no matter the existing head position, meaning the palletizing bucket doesn’t have to return to the home position to receive the next bag.

Current Symach bag palletizing machines can stack up to 36 bags per minute (bpm); the Rotax head increases that rate to 46 bpm, a 25 percent gain.

Symach designs and builds bag palletizing solutions to suit customers’ needs. The company manufactures everything from pallet dispensers to high-speed wrapping systems, all custom designed to customer requirements.

Volm Companies

www.volmcompanies.com/equipment/vp-baler-3 Volmpack Auto-Baler

Since the first model was introduced 15 years ago, the Volmpack Auto-Baler has become a go-to workhorse in the bulk bagging of consumer potato packs. This fully automated system is tried and true in keeping packing line production flowing, providing a reliable solution to today’s increasing manual labor issues.

What does it do? It packs consumer bags into paper, poly or mesh master bags. It counts the desired number of packages when filling the master and automatically closes using either glue or sewing thread. The Auto-Baler can pack up to 20-pound packages. An optional overhead bypass is available to bypass the baling process and allow operators to send bags directly to bins or to a packing table. Both right- and left-hand versions are available to fit any layout.

PotatoCountry.com

15

Minimize Defects, Maximize Returns

By Jacob Blauer, Washington State University; and Paul Bethke, USDA

“W

hy the deductions to my potato contract?” is not a question you want to ask yourself at the end of the season. Although each potato growing location poses unique challenges, certain foundational tools to minimize defects are useful wherever you grow potatoes.

Start With the Basics

Choose varieties that are mature at harvest and cope well with the pests, pathogens and environmental stresses prevalent in your fields. Varietal selection can improve postharvest quality and maximize your total returns, even though every variety has weaknesses and no variety ensures success.

Guard against varietal weaknesses and promote quality through careful fertility management, integrated pest management, timely irrigation and test digs to track growth and monitor tuber maturity. Comparing annual observations with past histories allows growers and processors to partner on decisions regarding in-field management and strategies for postharvest storage of the crop, all while guarding against stressful conditions that threaten to reduce profitability.

Minimize Environmental Stress to Maximize Yield, Quality

Potatoes prefer cool temperatures – 68 degree Fahrenheit days and 60 degree Fahrenheit nights – and a steady supply of water. Unfortunately, we rarely grow potatoes under such ideal conditions. The varieties we select perform best under local conditions which may be stressful to the crop. The larger the deviation from ideal, the more stressed the plants become and the more their physiology is altered.

Table 1 lists conditions that develop when environmental stress exceeds the stress resistance of a variety. Note that all of these physiological responses are detrimental to processing quality and marketable yield.

Condition

Environmental cause

Mitigation

Sugar end defects

Transient water stress or heat stress

Irrigate as needed to keep soil moisture in the desired range

Misshapen tubers, growth cracks

Interrupted growth resulting from heat stress or water stress, persistent dryness within hills

Regularly inspect irrigation systems to catch defects causing insufficient application of water

Internal brown spot, heat necrosis, chain tubers, secondary tuber formation

High soil temperature

Maintain complete canopy coverage

Dark fried product

Irregular water supply, late-season cold stress or heat stress

Maintain complete canopy coverage

Table 1. Conditions that develop when environmental stress exceeds the stress resistance of a variety. Note that all of these physiological responses are detrimental to processing quality and marketable yield.

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July / August 2021

Minimizing environmental stress is a prerequisite for light-colored, defect-free products such as French fries. Often environmental stress is weather related, but you can’t change the weather, right? Well, to some extent, you can, and you do.

Supplementing rainfall with irrigation minimizes water stress by maintaining soil moisture in the range of 60 to 95 percent of available moisture (Fig. 1). Irrigation also helps to keep the soil cool, which is important for quality. Tubers exposed to warm soil grow slowly, have decreased starch content, will likely be malformed, and their storage potential will be shortened. Warm soil temperatures have also been shown to inhibit postharvest cold-induced sweetening resistance in some varieties.

Healthy potato canopies shade the soil and, especially when the soil is moist, prevent wide fluctuations in soil temperature.

When there are gaps in the canopy, the temperature of exposed soil can increase precipitously on sunny days.

Endeavor to achieve a full canopy through the season. This effort begins at planting with good stand establishment. Deep planting and wide seed spacing are undesirable because they delay canopy closure, although this consideration needs to be balanced against potential for greening and targeted tuber size profile. Blind seed pieces, seed decay and planter skips leave gaps in the canopy which potentially expose part of the crop to high soil temperatures. Equally problematic is the fact that plants adjacent to gaps are effectively planted at a much larger seed spacing. As such, they are more likely to produce oversize tubers than plants with the correct spacing. Efficient spacing will maximize yields while protecting against stress that negatively impacts sugar profiles.

At season end, potatoes are particularly vulnerable to temperature stress once the vines are down. On sunny days, soil temperatures may climb and reach their highest temperatures of the year. At night, especially on clear cool nights, soil temperatures drop precipitously. In cool climates, low temperatures experienced preharvest can initiate cold-induced sweetening and cause product darkening.

Figure 1. This field of irrigated potatoes is suffering from severe water stress. Water was applied to field capacity, but irrigation frequency was insufficient to keep pace with crop demand for water, and leaves began to wilt before the irrigation system returned.

A good way to look at vine-killed potatoes in the field is to look through the lens of a storage manager. Once the vines are gone, the potatoes have now entered their storage period.

When we consider the extraordinary effort we make to carefully control the postharvest storage environment, we can better appreciate how important it is to minimize the pre-harvest storage period with its wide swings in temperature. The goal is to get the potatoes into storage as soon as they are mature. potatoes in the ground longer risks exposure to Leaving temperature extremes, increases disease risk and may result in over-maturity, which contributes to dark-colored fries and sugar end defects.

Harvest Potatoes When They are Mature

Skilled end-of-season crop management can help you gain the most from your economic inputs. One way to do this is to harvest the crop at tuber maturity (Fig. 2). “Tuber maturity” is a single measure that incorporates multiple tuber characteristics to maximize returns.

Beyond marketable yield, sugar profiles are critical to assess the storage potential. When sugar is produced via photosynthesis, some of the sugars are used for growth and

upkeep of the vines. However, during tuber bulking, almost all sugars are transported to the tubers as sucrose to be converted to starch. Specific gravity increases with increasing starch content as a proportion of tuber weight. High specific gravity increases recovery at the factory, and this is why it is so important to processing contracts. Stressful growing conditions and insufficient or poorly timed agronomic inputs, such as fertility or irrigation, contribute to poor starch accumulation.

Generally, tubers are mature when yield and specific gravity are high, sucrose and reducing sugar contents are low and skin set has occurred. Stressful growing conditions and overmaturity can promote postharvest starch breakdown, resulting in accumulation of the reducing sugars glucose and fructose which contribute to dark-colored fried products and acrylamide formation.

While there are many components to a potato contract, knowing historical practices for varieties at your location will help you manage growth patterns to achieve optimal maturity at harvest. This will promote maximum returns for both you and the processor. Remember, the highest yielding potatoes are not always the best choice if they do not have the desired postharvest potential for your market and environment. An integrated view of the production and storage season is needed to achieve full success.

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Figure 2. Growth model illustrates how yield, specific gravity and reducing sugars change at the end of the growing season. Tuber maturity is the average number of days to achieve maximum tuber yield, maximum specific gravity and minimum reducing sugars. (Adapted from Rick Knowles’ data)

trailer, it down on one that will work hard as you?

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17

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

A close look at plants during summer – whether crops, weeds or natives – will reveal a wide range of nondescript crawling and wriggling insects. Here are three examples, the likes of which can be found in potato.

B

Questions: Are these insects pests or beneficials?

If beneficial, what do they eat?

What is each insect?

Answers Page 23

A

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Potato Country

July / August 2021

C

Know Your Potato Diseases

Disease Identification Quiz Dr. Jeff Miller 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

Healthy Dakota Crisp

Healthy Yukon Gold

This installment of the Disease Quiz relates to potato tubers that don’t look well.

In the photos, can you tell what is causing the disease in the infected Dakota Crisp and Yukon Gold tubers?

Do you think the “A” and “B” infections are caused by the same thing?

Answers Page 23 Photos courtesy Dr. Jonathan Whitworth, USDA-ARS

Infected Dakota Crisp - A

Infected Yukon Gold - A

Infected Dakota Crisp - B

Infected Yukon Gold - B

PotatoCountry.com

19

Potatoes USA

Potato University: Helping Operators Succeed Beyond the Menu

By Kendra Keenan, Global Marketing Manager, Foodservice, Potatoes USA

O

ne of the keys to success in a foodservice operation is understanding the importance and benefits of using versatile ingredients across the menu. Chefs know the economic advantages of versatile ingredients and how they help with menu variety. However, operators may, at times, feel burned out when it comes to recipe inspiration or finding new ways to use an ingredient to its fullest potential.

Potatoes, perfect across every menu and daypart, offer various benefits: they are nutrient dense, economic, crave-able and more.

Potatoes USA kicked off 2021 by launching Potato University, a complimentary, online curriculum designed for foodservice professionals interested in exploring new and creative ways to incorporate all types of potatoes on menus. While initially designed for foodservice professionals who are already in the field, anyone interested in learning more about U.S. potatoes can take this self-paced course to gain valuable potato insights.

The first course available at Potato University is Potatoes 101. The course includes 10 modules covering farm-to-fork education on the potato basics, such as U.S. potato growing and harvesting practices, the seven fresh potato types, potato formats (fresh, frozen, dehydrated) and how best to store potatoes. There are also modules on preparation and handling techniques, potato nutrition and current menu trends at foodservice. The knowledge gained from these classes will help operators make the most of using potatoes in their facilities,

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Potato Country

July / August 2021

streamline prep and expand menu variety with minimal effort.

The learning platform encourages friendly competition by awarding points for various interactions to keep students engaged; points can be redeemed for potato gear.

Beyond increasing potato knowledge and earning rewards, foodservice professionals can also complete the course for continuing education (C.E.) hours certified by the American Culinary Federation and Research Chefs Association. With limited opportunities to gather C.E. hours from in-person sessions at trade events, these credits from the top foodservice industry organizations demonstrate the program’s value.

Students come from various areas of the food industry, including volume restaurant chains, restaurant groups, universities, catering, broadline distributors, food contract management companies, culinary school programs, potato industry organizations and retailers. Some of the top organizations registered are Applebee’s, Levy Restaurants, Front Burner Restaurants, Royal Caribbean Group, Hyatt, Sheraton, Aramark, Sysco, Sodexo, Ben E. Keith, Michigan Dining, Oregon State University, Live Oaks Culinary Program and Safeway.

Potato University is promoted to foodservice audiences through several media partners, including FSRmagazine.com, PlateMagazine.com and Restaurant Business online, and shared across social media @Spuds4Chefs Facebook and Instagram. In addition to the promotion on these platforms, we encourage your companies to share Potato University with your foodservice network.

Potatoes USA will continue to develop content that showcases intermediate and advanced level potato techniques

for foodservice operators, such as batch cooking for highvolume operations. Additional courses will highlight specialized topics using subject matter experts, including potatoes on pizza and grilling and smoking potatoes.

New Product

Vive Introduces New Fungicide

AZterknot fungicide from Vive Crop Protection has received approval from the U.S. EPA. AZterknot combines the benefits of biologicals with the performance of chemistry and the ease of Allosperse to provide disease control and plant health benefits, according to Vive.

In potatoes, AZterknot can be used to control black dot, black scurf, silver scurf, early blight, late blight and powdery mildew.

The fungicide contains two active ingredients Reynoutria extract and azoxystrobin - as well as Allosperse, a proprietary nano-polymer technology that allows previously incompatible products to be mixed and applied in one application.

Registered in a broad range of crops for soil and foliar applications, AZterknot will be available this summer.

Visit www.vivecrop.com.

To learn more about Potato University and enroll, visit www.potatouniversity.com.

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21

In the News

Mexico Overturns Ban on Fresh US Potato Imports

The Mexican Supreme Court has ruled unanimously to overturn a 2017 lower court decision that prevented the Mexican federal government from allowing the importation of fresh U.S. potatoes throughout the country. The ruling marks the end of a decade-long legal process that has blocked U.S. potato growers’ access to the Mexican market.

Since first allowing the importation of fresh U.S. potatoes in 2003, Mexico has restricted those potatoes to a 26-kilometer area along the U.S.-Mexico border. That restriction has violated numerous trade agreements. The Mexican government finally agreed to allow U.S. potatoes full access to its market beginning in May 2014. However, the National Confederation of Potato Growers of Mexico (CONPAPA) sued its government, claiming Mexican regulators have no authority to determine if agricultural imports can enter the country.

This new Supreme Court decision rejected CONPAPA’s arguments and affirms that the Mexican government does have authority to issue regulations about the importation of fresh U.S. potatoes.

Mexico is the third largest export market for U.S. potatoes and products, valued at over $270 million in 2020. Mexico is the second largest market for fresh potato exports, accounting for 106,000 metric tons valued at $60 million in 2020, despite being restricted to the 26-kilometer border region. The U.S. potato industry estimates that access to the entire country for fresh U.S. potatoes will provide a market potential of $200 million per year in five years.

Tong Invests in New Facility

Tong Engineering has invested in new powder-coating and shot-blasting systems at its new manufacturing plant in Spilsby, England. The new shotblasting unit uses a powerful technique to clean the surface of metal and create a quality finish to allow for optimum adhesion of paint. The steel preparation process is the first stage of a three-part paint system at Tong, in which metal is first shot blasted, followed by the application of a durable rust-inhibiting primer and then finished with a premium quality topcoat, before it is cured at high temperatures.

The new equipment is designed to increase efficiency in the manufacturing plant and improve paint durability and finish of Tong equipment, according to the company.

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Certis Announces Changes

Certis USA is now operating as Certis Biologicals. In addition to the name change, comes a new logo and new website address (www.certisbio. com), as well as plans to expand the company’s international portfolio. The company announced the changes as it marks its 20th year manufacturing and marketing biological solutions in commercial agriculture and the home and garden markets.

Japan Eliminates Tariff on US Fries

Japan has eliminated its remaining 2.1 percent tariff on U.S. frozen fries as a result of the tariff concessions secured under the U.S.Japan Trade Agreement. Japan also further reduced the tariff on flakes, granules and pellets to 6.6 percent and tariffs on other dehy lines, which now range from 4 to 8.6 percent.

These tariffs will be subject to ongoing annual reductions until fully eliminated over the next seven years.

Japan is the largest market for U.S. frozen fries, with exports valued at $268 million in 2020.

Tariff-free access to Japan for U.S. fries will support the continued growth of exports to the market, according to the Washington State Potato Commission.

Know Your Disease Answers

Know Your Insects Answers (from page 18)

(from page 19)

The infected tubers shown in the “A” and “B” photos were inoculated with Potato virus Y (PVY). The “A” symptoms for both varieties were caused by the N-Wilga (N-Wi) strain of PVY, and the “B” symptoms for both varieties were caused by the NE-11 strain. Different strains of PVY can cause different symptoms on both the leaves and tubers, and symptoms can vary on different varieties. Additionally, environmental conditions can play a role in symptom development.

These photos are an excerpt of a research report by Jonathan Whitworth, Stewart Gray, Jason Ingram and Darren Hall published in the most recent edition of the American Journal of Potato Research (Volume 98, pages 93-103). The article showed the results of 67 varieties being infected with five different strains of PVY. The American Journal of Potato Research is published by the Potato Association of America (PAA). For $100 per year, you can become a member of PAA. One of the many benefits of membership is gaining access to the most recent potato research and helping support the publication of great research like this.

You can join at www.tpaoa.wildapricot.org/join.

Photo A is a hover fly larva, family Syrphidae. These larvae are predatory beneficials, feeding especially on aphids and psyllid nymphs.

Photo B is the larva of a beneficial predatory midge in the family Cecidomyiidae.

This one was found feeding on spider mites; other species concentrate on aphids as prey.

Photo C is sort of a trick question. It is another hover fly larva. But this time, the beast is in a resting position without its head extended in a searching mode as shown in PhotoNOVA-Crate-Ads-Sectagon-v4.pdf A. This specimen also demonstrates that these larvae can vary in coloring 1 6/5/20 4:46 PM depending on the species involved.

C

M

Y

CM

MY

CY

CMY

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PotatoCountry.com

23

Market Report

French Fry Market Cross Currents N

orth American French fry processors have taken conservative positions on their 2021 raw product contracts. In most cases, processing volumes are up from 2020 levels, but not yet back to 2019 volumes. The fryers managed to negotiate 3 percent price reductions in the Pacific Northwest, but reports indicate that contract prices increased by 1 percent to 3 percent in other parts of the U.S. and across Canada. Meanwhile, production costs had increased by at least 7 percent by planting time, though growers may have been able to lock in lower prices on inputs purchased in advance. Prices for competing crops have been soaring.

Demand for French fries appears to be rebounding faster than processors anticipated. Distributors are reporting the largest French fry price increases they have experienced in many years. These cross currents point to major challenges for the 2021-22 processing season, as well as for negotiating 2022 raw product contracts.

Potato Prices

Contract price reductions in the Pacific Northwest highlight the challenges for processing growers when russet table potato prices are low. Grower returns on Idaho table potatoes have been running below production costs since the 2020 harvest wrapped up. Columbia Basin prices have been only marginally better.

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The low prices made many table potato growers hungry for processing contracts, leading to more demand for the contracts than fryers needed to fill their projected usage.

Growers in other parts of the U.S., either where table potato prices were stronger or where there is no competition between table and processing growers, were able to negotiate small price hikes, though the low western prices limited the increases to less than the increased production costs.

To the extent that Canadian growers’ production costs are linked to the U.S. dollar, they made out much better than their U.S. counterparts. Though nominal price increases were similar to those in the U.S., the Canadian dollar appreciated in value by 12.4 percent between April 2020 and April 2021.

Supply and Demand

While information on demand paints a mixed picture, reports indicate that processors are confident enough to boost prices for finished product. By April 30, processors had reduced their finishedproduct inventories to the lowest level on record, relative to usage, for that time of the year. Though processors complain that container shortages have limited offshore movement, exports have been running close to record levels in recent months.

European processors’ business has not returned to pre-pandemic levels, but it appears that most of the European crop surplus has been converted to either biofuel, cattle feed or alcohol. Nevertheless, competition from European product remains a challenge due to limited demand within the European Union.

Fryers might need significant volumes of open potatoes from the 2021 potato crop. They may be hoping to pick up those potatoes at less than contract price; however, that strategy is dependent upon expectations that growers planted more potatoes than they had under contract

and/or that yields will surpass the longterm trend. Official acreage data will not be available until June 30, long after our press deadline, but initial indications on planting are mixed. Growers had a substantial investment in the 2021 crop before contract prices and volumes were established. Smaller growers may not have been able to adjust acreage to come in line with contract volumes because such adjustments would have involved partial fields. On the other hand, prices for competing crops soared ahead of the 2021 planting season, while potato prices were flat to lower. That increased incentives for growers to limit their potato acreage, particularly since they had the opportunity to lock in prices for many of the competing crops.

Future Uncertainty

Expect increased uncertainty in potato markets for the next several months. That will be driven by several questions that go beyond the normal seasonal fluctuations: 1) How fast will global demand rebound to pre-pandemic levels? 2) Have growers planted enough potatoes (both in North America and globally) to cover demand?

3) Will prices for competing crops pull ground away from potato production in 2022?

The global demand outlook is extremely volatile. Between 2003 and 2019, global French fry sales to customers outside of major producing areas grew an average of 5.1 percent per year, reaching a peak of 16.8 billion pounds in 2019. Pandemic-related disruptions resulted in a downturn in trade for the first time on record during the 12 months ending July 31, 2020, a 5.4 percent decline. From August 2020 through January 2021, global trade was running 8.2 percent behind the previous year’s pace. Since Jan. 1, offshore exports from non-EU sources have been running 2.7 percent ahead of last year’s pace.

Complete EU trade data are not available,

but limited information indicates that EU external exports are on a similar trajectory, while EU internal sales remain weak.

As pandemic-related restrictions are lifted in the coming months, we expect French fry sales to rebound to the prepandemic trajectory. That is, global trade for the year ending July 31, 2022, could reach 18 billion to 18.6 billion pounds, up 7 percent to 11 percent, relative to the pre-pandemic peak. Domestic consumption within North America and the EU also can be expected to exceed pre-pandemic levels, though not by as large of a margin. However, it is important to remember that these demand projections are contingent on keeping COVID-19 under control and reopening economies around the globe.

European observers report acreage cuts in the major French fry producing countries this year. North American acreage is up but may not be back to pre-pandemic levels. Those adjustments suggest that the industry will either have to depend on yield increases or pull potatoes from other industry sectors to meet our demand projections for the coming season.

Volatile prices for competing crops complicate the outlook for 2022 processing contracts. Grain futures prices have backed off since peaking in early May. Had those prices continued to rise, processors would have been forced to lock in contracts for 2022 this summer to encourage growers to rent and fumigate ground for the 2022 crop. Grain crops could rebound as the summer progresses.

Growers may need to pay higher rent for the coming year to lock in the ground for the crops that processors need. That could result in early contract settlements for the first time since 2008. Growers will be looking for substantial price increases to cover their costs. Unless they get those increases, growers may be tempted to pass on renting potato ground for the coming year, or they may opt to grow crops that cost less to produce and offer better per-acre returns than current potato contract prices can generate.

By Bruce Huffaker, Publisher North American Potato Market News

HUFFAKER'S HIGHLIGHTS

• Contract prices for 2021 potato crops are out of balance with prices for competing crops.

• Demand for French fries appears to be rebounding faster than processors anticipated.

• Fryers may need to purchase potatoes from the 2021 crop that originally were intended for the table potato market.

• Processing growers should push to settle 2022 potato contracts before they rent and fumigate ground for that crop.

• Competing crops could offer attractive alternatives to potato production in 2022.

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.

Agricultural Consulting & Testing • Soil Testing • Irrigation Scheduling • Feed Analysis • Contract Research • Tissue Testing • Pest Management

• Field Research • Grid Sampling • Variable Rate Fertilization • International Testing • Agronomic and CCA Seminars • Nematode Testing

Contact: Paul Stukenholtz, Consulting Agronomist

Crop Consultants: JP Kruckeberg • Bart Kunz • Cameron Brower Antone Christensen • Wess Gibson • Cody McCoy • Kevin Victor

www.stukenholtz.com 208-734-3050 • 800-759-3050

PO Box 353 • 2924 Addison Ave E. • Twin Falls, ID 83301 PotatoCountry.com

25

Potato Growers of Washington

Quality Counts

By Dale Lathim, Potato Growers of Washington

A

s we approach the midpoint in the 2021 growing season, I feel it is critical to revisit a few key points.

While much of what I will say here will seem like a broken record to many, it is still very important and a message that I feel warrants repeating.

For many years, the profitability of potato contracts required one of two things: either a higher than average yield or better than average quality. When a grower achieved both in the same year, profits were great. However, as time has gone by, and more and more of the risk has been put on the grower and most of the upside from the contracts has been removed, squeaking out a profit has become increasingly difficult.

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Potato Country

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For instance, most contracts now cap the yield at 103 percent of the average volume delivered over the past three crop years for that variety and delivery type.

The 3 percent cap is bad enough, as that only equates to 1 extra ton on a 33-ton average. All of the excess volume above that is not required to be purchased by the processor who contracted the acres, and if it is purchased, it is often at a discounted price. This greatly tempers the opportunity that a grower has to profit from a high yielding crop.

On the flipside, of course, any shortfall in yield is 100 percent on the grower, not only in his/her returns this year, but the lower yield will then be used for the next three years in determining the cap to which future crops will be subject.

Besides having an average yield, the next most important factor is quality. At times like this when we are experiencing near hyperinflation in growing costs, there is a huge temptation for growers to cut corners to make the ridiculously low prices of this year’s contracts a little more profitable. However, all growers must resist this temptation as the cost of even a little hiccup in quality can be devastating.

The average quality bar has risen on most attributes to be close to, if not at, the cap in the incentive scales of the contracts, which presents an even more severe risk to growers than the contract’s yield terms. Remember, if a grower has a higher than average yield, the first 3 percent goes at full contract price. The balance is subject to sale at the going market price, which is usually a percentage of the contract price. With

quality, the price goes down each and every step of the way, and if it gets bad enough, the entire field is subject to rejection. Many growers do not realize that in a typical grower storage Russet Burbank contract, there is more than $115/ton of downside risk that could theoretically happen before any reject point is hit. The upside above the current averages in that same contract is only $11/ton. This is why cutting corners and tempting fate is a huge risk and not something that I believe any grower should attempt.

The other way to make quality pay more is to have more “payable” potatoes.

Having a higher percentage of your potatoes that meet the minimum contract specifications can help offset yield reductions and make the best use of your contract volume. Contract volume is calculated on first net potatoes, so all of the culls that you get next to nothing for count the same as those great potatoes that max out your quality incentives.

Any way you look at it, the better your yield and quality, the better chance you have of making a profit this year. We all know there was a reason that nearly every grower in the Columbia Basin voted “no” on this year’s contracts, and that is that the price was way too low prior to the inflation that has hit in the past few months. We will be doing everything possible in the next few months to get you a much better price for the 2022 crop year. I just want to be sure to remind you to do all that you can to survive this year so that you can take part in what I believe will be a much better 2022 contract.

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Colorado Certified Potato Growers Association “Quality as High as our Mountains” RUSSET VARIETIES: Russet Norkotah S3 Russet Norkotah S8 Rocky Mountain Russet Silverton Russet Rio Grande Russet Canela Russet Mesa Russet Mercury Russet Fortress Russet Crimson King COLORED VARIETIES: Columbine Gold Colorado Rose Rio Colorado Red Luna Purple Majesty Masquerade Mountain Rose Vista Gold

PILERS

2007 Milestone 42” all belt, 230 3ph remote 2000 Wemco 36” all belt, 480 3ph, remote 1995 Spudnik 550 36” 3ph belted Chain, remote 1993 Spudnik 525 30” 3ph, remote, Belt Chain 1992 DL 811 30” BC Elev. 3ph remote 1990 DL 811 30” BC Elev. 3ph Remote 1989 Spudnik 550 30” Belt Chain, 230 V 3ph 1985 DL 813 BC Elev. 30” 3ph 1984 & 85 Spudnik 450 Pilers 36” 3ph all belt Remote 1984 DL 812 36” 3ph all belt Remote DL 36” Over the side arcing Transload Piler

SCOOPERS

1990 Spudnik 100 24” 3ph 1984 Spudnik 100 24” 1ph 1982 Spudnik 100 24” 3ph 1993 Double L 837 24” 3ph 2014 Logan Trac Pro 10’ x 30” belt 3ph 2010 Logan Trac Pro 12’ x 36” Belt 3ph 2002 Spudik 2200 30” Double L 36” x 12’ all belted chain 3ph Double L 832 BC 30” fingers 1984 Spudnik 2200 Belt 30” x 8’ 3ph x 2

CONVEYORS - TELESCOPIC

U P

CONVEYORS - STRAIGHT Double L 809 30” x 38’ 3ph Double L 808 30” x 25’ 3ph Spudnik 1200 30” x 40’ 3ph x 2 Spudnik 1200 24” x 20’ Hopper 3ph

S

SIZER ONLY

1999 Spudnik 925 60” 3ph 230 Volt 1996 Spudnik 925 72” 3ph 480 Volt 1991 Spudnik 910 60” 3ph 480 volt

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DIRT ELIMINATOR W/ SIZER

2011 Mayo 84” DE, Sizer 3ph 2000 Double 878 DE 78” 3ph flip-down 72” sizer 1997 Double 807 Dirt Elim. 62” BC 3ph Stingers 72” Sizer 1994 Milestone 72” Dirt Elim. Sizer, 2 – 24” x 12’ stingers

DIRT ELIMINATOR ONLY

2000 Spudnik 900 60” 230 volt 3ph 1997 DL 807 62” BC with 3 stingers 3ph 1987 Spudnik 60” belt hopper, fingers, BC table 3ph 1984 DL 806 44” BC with 2 stingers 3ph 1986 DL 824 36” BC with 1 stinger 1ph 2014 Spudnik 991 72” Multi Sep /Air Sep 2013 Harriston 4240 Clod Hopper 3ph 2013 Harriston 240 Clod Hopper 3ph 2004 Harriston 3240 Clod Hopper 3ph 1996 Harriston Model 200 Clod Hopper

EVEN FLOWS

BEDS

TRUCKS/TRUCKS & BEDS

2007 Mack 330hp Allison Auto- 5 available 1990 Kenworth W90 Auto L10 Cumm. 182K miles 1995 Ford Areomax Cumm M11-310E, Auto, 1989 IH 4900 DT466, 10 spd

CROSSOVERS/WINDROWERS 2021 Allan 6 row rebuild LH - PEI 2015 Allan 6 row RH - PEI 2006 Allan 6 row LH - PEI 2004 Allan 4 row RH - PEI 2000 Double L 851 4 row LH - ID 1999 Double L 851 4 row RH -ID 1982 Logan 2 row - MT

EN

HARVESTERS

2020 Allan 3 row Electric- PEI 2009 Spudnik 6400 - ID 2007 Double L 853 - ID 2005 Spudnik 6400 bunker - ID 2000 Double L 873 - ID 2001 Spudnik 6400 1996 Double L 853 - ID 1996 Lockwood 4640 4 row - OH 1997 Lockwood 4620 2 row - ID

U Q

2012 Double L 901 20’ elec. /roll tarp Tan 2001 Spudnik 2100 20’ Elec. Roll tarp Red 2001 Double L 802 Bed 22’ PTO only, roll tarp white 2000 Spudnik 2100 Bed 22’ Combo PTO/Elec.

1999 Spudnik 2100 20’ PTO White 1999 Spudnik 2100 24’ PTO Red 1984 Logan SB20 Electric

Grimm 6 row cup 36” w/ Fert.

Allan Press Wheels - PEI 2007 Gruse Bed planter 4 row off set hitch - WA 2004 Spudnik 8060 36” row semi mount - ID 1996 Lockwood 6 row pick mechanical - ID 1995 Kverneland 4 row 3200 – 36” - ID

M O

PLANTER/TARE/PILER

C .

T

M IP

1996 Spudnik 1800 600cwt, 2- 36” belt stingers, Hyd jacks 1996 Double L 860 600 cwt, belt stingers, manual jacks 1993 Spudnik 1800 600cwt stinger hanger, manual jacks 1986 Milestone 90cwt 30”Elev.Auto fill 3ph VFD

E D

2011 Spudnik 1250 36/42 x 65’ 230 V 3ph Shop built 30”/36” x 65’ 480 V 3ph Double L 820 30” x 60’ 3ph Double L 810 30” x 50’ 3ph

Zapata Seed Company Worley Family Farms SLV Research Center San Acacio Seed Salazar Farms Rockey Farms, LLC Pro Seed Price Farms Certified Seed, LLC Palmgren Farms, LLC Martinez Farms La Rue Farms H&H Farms G&G Farms Bothell Seed Allied Potato Colorado Certified Potato Growers Association P. O. Box 267 Monte Vista, CO 81144 ColoradoCertifiedPotatoGrowers.com Lyla@ColoradoCertifiedPotatoGrowers.com (719) 274-5996

ROCK/CLOD/ELIMINATORS

STINGERS

Seed Growers:

SEED CUTTERS

2000 Milestone 60” 230 volt 3ph 400cwt/hr 2000 Better Built 46520 60” 3ph 400cwt/hr 1996 Milestone 48” 1ph 250cwt/hr

TREATERS

Excel SS combo liquid & dust Treater 650cwt/hr 2008 Milestone 42” Duster 650cwt/hr 1998 Milestone 36” Duster 500cwt/hr 1996 Milestone 36” Duster 500cwt/hr

PLANTERS

2013 Spudnik 8069 bed planter 9 units in 6 row pull - ID 2012 Harriston 6 row cup,36”, pull, dry fert, Allan Press wheels. - PEI NOT COMPLETE LIST.

CHECK SPUDEQUIPMENT.COM OR CALL

New Logan 36” Tare Piler 3ph VFD Double L 30” x 30’ Tare piler 1975 Milestone Cutter to Truck piler

WATER DAMMERS

New Logan Yield Pro 6 row 36” Water Dammer 1990 AG Engineering 6 row 36” hyd reset

SHREDDER/VINE BEATERS/ POWER HILLER 1986 Loftness 4 row 36” Steel rollers

MISC.

Scooper belly dump unloader attachment Mayo Scooper belly dump unloader attachment

WAREHOUSE/PACKAGING

Tri Steel felt dryer 60” x 15’ L 4 brushes 26 felt drying rolllers Mayo 60” x 8 ‘ flat table washer, 18- 6” brushes & spray bar Kerian 60” warehouse sizer Ernst 48” warehouse sizer 2- Steel flumes 30” wide by 50’ long 2- Tri Steel 6” flume pumps 1000 gpm 10hp Flat conveyor 36” W x 40’ L 2014 Odenburg model Halo 2000 80” 1000 cwt warehouse Even flow with tilt conveyor Mayo 24” x 53’ Telescopic Van Loader conveyor Mayo 30” Elevating conveyor to Van Loader Kerian 60” sizer Portable Washer with brushes, pumps, holding tank on wheels Rolling table 30” x 11’

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PotatoCountry.com

27

One Lap Around.

Four Pests Go Down. n n n n

Colorado potato beetle Potato psyllid Worms (loopers, armyworms) Thrips

Insecticide applications may target a single pest, but other pests likely reside in your fields. With Delegate® WG insecticide, you can control multiple pests at once, including Colorado potato beetle, potato psyllid, worms (loopers, armyworms) and thrips.

As a member of the spinosyn class of chemistry (IRAC Group 5), Delegate WG controls pests like no other class of chemistry used in potatoes. Yet, Delegate has low impact on populations of key beneficial insects and will not lead to secondary pest outbreaks.

Visit us at corteva.us ™Trademarks of Corteva Agriscience and its affiliated companies.

Always read and follow label directions. ©2021 Corteva

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