Potato Country July/August 2022

PotatoCountry.com • July / August 2022 Western focus. National impact.

Mineral Oils Protecting Against PVY

Advertiser Index Ag World ................ 18 NovaSource ........... 25 Colorado Seed......... 6 R&H ....................... 12 Corteva .................... 3 Skone Irrigation ..... 22 Cray Lockwood ...... 13 SpudEquip.com ..... 20 Ferticell .................... 7 Stukenholtz ............ 23 Greentronics ............ 6 Teleos .................... 27 Koch ...................... 24 The Potato Podcast Sponsored by Montana Seed ....... 11 Miller Chemical ........ 9 Noffsinger ................ 9 TKI ......................... 28 NovaSource ........... 17 Verbruggen ............ 21

New Red Variety Reducing Storage Shrink Global French Fry Trade Rebounds

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

Vol. 38 No. 5

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

Contacts

Country Western focus. National impact.

Table of Contents

July/August 2022 4 PVY Protection Under Overhead Irrigation 8 Researchers to Release Red Variety 12 Dear Potato Family Potatoes USA

14 Bagging & Packing Essentials Buyers' Guide

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

Ben Eborn ........................................................ napmn@napmn.com Market Report

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

Potato Growers of Washington

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.

16 Reducing Storage Shrink 20 Five Minutes With…

Jamey Higham, Idaho Potato Commission President and CEO

22 Global French Fry Trade Rebounds Market Report

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 2022. 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

Becca Rose is a new red variety with white flesh, notable for its consistently round tuber shape and its desirable size profile. Read more on page 8.

Photo courtesy Potato Variety Management Institute (PVMI)

On The Cover The use of mineral oil has been shown to reduce the spread of Potato virus Y. But is the practice effective under overhead irrigation? Researchers are seeing promising results. Read the details on page 4.

Photo courtesy Erik J. Wenninger, University of Idaho 2

Potato Country

July/August 2022

Executive Director

Executive Director

Washington State Potato Commission

Oregon Potato Commission

(509) 765-8845

(503) 239-4763

Departments 10 Disease Quiz 11 Insect Quiz 17 Calendar 24 In the News

Nina Zidack

Jamey Higham

Jim Ehrlich

Montana Seed Potato Certification

Idaho Potato Commission

Colorado Potato Administrative Committee

Director

President/CEO

President/CEO

26 PGW Column 26 Advertiser Index

(406) 994-3150

(208) 334-2350

(719) 852-3322

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.

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®

PVY Protection Under Overhead Irrigation

By Kelie Yoho, University of Idaho

Photos by Erik J. Wenninger, University of Idaho

I

n the United States, there is a prevalent consumer expectation for unrestricted access to high quality produce, and as the most consumed vegetable in the U.S., potatoes are certainly not exempt from this expectancy. A potato’s journey from the field to the plate is difficult and complicated, and it often requires every tool available to farmers to keep their spuds healthy. Sometimes, however, those tools can be quite limited, as is the case with Potato virus Y. Potato virus Y, or PVY, is the most economically devastating virus affecting potato worldwide, causing severe decreases in yield and tuber quality.

Certain strains of the virus cause necrotic rings on the tubers of susceptible potato varieties, making them completely unmarketable.

The disease persists year to year via infected seed tubers, and as such is heavily monitored in seed potato fields during the seed certification process, with very low tolerance for infection.

The stakes are high for seed growers, but managing this disease is not an easy task.

PVY is transmitted from plant to plant by aphids, small insects that use their piercing-sucking mouthparts to feed on plants and, in the process, transmit disease. Insect-vectored diseases are often managed by controlling the insect itself since disease cannot spread in the absence of its vector.

Unfortunately, PVY cannot be successfully managed through insecticides alone. To understand why, we must examine certain aspects of the virus’s biology. To start, PVY is transmitted rapidly by its aphid vectors.

An aphid can acquire PVY from an infected plant, move to a healthy plant, and transmit the virus within minutes, sometimes seconds. Insecticides often take 30 minutes or more to act, giving a

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July/August 2022

viruliferous aphid plenty of time to spread infection.

Further complicating the issue is the sheer number of vectors; PVY can be transmitted by more than 60 aphid

species, though only a handful of those actually feed on potato. The noncolonizing vector species visit potato fields transiently in search of a host plant.

During this search, the aphids exhibit a

Kelie Yoho, a Ph.D. candidate with the University of Idaho, inoculates a potato plant with Potato virus Y using bird cherry-oat aphids. Photo courtesy Tasha Stanzak, University of Idaho

behavior known as probing, where the insects insert their mouthparts shallowly into the plant to “taste” it. If they don’t like what they taste (i.e., if the plant is not a suitable host), they move on to the next plant. Non-colonizing species are unlikely to settle on a single potato plant, and instead move quickly from plant to plant, spreading disease as they go.

For a grower, this has two important implications: first, most of the in-field spread of PVY is probably accomplished by non-colonizing species, and second, these aphids certainly will not be effectively controlled by insecticides, given the relatively small amount of time they spend in the field. In short, growers need more options for PVY management.

Evaluating Mineral Oil Spray Programs

Luckily, researchers have been addressing this problem for decades. One option with great potential is the use of mineral crop oils, which have been shown to reduce the spread of PVY when used consistently. How this works isn’t entirely clear, though the prevailing theory is that the oil interferes with the virus attaching

Yellow buckets are used to attract insects and monitor aphid pressure in the field plot of a University of Idaho research project.

Potato aphids, a colonizing vector of Potato virus Y (PVY), use their piercing-sucking mouthparts to feed on plants and, in the process, transmit disease.

PotatoCountry.com

5

PVY Protection itself to the aphid’s mouthparts.

Mineral oils haven’t been widely adopted in major potato growing areas in the U.S., however. This could be because the limitations of past studies have caused hesitation on the part of experts to recommend this practice to growers. One major limitation is the use of “rain-fed” conditions in many of these studies, a much gentler alternative to the overhead, center pivot style irrigation practiced by many potato growers. The persistence and efficacy of mineral oils under these different, more aggressive conditions needs to be evaluated before recommendations can be given with confidence.

Funded by the Specialty Crop Research Initiative, the Wenninger lab at the University of Idaho is evaluating just that. For several years, we have been growing potatoes under overhead irrigation field conditions and various mineral oil spray programs. Though the research is ongoing and results are preliminary, the trends we have seen thus far are very promising.

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Seed Growers: 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

Lorem ipsum

Weekly oil applications have consistently reduced PVY infection rates compared to untreated controls, both when applied alone and when used in combination with insecticides, while applying only insecticides may actually increase PVY infection rates compared to no treatment.

This bizarre trend may be explained by the effect the insecticides have on beneficial insects, including predators, parasitoids and pollinators, in the field. Beneficial insects are often much more susceptible to insecticides than the pest insects they help control, and their populations are disproportionately affected by applications. Mineral oils, however, are nontoxic and environmentally friendly, which should limit any effects on beneficial insects.

Insecticide-only treatments essentially strip the protection provided by predators without supplementing it.

This is supported by our study, which found that field plots treated with crop oils alone contain beneficial insect communities most similar to untreated controls when species identities and abundances were considered. Plots exposed to insecticides housed less biodiversity and fewer total beneficials.

Since these predators can quickly and effectively dispatch an aphid prior to it spreading PVY, it’s certainly worthwhile to promote the health of these communities.

This study is scheduled to be repeated for several more years with additional mineral oil treatment schedules evaluated. In conjunction with other ongoing projects, we hope not only to evaluate whether these mineral oil treatments are efficacious, but also determine appropriate application timings to maximize PVY protection while minimizing costs to the grower.

At this time, we can say that, for growers utilizing overhead irrigation, mineral crop oils do appear to be an effective tool to add to the arsenal against PVY in potato.

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Potato virus Y (PVY) can cause necrotic rings on tubers of susceptible varieties such as Yukon Gold.

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7

Researchers to Release Red Variety T

he Northwest Potato Variety Development Program (Tri-State) is poised to release a red-skinned variety with white flesh, notable for its consistently round tuber shape and its desirable size profile.

The new variety will be named Becca Rose, in honor of USDA Agricultural Research Service research geneticist and potato breeder Rich Novy’s two daughters, Rebecca (Becca) and Jenna Rose.

The Tri-State program, started in 1985, is a research collaboration involving the University of Idaho, Washington State University, Oregon State University and USDA-ARS scientists in Aberdeen, Idaho, and Prosser, Washington.

“Once a breeding clone is named and released as a variety, then the ownership of that variety is shared within the Tri-State program, currently with a new agreement between the Idaho, Washington and Oregon potato commissions, the USDA-ARS and the three universities,” Novy said, adding that royalties from Tri-State varieties are invested back into Tri-State research programs.

The variety Becca Rose is slated to be officially released by late summer 2022. The cultivar previously had been known by its breeding clone designation, NDA050237B-1R. In 2005, North Dakota State University potato breeder Susie Thompson made the cross for Becca Rose between a pair of unnamed breeding clones and sent an unselected tuber that grew beneath that initial germinated seedling to Novy.

Novy planted the seedling tuber in his 2007 single-hill field evaluations, which include more than 100,000 seedling tubers resulting from hybridizations

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conducted at Aberdeen and another 10,000 to 15,000 seedling tubers planted from other U.S. breeding programs each season. The breeding clone was selected in the field at Aberdeen in 2007 and subsequently retained through many years of field trials across different growing environments.

Researchers and others involved in the program evaluate the tubers grown in the single-hill evaluations and retain only the top 1 percent to 3 percent to plant the next year in the 12-hill trial. With

each subsequent field generation, more breeding clones are eliminated, and larger plots of each breeding clone are planted to allow for broader evaluations across multiple sites to assess performance in different growing environments.

Breeding clone seed is expanded at the University of Idaho’s Tetonia Research and Extension Center through a collaborative effort between Tetonia staff and ARS. Aberdeen breeding clones are then shared with the other Tri-State collaborators for evaluations under their

Rich Novy, a USDA Agricultural Research Service potato breeder in Aberdeen, Idaho, holds Becca Rose tubers. Becca Rose, which is named after Novy's two daughters, should be officially released as a variety later this summer. Photo courtesy John O’Connell, University of Idaho

conditions after six or seven years in the program.

That’s also about the timeframe in which Rhett Spear, a University of Idaho potato variety development specialist, begins management evaluations.

They provide guidance on fertilizer requirements, how each breeding clone grows, row spacing, metribuzin herbicide sensitivity and other key factors.

“We try to get a good idea of management practices for different varieties so if they are released, we can communicate good information to the industry,” Spear said, adding that yield evaluations begin with the 12-hill trials and continue through the Tri-State and Western Regional trials.

It takes between nine and 12 years for a variety to be released. The program typically releases a variety or two each year, and the Tri-State partners are all involved in the decision.

“The main driver of if a variety gets released is if there is a champion for it,” Spear said. “In this case, growers in the Midwest are interested in the yield, color and size profile.”

In collaboration with Michigan State University, Becca Rose has been thoroughly tested in Michigan, where common scab pressure can be high. The variety appears to have good resistance to the bacterial disease. It also has been noted as high yielding with excellent skin color and tuber uniformity and a low incidence of internal defects in Michigan.

In addition to the strong industry interest in Michigan, Brian Charlton with Oregon State University has recognized the variety’s potential for western growers based on his evaluations in Klamath Falls, Oregon.

Becca Rose produces average yields, but a high percentage of tubers are less than 6 ounces in western environments, which is a size profile that can be sold at a premium. In fields in Michigan, however, tuber size is larger, with a higher percentage of A-sized tubers, which the Michigan industry likes. In addition, Becca Rose has proven to retain its shape after baking and boiling. The spud’s brilliant color also doesn’t fade as much in storage compared to other red-skinned varieties.

Sponsored by:

Listen on: ThePotatoPodcast.com

PotatoCountry.com

9

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

During emergence, all your potato plants appeared normal. You didn’t observe any blackleg at that time. As the season progresses and the temperatures increase, however, you begin to notice wilted plants scattered throughout the field (Photo 1). When you look at the base of these plants, you see the stem is dark brown to black near the soil line (Photo 2). When you pull the plant from the ground, the lower stem is black and decayed (Photo 3), but not as slimy as you would expect with typical blackleg. The inside of the stem is hollowed out (Photo 4).

What is causing this problem?

Photo 1: Potato plant showing wilting and dying leaves (photo courtesy Dennis Johnson, Washington State University)

Photo 2: Basal view of wilting plant (photo courtesy Nora Olsen, University of Idaho)

Photo 3: Lower stem of wilting plant (photo courtesy Nora Olsen, University of Idaho)

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Photo 4: Inside of decaying stems (photo courtesy Eugenia Banks, Ontario Potato Board)

Answers Page 24

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

An annual threat for Columbia Basin potatoes, but one that does not commonly reach damaging levels, is the potato tuberworm. Pheromone-baited traps are ideal for monitoring this pest to be sure that populations are not building up during the growing season to levels that will damage the harvested crop. In most parts of the world, the pheromone used to attract tuberworm adult male moths attracts only tuberworm. In the Columbia Basin, however, tuberworm pheromone lures attract several other similar moths. We entomologists have yet to understand why this is the case, nor do we know what plants these other moths feed on.

Below are three common moths trapped with tuberworm pheromone lures in the Columbia Basin. These moths are almost identical in size. One of them is tuberworm. Which one is it?

Answers Page 23

A

B

C

PotatoCountry.com

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Potatoes USA

Dear Potato Family, It has been one heck of a journey.

Potatoes USA’s John Toaspern Reflects on Significant Accomplishments He Witnessed in the Past 23 Years as He Steps Out of the Potato Industry and Into Retirement

I

t is with a great deal of pride, and some sadness, that I write to inform my friends in the potato industry that I have retired from Potatoes USA. My journey with the potato industry started in 1999 when the grower leadership at the National Potato Promotion Board hired me as vice president of international marketing. Then, in 2013, the grower leadership installed me in the newly created chief marketing officer position to bring the domestic marketing, international marketing and industry outreach work under one coordinated effort.

We have accomplished a great deal together in the past 23 years, and I must say that, while certainly frustrating at times,

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it has been an absolute pleasure and I truly loved my job. I already miss working with the great farming families and other wonderful people in the potato industry. The international marketing representatives, agency partners, contractors and potato organization staff are now some of my best friends, and I will always cherish the time we spent together and the excellent work we did. Much of what was accomplished was in partnership with USDA, and I must thank all the dedicated personnel at FAS, APHIS and AMS. The staff on the board have been like family, and I can’t thank them enough for their friendship, hard work and dedication to the board and the industry.

What has been accomplished over these two-plus decades is astounding and certainly can’t all be included here, but I do want to mention some of the significant successes.

International Marketing

• Added Vietnam, Central America, Myanmar, UAE, Saudi Arabia and Cuba to the board’s targets • Added chipping potatoes to the range of products promoted, which is now a major export for the industry • Obtained total USDA export development funding of over $138 million • Added dehydrated potatoes to the U.S. government’s international food assistance programs • Increased export growth by over 100 percent

International Market Access

• Among over 60 impactful market access achievements, here are some highlights: o Fresh access to Taiwan (now the largest fresh market in Asia) o Fresh chipping potato access to Japan and China o Fresh access to Vietnam, the Philippines, Thailand and Myanmar o Seed potato access to Brazil, Uruguay, Guatemala, Morocco and Cuba o Increased access and reduced tariffs under the U.SKorea FTA, U.S.-Central America FTA, USMCA, Vietnam WTO accession and Japan agreement • Gained full access to export fresh potatoes to Mexico, something that has taken my entire 23 years in the industry to achieve and that many thought would never happen. Maintaining this access will not be easy and will require commitment from the whole industry and USDA.

Domestic Marketing

• Added the foodservice and ingredient programs • Developed and then initiated the game-changing potatoes fuel performance marketing program

• Created the culinary program and hired chef RJ Harvey to lead it • Revitalized the nutrition program to connect with nutrition professionals and consumers, conveying proactive messaging • Retooled the issues management program to defend the potato actively and proactively deliver positive messages • Domestic consumption of potatoes has rebounded and is now outpacing production.

Collaborative Efforts

One of the things I am most proud of is how we have been able to bring the potato industry together over this time and focus on obtaining common goals. For instance: • Created the Phytosanitary Initiative to combine efforts of the states and national organizations to gain foreign access for fresh and seed potatoes • Helped bring the processors, QSRs and potato grower organizations to the American Potato Trade Alliance to address access issues for processed products • Founded the Seed Export Taskforce to provide industry input and participation in the seed export program • Held the first-ever meetings with the dehy industry and then further expanded to the annual and now semiannual processor meetings with both frozen and dehy companies and the grower organizations

• Created the Fresh Working Group to bring the fresh shippers together with Potatoes USA to better understand and grow the demand for fresh potatoes I can’t help but think about the things that still can be accomplished, from continuing to expand international demand for and access to U.S. potatoes and products to getting a large portion of the U.S. population to understand that potatoes fuel performance to establishing potatoes as a nutrient-dense vegetable and overcoming the “tater haters” who try to say otherwise. I will miss being a part of these and other efforts to increase the demand for potatoes, but I know that if the industry works together, this and much more will be accomplished.

Thank you all for your support and friendship throughout the years. I hope to stay in touch with as many of you as possible. Rest assured that I will continue to personally promote America’s favorite vegetable.

John Toaspern Potato Ambassador for Life

PotatoCountry.com

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Bagging & Packing Essentials Buyers' Guide Chinook Equipment, Inc. www.chinookequipment.com edp Potato and Onion Bagger

The newest potato and onion bagger from edp, model EB-2218-DF, is the most accurate and highest capacity bagger built by edp Australia. This machine will accommodate most any open-mouth bag on the standard 9-inch bag holder. Most customers in the U.S. use this machine for a range of bags from 20 pounds to 50 pounds.

Also available is the ability to fill cartons or crates with the optional cartonfilling attachments. Speed control of both feed belts, pneumatic bag clamps, batch counters and monitoring of weight averages are among the standard features on the EB-2218-DF.

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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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, LLC www.rietveldequipment.com Upmann Packing Machines

As the U.S. distributor for Upmann packaging machines, Rietveld Equipment is able to bring the planning, design, construction and final assembly of one of the leading manufacturers of weighing and packaging technology in Europe to the U.S. Upmann offers fully automatic filling and sealing machines for net bags, trays, boxes and poly bags. Upmann’s product line offers everything from clippers and baggers to carton-fillers and robotic arms. Using one company to supply the entire packaging line, as well as the design of the line, assures that all aspects of the packing line work together seamlessly.

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

Reducing Storage Shrink

By Victoria Marsh, Regional Agronomist, Tessenderlo Kerley Inc., Crop Vitality

W

hen it comes to producing any crop, yield is of utmost importance, followed closely by quality measurements. When it comes to producing potatoes, yield is measured twice: once from the field and again out of storage.

For many potato producers, a large battle is waged in the storage sheds. This battle is often fought with many different regimens of fungicides and pesticides to protect potato yields. But even with these tools, storage shrink can frequently eclipse a quarter of the yield removed from the field.

There is good news here. Research has found that there is another tool – a preventive one – that can help with reducing storage shrink. This tool involves understanding and working with plant physiology and nutrition.

Use of Calcium

Calcium is a crucial part of cell walls in crops, especially fruiting bodies like potatoes. Calcium forms the “backbone” of the cell wall structure and, when supplied in adequate amounts, calcium leads to higher cell wall strength. Higher cell wall strength means higher resistance to any diseases or harvesting blunders that can lead to a weakened potato that is waiting to be infected with any number of bacterial and fungal pathogens.

Studies have shown that increased cell wall strength from calcium reduces the incidence of hollow heart, blackspot and pink rot, among other storage issues.

Here is the tricky thing about calcium fertility: timing is key. As a grower, simply adding calcium at the start of the growing season will not result in decreased storage losses. Why? It comes down to crop physiology.

Crops have two main transportation vessels: the phloem and xylem. The phloem is mainly responsible for movement of solutes from the leaves to the rest of the plant including the roots.

The xylem is responsible for moving solutes from the roots to the leaves.

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Figure 1. Tessenderlo Kerley Inc. compares its calcium product CaTs (calcium thiosulfate) to the grower standard practice.

Treatment

Application Rate (gal/A)

U.S. #1's ton/ac

Payable Yield ton/ac

Culls ton/ac

Grower Standard

***

19.85

22.76

2.69

CaTs

10

21.93

23.97

1.19

CaTs

10 + 10

23.53

25.00

1.27

Figure 2. Tessenderlo Kerley Inc. compares its calcium product CaTs (calcium thiosulfate) to calcium chloride (CaCl2).

Rate/acre GPA

Yield tons/acre

Storage Shrink % (6 months)

Yield out of Cellar (tons)

CaTs

20

25.79

9.9

23.24

CaTs

10

25.58

13.0

22.25

CaCl2

10

24.40

17.6

20.11

Treatment

Calcium is a nutrient that can only be transported in the xylem. In other words, once it has left the roots, it will not come back down. So, when calcium is applied at the beginning of the season, when the tubers are not ready to take in and keep calcium, multiple studies show that storability is not increased because that calcium leaves the roots before the tuber can utilize it.

Luckily there is a three- to four-week window when the tubers themselves are putting out stolon and tuber roots (photos 1 and 2) to actively seek out and utilize nutrients from the soil to use in the tuber.

This short window is when any calcium that is bio-available will be taken into the tuber and integrated into the cell walls, increasing the tuber’s cell wall strength. In short, this three- to four-week timeframe is when tuber storability can be influenced and changed.

How can a grower identify this stage in the potato crop? Unfortunately, not all potato varieties exhibit the tuber and stolon roots clearly, so a good rule of thumb is to dig in the hill and look for when the tubers are a little smaller than

golf ball sized. This is when growers want to be applying water-soluble and bio-available calcium. If this is done, an increase in storability and a decrease in storage losses can be attained.

Calcium Product Trials

Tessenderlo Kerley Inc. and Crop Vitality have completed many trials using our calcium product called CaTs (calcium thiosulfate) to increase storability and have been extremely successful. Looking at Fig. 1, it is shown that when adding one application of 10 gallons of CaTs in the tuber and stolon root stage, infield culls were reduced by 55 percent compared to the grower standard practice.

When CaTs and calcium chloride (CaCl2) were tested side by side, there is a clear reduction of storage shrink after six months in storage when using CaTs (Fig. 2). The storage losses went from 17.6 percent storage shrink with CaCl2 to only 9.9 percent storage shrink with CaTs, showing a reduction in storage losses by 44 percent.

This message should be encouraging; by working with the crop’s nutritional

needs, growers can naturally increase potato cell wall strength and reduce storage losses. This means less money spent on culls, more potatoes making it to the customer and more money in the grower’s pocket.

Tubers put out stolon and tuber roots to actively seek out and utilize nutrients from the soil.

Calendar July 18-21

Potato Association of America Annual Meeting Missoula, Mont. www.potatoassociation.org

Aug. 1-3

Potatoes USA Summer Meeting

Laguna Beach, Calif.

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

Nov. 2-3

Montana Seed Potato Seminar

Many growers are BREAKING NEW GROUND by maximizing the effectiveness of the proven soil fumigants Sectagon®-42 and Sectagon®-K54.

Holiday Inn Missoula, Mont. www.mtseedpotatoseminar.com

Three factors are driving their success: • Proper soil tilth • Optimal soil moisture well before application • Precision placement of the product

Nov. 16-17

Pacific Northwest Vegetable Association Conference and Trade Show

Consider these variables to increase your return on investment for early season suppression of weeds, diseases and nematodes.

Learn more and watch instructional videos at novasource.com.

Got questions? Let’s talk. Call 800-525-2803.

Three Rivers Convention Center Kennewick, Wash.

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

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

Please send your information 90 days in advance.

WEED CONTROL

DISEASE CONTROL

N E M AT O D E SUPPRESSION

Always read and follow label instructions.

Novasource® and Sectagon® are registered trademarks of Tessenderlo Kerley, Inc. ©2022 Tessenderlo Kerley, Inc. All rights reserved.

Learn more at novasource.com

PotatoCountry.com

17

Benefiting

Event Hosted By:

Held June 14, 2022 in Kennewick, WA & June 16, 2022 in Moses Lake, WA

for your support!

Your generosity will provide over $100,000 to the Ronald McDonald House Charities Inland Northwest

P L A T I N UM S P O N S O R S : $ 3 75 0 +

D I A M O ND S P O N S O R S : $ 2 50 0 +

G O L D S P O N SO R S : $ 1 2 5 0 +

H O L E S P O NSO R S : $ 6 2 5 +

9th Annual Ag World Golf Classic Honoring the Legacy of our Founder Warren Henninger through giving to the House.

Thank You To All Golfers and Contributors!

Together we will give over $100,000 to the Ronald McDonald House Charities H E L D J U N E 1 4, 20 2 2 — C A NY O N L A K E S G OL F C O U R S E

H E L D J U N E 1 6, 20 2 2 — T H E L I N K S

AT

M O SE S P O I N T E

C O N T R I B U T O R S : $ 10 0+ Cindy Alporque, Darren & Pam Burchill, Ellie Charvet, Nick & Kelli Craft, Jerry & Anita Finch, Kate Froese, Garrett & Linda Hoff, Brian & Molly Meiners, Pat & Erin Motschenbacher, Larry & Julie Schaapman, Janet & Jack Snyder, Kathleen & Willard Strunk, Wendi Stark

SAVE THE DATES—2023!

June 6—Canyon Lakes Golf Course in Kennewick, WA June 8—The Links at Moses Pointe in Moses Lake, WA

To God Be The Glory!

Five Minutes With…

Jamey Higham, Idaho Potato Commission President and CEO

J

amey Higham is at the wheel of the Big Idaho Potato Truck and all other marketing efforts at the Idaho Potato Commission (IPC) after taking on the role of IPC president and CEO on Jan. 1. Potato Country checked in with him to find out how his first six months on the job went and to get to know a little more about this Idaho native.

How are things going with your new job?

So far, everything is going pretty well. The longer I’m here, the more I realize that I have to learn. But it’s all starting to make a little more sense to me now.

CROSSOVERS/WINDROWERS

2019 DL 6540 High Capacity 4 row See spudequip.com 2009 Spudnik 6140 RH HYD Shakers 2009 Lockwood 5000 one RH and one LH 2009 Spudnik 6140 2008 Spudnik 6140 2006 Spudnik 6140 2005 Lockwood 5000 2004 Double L 851 RH 3rd coulter 2001 Lockwood 5000 RH 3rd coulter, chopper 2000 Double L 851 LH 3rd coulter 1997 Double L 851 1982 Logan 2 row 2021 Allan 6 row rebuild RH 2015 Allan 6 row LH

HARVESTERS

2018 Double L 7340 High Capacity 2012 Spudnik 6640- See spudequip.com 2012 Lockwood 474H 2011 Double L 973 2010 Lockwood 784H 2009 Spudnik 6400 2010 Double 953 2009 Double L 953 2007 Double L 853 2005 Lockwood 474H 2003 Lockwood 474H 45mm chain 2000 Double L 873 2001 Spudnik 6400 1999 Double L 859 wide 69” 2-row harvester 36” rows 1996 Double L 853 1996 Lockwood 4640 4 row 1997 Lockwood 4620 2 row Grimme SE 75-30 1 row, pintle belts cleaning w/ bunker

For Valentine’s Day this year, we launched a perfume that was inspired by the smell of French fries.

It was called Frites by Idaho. It just went crazy. It was picked up all over the world, and it’s still going.

For example, last week The Kelly Clarkson Show called, and I did a Zoom interview with the guest host, Jay Leno. It was fun. We’re going to be approaching 1 billion impressions by the time we’re done. That’s how we get that Idaho name out there.

That would be a success.

PILERS (CONTINUED)

1998 IH 4900 DT466E 250hp w/Turbo, 10 spd, for 20’ bed 1995 Freightliner FLB COE, cum. / 10 spd for 20’ bed 1993 Freightliner FLA USF-1E Cum./ 9 spd for 20’ bed 1993 Freightliner FLA USF-1E Cum./9 spd for 20’ bed 1985 Freightling FLT Cum./13spd for 20’ bed 1981 AutoCar 350 Cum, 2012 Logan LP22 combo - See spudequip.com

New 2022 Logan Yield Pro 6 row water dammer 2004 Spudnik 9060 cultivator, bed shaper, props 1985 Ag Engineering 4 row 36”

P S

2021 Double L 831 36” 53’ boom 480 volt 3ph, remote, 36mm BC 1998 Double L 831 36” x 49’ boom 240 bolt 3ph, remote, 36mm BC 1995 Spudnik 550 30” x 48’ boom 240 volt 3 phase remote, 36mm BC 1993 Spudnik 525 30” 3ph, remote, Belt Chain 1992 Double L 831 36” x 49’ 3ph 230 volt remote, Electric VFD’s “Refurbished”

SIZER ONLY

2010 Milestone 60” sizing table only w/ acorns quick adjust arms 1995 Spudnik 925 72” 2 tables 3 sizes, 72” cleated belt 230 Volt 3phase 1991 Spudnik 910 60” 3ph 480 volt

STINGERS

I U

Q E

1990 Spudnik 100 24” 3ph 1984 Spudnik 100 24” 1ph 1982 Spudnik 100 24” 3ph 1993 Double L 837 24” 3ph

2015 DL 832 Stinger 36” rollers & Belt chain 2014 Logan Trac Pro 10’ x 30” belt 3ph 2012 Spudnik 2200 10’ x 36” belt 3ph x 2 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

1995 Spudnik 1205 30/36 60’ Hyd. Wheel & steer 1993 STI 30” x 75’ 3ph Tel. Conv.

Tri Steel 30/36 x 60 Tel 3ph 1989 Double L 810 Tel. conv. 30” x 50’ 3ph 1987 Double L 810 30” x 50’ 3ph 1980 Spudnik 24” x 60’ hyd wheel & steer 1 phase

.

P

2002 Milestone 72” DES with 2 belt stingers 2002 Spudnik 72” DE belt elev., rolls, peg belt blower, sizer rolls, picking table 2010 Milestone MSDS 60” DE, Sizer, Clod drums 230 V 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

2010 Milestone 60” 12 finger star table only quick adjust arms 1997 Spudnik 950 72” BC, rolls, peg belt, split picking 480 Volt 1991 Spudnik 900 Eliminator 60” 3ph 1990 Spudnik 950 72” 230 volt 3 phase 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 1986 Spudnik 900 48” 220 V 1ph

ROCK/CLOD/AIR ELIMINATORS

EVEN FLOWS

1998 Milestone 45cwt Homemade 600cwt 230 volt 3 phase 36” elevator

M

PLANTERS

2009 Spudnik 8080 Pull type cup, 36” rear steer 2008 Spudnik 8080 Pull type cup, 36” 2020 Checchi Magli 4 row used but like new 2013 Spudnik 8069 bed planter 9 units in 6 row pull 2012 Harriston 6 row cup,36”, pull, dry fert, Allan Press wheels.

2008 Lockwood 6 row pick planter 6 row 36” x 2 2005 Spudnik 8060 Cup 6 row 36” Semi Mount 2004 Spudnik 8060 Cup 6 row 36” Semi Mount

O C

DIRT ELIMINATOR WITH SIZER

BEDS

SCOOPERS

The high school that my wife and I and my older kids attended is in southeast Idaho in Shelley, and the mascot is a russet potato. I can take it one step further. When we were in high school, my wife was Miss Russet.

Double L 809 30” x 38’ 3ph x 4 Double L 808 30” x 25’ 3ph Spudnik 1200 30” x 40’ 3ph x 4 Spudnik 1200 30” x 30’ 3ph x2 Spudnik 1200 30” x 20’ 1ph 2/ two 24” belt pups 1ph

TRUCKS

2014 Logan LP20 Electric 2004 Ag Bulk Bed 20’ Electric 2003 Double L 901 dual drive, Electric 1999 Double L 902 bed 22’ front/rear drive & combo 1998 Spudnik model 2100 24’ White PTO only 1995 Spudnik 2100 Electric 20’ 1991 Logan 90 series 20’ Electric 1990 Spudnik 2100 Electric 20’ 1989 Double L 801 20’ Electric 1986 Double L 848 18’ electric 1985, 1984, 1983, Logan SB20’ electric

What is something about you that people might find surprising?

CONVEYORS STRAIGHT

1987 Spudnik 550 30” Belt Chain, 230 V 3ph 1985 Spudnik 450 Piler 36” 3ph all belt Remote 1984 Double L 813 220 Volt 1ph

D U

WATER DAMMERS

PILERS

Tell us about one success you’ve had so far.

SEED CUTTERS

1999 Milestone 48” 220 volt 1ph, Hyd adjust, elev. Drive, wheel drive 1991 Milestone 60” 220 Volt 1ph Field Ready 2000 Better Built 46520 60” 3ph

TREATERS

2008 Milestone 42” Duster 2005 Mlestone MSLT36 36” Liquid Treater 2002 Better Built 12” Duster See spudequip. com 1996 Milestone 36” Duster 230 volt 3ph 1991 Better Built CDT10- 8” 220 volt 1ph

PLANTER/TARE/PILER

New Logan 36” Tare Piler 3ph VFD Tare Piler 24” x 25’ cleated belt 230 volt 3 phase Spudnik Seed tube Lockwood L24 1500 All belt Tare piler 3ph

MISC. 2015 Lockwood Air Vac 8, 480 Volt 3ph 2020 Logan Barrel Washer for little potatoes 2013 Harriston 4240 Clod Hopper 3ph 24” x 25’ Flume with drag chain 2011 Harriston 3240 Clod Hopper 3ph Scooper belly dump unloader attachment peg belt blower & Ellis table Mayo Scooper belly dump unloader 2004 Harriston 3240 Clod Hopper 3ph attachment 2000 Harriston 200 Clod Hopper 3ph 480 volt Macro Plastics Model 1212 bins +80 Ellis table 44” x 46” 1998 Harrisiton 200 Clod Hopper 3ph 480 volt Ace 5 bottom Hyd. Reset Plow 6pt finger table NOT COMPLETE LIST - CALL OR CHECK OUR NEW SITE

SPUDEQUIP.COM

BRUCE: (208)390-5120 | BRUCEN@TRISTEELMFG.COM • EVAN: (208)757-8481 | EVANN@TRISTEELMFG.COM • JOSH: (701)340-4554 | JOSHB@TRISTEELMFG.COM

20

Potato Country

July/August 2022

What’s your favorite potato dish?

What’s on your bucket list?

My favorite is probably a baked potato with butter, sour cream, salt and pepper, and a close second is French fries.

I would like to visit South Africa, Australia and New Zealand. And I’d like to play golf on Augusta National.

I’ve been pretty fortune to hit a few [items on my bucket list] already.

Most of them are travel. Lately, Israel and Hong Kong have been a couple of places that I’d always wanted to go that I was able to go to before COVID.

What’s the most unusual or interesting job you’ve had?

I worked for Sen. Steve Symms from Idaho in Washington D.C. on Capitol Hill back in the early ‘90s for a while. I was there at the start of the first Gulf War, and so Washington D.C. was on serious lockdown at that time. It was just an interesting time to be in the nation’s capital.

If Hollywood made a movie about your life, who would you like to see cast as you?

Tony Goldwyn. He was in Scandal.

I’ve been mistaken for him a few times. Otherwise, Ryan Reynolds.

His clever, sarcastic, blunt humor resonates with me.

What advice do you have for growers competing in today’s market?

Our potato growers in Idaho are smart, they’re resourceful, and they are nimble. And so I don’t want to give them advice. But I would say be open to changing how you do things if needed, and just because we’ve always done things one way doesn’t mean that’s the way we need to continue going forward.

Need stacking power?

What would you want to be famous for?

To have my kids have some outstanding accomplishment and be known as their dad.

How do you define success?

I think there are a couple of parts to it. One is being happy with what you’re doing and where you are. The second one comes from setting goals and achieving them or putting forth your best effort to achieve those goals. I think sometimes when you set goals, you stretch yourself and you don’t always reach them, but if you’ve done everything you possibly could, to me, that’s success.

What is your motto or personal mantra?

Work hard, play hard. I think for most people, a challenge is finding a work-life balance. If all you do is work, work, work, things get out of balance in your life. So you need a little bit of fun in there, too. So you work hard and you play hard. I think that gives you better balance in life.

Discover the ultimate potato stacking & palletizing solutions.

Do you need the ability to accumulate boxes with multiple SKUs? Scan the QR to watch our flagship machine VPM-VHV stack pallets at blistering speeds or visit verbruggen-palletizing.com

PotatoCountry.com

21

Market Report

Global French Fry Trade Rebo

M

ajor exporting countries shipped a record 9.216 billion pounds of French fries and other frozen potato products to countries outside of their local trading zones during the year ending Feb. 28, 2022. That is 1.344 billion pounds more than year-earlier shipments, a 17.1 percent increase.

The pandemic disrupted French fry trade beginning in March 2020. During the 12 months that followed (March 2020 – February 2021), global French fry trade plummeted. Sales to external markets fell 1.140 billion pounds, or 12.6 percent, short of year-earlier exports.

In the past year, French fry demand has rebounded across the globe. Record frozen product sales to markets outside of local trading zones exceeded the 2019-20 volume by 204 million pounds, or 2.3 percent, during the year ending Feb. 28.

EU fryers have captured nearly all the post-pandemic sales growth. In contrast, U.S. and Canadian exports remain below pre-pandemic levels.

In this article, we explore global French fry trade by major exporter as well as the trade outlook for the next 12 months.

European External French Fry Exports up 18.2 Percent

European fryers exported a record 6.131 billion pounds of French fries and other frozen potato products to customers outside the EU during the year ending

Feb. 28. Exports to external customers exceeded year-earlier sales by 2.042 billion pounds, an 18.2 percent increase.

They exceeded 2019-20 sales by 309 million pounds, or 5.3 percent.

All but two of the EU’s major external customers increased their purchases of French fries and other frozen product during the year ending Feb. 28. The largest volume increases came in sales to the United Kingdom, Chile and Russia.

Brazil, the third largest importer of EU French fries, reduced its purchases by 2.7 percent relative to the year earlier. The Philippines reduced its imports by 26.8 percent during that timeframe.

EU processors captured 66.5 percent of the global market. That is up from 65.9 percent in 2020-21 and 64.6 percent in 2019-20.

North American French Fry Sales to Offshore Markets up 15.6 Percent

North American fryers shipped 2.367 billion pounds of frozen potato products to offshore markets during the year ending Feb. 28. That exceeded year-earlier shipments by 319 million pounds, a 15.6 percent increase. U.S. frozen product exports increased by 13.7 percent, while Canadian offshore exports climbed 29.5 percent during the year ending Feb. 28. Nevertheless, North American offshore sales fell 157 million pounds, or 6.2 percent, short of the 201920 sales volume.

Japan, the largest customer, took 651 million pounds of product during the period, 70 million pounds, or 12.1 percent, more than year-earlier purchases.

The largest sales growth came in Mexico,

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22

Potato Country

July/August 2022

which increased its purchases by 58.3 percent, to 588 million pounds. Exports to the Philippines rose by 42 million pounds, to 127 million pounds.

In contrast, sales to South Korea and Taiwan fell 16.7 percent and 15.2 percent short of year-earlier exports, respectively.

Frozen product exports to the remaining 75 customers fell 7.4 percent below year-earlier levels. Raw product supply limitations and strong domestic demand have held back export growth this year.

North American fryers captured 22.1 percent of the global market, which is down from 22.8 percent in 2020-21 and 24.3 percent in 2019-20.

French Fry Exports From Argentina, New Zealand, China are Mixed

Argentina exported a record 492 million pounds of French fries during 2021-22. That is 66 million pounds more than year-earlier sales, a 15.6 percent increase. Argentine frozen product exports exceeded the 2019-20 prepandemic sales volume by 14 million pounds, or 3 percent. Argentina’s global market share was 5.4 percent, up from 5.3 percent a year earlier.

New Zealand exported 124 million pounds of French fries during the year ending Feb. 28. That is 7 million pounds less than year-earlier sales, a 5.1 percent decline. New Zealand captured 1.3 percent of the global market during 202122, down from 1.7 percent a year earlier.

China exported 102 million pounds of French fries to customers outside of greater China during the year ending Feb. 28. That is 23 million pounds more than year-earlier sales, a 28.5 percent increase.

Exports have quadrupled in the past two years. China was the only country of the six exporters that we track to expand French fry exports during the pandemic.

China is a minor player in the global French fry export trade, but sales have been growing. China has a 1.1 percent share of the global French fry market.

unds

Will Global French Fry Trade Continue to Grow Over Next 12 Months?

Global French fry exports grew by an average of 6.8 percent per year during the 10 years leading up to the pandemic (2011-2020). Sales have bounced back from 2020-21 levels, though they have not returned to the pre-pandemic growth path. French fry demand appears to be strong around the globe, though limited raw product supplies and transportation challenges have put a damper on export growth. Domestic demand also has been strong both in North America and in the European countries. That has limited the product available for offshore sales.

French fry demand could be the wildcard over the next 12 months. Inflation and economic instability increase the uncertainty for demand.

On the supply side, cold and wet weather delayed planting and crop development for much of the North American potato crop. European growers have faced similar challenges. It is early in the growing season, and the potato crop still has plenty of time to catch up; however, there is the risk that yields could be negatively impacted. North American fryers have been counting on early potatoes to fill their end-of-season supply gap. Those potatoes run the risk of being harvested before they have had time to reach their yield potential. North American processors may be able to recapture some of their lost market share beginning in July, when the new crop becomes available.

Know Your Insects Answers (from page 11)

Photo C is the tuberworm.

For more information on this subject, visit this page of the Northwest Potato Research Consortium’s website: www.nwpotatoresearch.com/item/ insect-trapping-guides.

By Ben Eborn, Publisher, North American Potato Market News

KEY POINTS

• The pandemic disrupted French fry trade beginning in March 2020; however, French fry demand has rebounded across the globe during the past year.

• Major exporting countries shipped a record volume of French fries and other frozen potato products to countries outside of their local trading zones during the year ending Feb. 28, 2022.

• EU fryers have captured nearly all the post-pandemic sales growth, while U.S. and Canadian exports remain below pre-pandemic levels.

• Global French fry demand remains uncertain due to inflation and economic instability.

• North American processors may be able to re-capture some of their lost market share when the new crop becomes available.

Editor’s note: To contact Ben Eborn, or to subscribe to North American Potato Market News (published 48 times per year), write or call: P.O. Box 176, Paris, ID 83261; (208) 525-8397; or email 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

23

In the News

Potatoes USA Elects 2022-23 Leadership

Potatoes USA elected new leadership during its annual meeting this spring, starting with Jason Davenport of Bakersfield, California, as chairman of the board. Davenport is a fifth-generation farmer with Allied Potato Inc. and a six-year member of the Potatoes USA executive committee.

In addition to Davenport, Potatoes USA’s 2022-23 executive committee members include: Jeff Jennings, Camden, North Carolina, Finance and Policy Committee; Leah Halverson, Grand Forks, North Dakota, Industry Outreach Committee; Shelley Olsen, Othello, Washington, Industry Outreach Committee; Jared Smith, Alamosa, Colorado, International Marketing Committee; Mike Carter, Rosholt, Wisconsin, International Marketing Committee; Steve Elfering, Idaho Falls, Idaho, Domestic Marketing Committee; Travis Meacham, Moses Lake, Washington, Domestic Marketing Committee; Mike Larsen, Declo, Idaho, Research Committee; Jennifer Gogan, Houlton, Maine, Research Committee; and Jaren Raybould, Saint Anthony, Idaho, past chair.

Know Your Disease Answers (from page 10)

PREMIUM FERTILIZER U N S U R PA S S E D Q UA LI TY • E F F IC IE N C Y • P RO T E C T ION

Learn more at UnsurpassedEfficiency.com SUPERU® and the SUPERU logo are trademarks of Koch Agronomic Services, LLC. The Koch logo is a trademark of Koch Industries, Inc. © 2022 Koch Agronomic Services, LLC.

24

Potato Country

July/August 2022

The photos show symptoms of Dickeya dianthicola.

Dickeya is a relative of the traditional blackleg pathogen Pectobacterium. The type of blackleg caused by Dickeya differs from the traditional Pectobacteriumcaused blackleg. Dickeya has an optimal temperature of 77 degrees Fahrenheit (25 degrees Celsius), which is higher than Pectobacterium. As a result, Dickeya blackleg shows up relatively later in the growing season when the soil has warmed up, as opposed to earlier when soil temperatures are cooler. With Dickeya, stems may be green or brown and decay from the inside-out, resulting in hollow stems. Pectobacterium blackleg decays from the outside-in and creates a slimier, smellier decay.

Come and join the Potato Association of America at the annual meeting in Missoula, Montana, on July 18-21, 2022. The meeting is a great opportunity to learn about the latest potato research.

Information about the meeting can be found at www.paaevents.org.

Black Gold Farms Adds COO

An internal shift of roles has allowed Black Gold Farms to add a chief operating officer (COO) to its executive team.

The North Dakota company selected Mark Knight for the position. Knight was raised on a potato farm in the Columbia Basin of Washington and spent nearly 23 years at AgReserves, where he held divisional leadership responsibilities as human resources director, vice president of international operations and general manager of AgriNorthwest.

Lender Predicts Profitable Returns

Northwest Farm Credit Services’ 12-month profitability outlook suggests profitable returns for potato producers. According to the lender’s quarterly Market Snapshot report released in April, remaining potatoes in storage are in short supply, and there are concerns that inventories may be depleted before the new crop is available. In addition to short inventories, other factors in the lender’s projections include rising input costs and challenges related to the availability of water and trucking.

US Ships Spuds South The U.S. has begun exporting potatoes into Mexico beyond the 26-kilometer border zone that previously marked the limit of their export. This comes after the two countries reached an agreement late last year to expand market access for U.S. potatoes following more than 25 years of disputes and legal obstructions.

The U.S. potato industry estimates that access for U.S. fresh potatoes to all of Mexico will provide a market potential of $250 million per year, in five years. This is an increase of $190 million from the current export value of $60 million.

Many growers are BREAKING NEW GROUND by maximizing the effectiveness of the proven soil fumigants Sectagon®-42 and Sectagon®-K54.

Three factors are driving their success: • Proper soil tilth • Optimal soil moisture well before application • Precision placement of the product Consider these variables to increase your return on investment for early season suppression of weeds, diseases and nematodes.

Learn more and watch instructional videos at novasource.com.

Got questions? Let’s talk. Call 800-525-2803.

WEED CONTROL

DISEASE CONTROL

N E M AT O D E SUPPRESSION

Always read and follow label instructions.

Novasource® and Sectagon® are registered trademarks of Tessenderlo Kerley, Inc. ©2022 Tessenderlo Kerley, Inc. All rights reserved.

Learn more at novasource.com

PotatoCountry.com

25

Potato Growers of Washington

High Costs, Short Supply

By Dale Lathim, Potato Growers of Washington

H

yperinflation is never a good thing when you are a price-taker like all farmers are. Most growers fully understand and accept that costs are rising on most, if not all, of their inputs. However, there are some indirect added costs that are sneaking up on growers farming on rented land.

This is not a totally new phenomenon, but in the past, it was not a big enough deal to really call attention to it. The situation involves the fertility levels of the land being rented.

Tenant farmers often only have control of a piece of land the year in which it is in potatoes. In between potato crops, other growers farm rotation crops on the land, and some do a better job than others in keeping up the fertility. Now that fertilizer prices have more than doubled in the past 12 months, we are hearing from fertilizer suppliers that many of the growers who are raising the rotation crops are opting to roll the dice and put on very little, if any, phosphorus, potassium or micronutrients.

We started to see a little of this last year as prices were on their way up. Growers who have leased some of these fields for potatoes this year are getting stuck with having to put hundreds of pounds of some elements on fields, and overall fertility costs will exceed $1,400 per acre this year for their potato crop.

This is between $500 and $600 per acre more than the average field in the Columbia Basin that has had the fertility properly managed.

Potato growers on leased land already have an uphill battle financially because of the high rent that many have had to pay this year and, in many cases, because of the need to spread out further or accept lesser quality fields due to the lack of available land for lease. Tacking on an additional $500+ to those costs makes an already thin margin even thinner.

To compensate for the mining of the nutrients by the rotation crops, some growers are opting to rent as much ground as possible on longer-term leases. Even getting the land on a two-year lease and starting to restore the fertility the year prior to potatoes makes a lot more agronomic sense than taking everything to near zero and then trying to fully reload it in the current crop year.

Others are trying to tie the rental price they pay for the ground to the fertility levels to give the landowners an incentive to keep the fertility levels up and stable. However, in years like this when rental land is hard to come by, potato growers have very little leverage, and it comes down to a decision of taking the chances and the financial hit on the low fertility or not growing those contracted acres.

I am focusing this discussion on leased land as I am assuming that growers who own their land are properly maintaining fertility levels each year. This is something that we as an industry need to keep in mind and address going forward.

Currently, potato farmers still rent close to 20 percent of the land 26

Potato Country

July/August 2022

to grow potatoes on short-term leases.

Grown on rented land or not, this year’s crop is obviously getting off to a slow start because of our cool, wet spring. I am sure that most of you have seen that April was the second coolest April on record for the entire state of Washington.

Focusing more closely on the Columbia Basin, April set a record for the Tri-Cities for being the first April that had an average daily temperature that was colder than the preceding month of March. Add in the fact that it was one of the top five months of April in history for precipitation, and the cold, wet soil was not conducive to rapid growth and development. As I write this in the middle of May, I believe that crop development is at least 10 days behind. This is obviously a big concern to growers in the region. But looking at the big picture, this has to be a huge concern to the entire industry.

We are coming off a very short 2021 potato crop in terms of yield and quality for the western half of North America where the majority of the frozen potato processing takes place. The short crop coupled with labor and logistics issues has resulted in the pipeline to supply the worldwide network of restaurants with frozen potato products at an all-time low in relation to consumption.

The western half of North America which had the shorter, lower quality crop is off to at least as slow of a start as we are in the Basin. Without perfect weather between now and the end of the storage harvest, there are not nearly enough contracted acres of potatoes to begin to refill the pipeline. Based on today’s outlook, we will be doing well just to maintain the current supply levels and do very little inventory rebuilding.

So, buckle up, everyone. This is going to be a wild and bumpy ride through 2022.

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Calcium When you need it Where you need it

More on CaTs®and how it can work for your Potatoes An adequate calcium supply: • Soluble calcium and sulfur • Reduces sodium in the soil • Nitrogen stabilizer • Improves water infiltration ©2022 Tessenderlo Kerley, Inc. All rights reserved. CaTs® is a registered trademark of Tessenderlo Kerley, Inc.