2021 Tri Steel Web Belt Sizer 48” x 7’ w 24” cross
2002 Spudnik 925 60” 230 Volt 3ph
1995 Spudnik 925 72” Acorns 480 volt 3ph
Kerian 60”W x 10’ L, 4 adjustable lanes 1” to 4.5”, rib rolls
ROCK/CLOD/AIR ELIMINATORS
DIRT ELIMINAOR WITH & WITHOUT SIZER
2014 Spudnik 990 Multi Sep Dirt Elim 72” 480 volt 3ph
2012 Spudnik 990 Multi Sep Dirt Elim 72” 480 volt 3ph
2011 Spudnik 96”
dirt & sizing, split picking Cross out conv.
2006 Spudnik 995 72”Finger rollers, ellis table, Belt Chain table 230 Volt 3phase
Two Devastating Diseases. One Right Decision.
Endura® PRO fungicide delivers enhanced yield performance for potato growers
Each growing season, potato growers face the threat of devastating diseases such as early blight and white mold. If left unchecked, early blight can reduce yields by as much as 20%1, while white mold can cause losses of up to 50%2. To make matters worse, tried-and-true disease control methods are becoming less effective due to increased resistance. That's why growers need reliable new solutions to protect their crop and help maximize yield. Enter Endura® PRO fungicide.
Endura PRO fungicide is a powerful new weapon in the fight against early blight, white mold and other key diseases of potatoes. Engineered exclusively for potato growers, this new solution combines two proven active ingredients for long-lasting control.
Endura PRO fungicide brings together the trusted effectiveness of boscalid, the active ingredient in Endura fungicide, with the power of Revysol® fungicide,” said Erick Garcia, product manager at BASF Agricultural Solutions. “This combination not only provides enhanced yield performance but also provides growers with an additional tool to help manage resistance.”
Boscalid and Revysol fungicide are two active ingredients that are already known for their powerful early blight and white mold control, respectively.
The results are clear. Multi-year field trials conducted across six key potato-growing states have shown that Endura PRO fungicide provides superior residual control for long-lasting protection and measurable yield results.
What stands out about Endura PRO fungicide is its consistent performance across years of research,” said Curtis Rainbolt, BASF technical service representative. “The proof is in the numbers: in more than 70% of our trials, Endura PRO fungicide delivered enhanced yield performance versus the competition3.”
Endura PRO fungicide is now available for purchase for the 2025 crop year. To learn more, visit agriculture.basf.us or contact your local BASF representative.
1 Wharton, Phillip and Wood, Elisabeth (2013). Early blight biology and control in potatoes. University of Idaho Extension.
2 Wharton, Phillip and Wood, Elisabeth (2013). White mold of potatoes. University of Idaho Extension.
3 BASF Sponsored Trials from six site locations ID (4), WA (2) over 2 years (2022–2023).
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CALENDAR
MARCH 30-APRIL 1
SNAXPO
Orange County Convention Center Orlando, Florida www.snaxpo.com
APRIL 1-3
63rd WPS Farm Show
Experimental Aircraft Association Grounds Oshkosh, Wisconsin
The Culinary Institute of Canada Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island, Canada https://potatosustainability.org/
JULY 27-31
Potato Association Of America Annual Meeting
Madison, Wisconsin Potatoassociation.org
AUGUST 3-6
Soil & Water Conservation Society Annual Conference
Hilton Orange County Costa Mesa, California www.swcs.org/events
AUGUST 27-29
Idaho Grower Shippers Association Annual Convention
Sun Valley Resort
Sun Valley, Idaho www.idahoshippers.org
SEPTEMBER 9-11
Husker Harvest Days
Grand Island, Nebraska huskerharvestdays.com
NOVEMBER 19-21
Montana Agritourism Conference
Montana State University Bozeman, Montana www.montanaagritourism.com/events-2-1
JANUARY 6-8, 2026
National Potato Expo
Gaylord Texan
Dallas, Texas www.nationalpotatocouncil.org
JANUARY 21-22, 2026
Idaho Potato Conference
Idaho State University Pocatello, Idaho idahopotatoconference.com
THE EYES HAVE IT
Lane Lindstrom, Editor
Keeping Potatoes Front And Center
EFFORTS ARE WIDESPREAD TO SPREAD THE WORD
Two years ago in my column (“Getting The Good Word About Potatoes Out,” Potato Grower Magazine, April 2023, pages 8-9) I wrote about various potato commissions’ across the United States efforts to get the word out about potatoes.
These potato commissions are expending tremendous amounts of time, energy and, yes, money, to tout all things potatoes, from the versatility of the vegetable to the nutrition benefits to their importance in the food supply and more. And these commissions are using extremely creative methods to do so.
Of course, there are other entities also spreading the word (mostly good, but not always) outside of official potato channels. One such effort I came across comes from the New Hampshire Fisher Cats, a Double A
baseball team on the East Coast. You can read about the team’s Space Potatoes campaign in the Around The Vine section in this issue. If I were anywhere in the neighborhood during one of that team’s three games where the Space Potatoes would be in the spotlight, I would definitely go to that game.
On a side note, it was while reading about the Space Potatoes campaign that I learned that the first permanent potato fields in the U.S. were planted by Scotch-Irish immigrants near Londonderry, NH (located just south of Manchester), in 1719. I did not know that.
In another example of potato awareness, you might remember that the University of Idaho (the land grant university in Idaho) and Idaho State University football
Potato State Trophy is a traveling trophy that goes to the winner of the University of Idaho-Idaho State University football game.
Spuddy Buddy mingles with some kids who are getting ready for the potato sack race during a break in the Famous Idaho Potato Bowl.
teams play for the Potato State Trophy, a traveling rivalry trophy awarded to the winner of the annual football game between the two schools. The 2024 game was won by the U of I.
A handful of the state potato commissions continue to focus their marketing emphasis on various sports from college football to baseball to hockey to marathons to biking. Past efforts have included sponsoring a race car (Wisconsin).
As I pointed out in my column a couple of years ago, the Idaho Potato Commission, Oregon Potato Commission, Wisconsin Potato and Vegetable Growers Association (WPVGA) and Northland Potato Growers Association have sponsored college football games and, in the case of Oregon, an athletics program.
These sponsorships create potato awareness for hundreds of thousands of people across the country, not just in the state where a football (or baseball or hockey) game might be taking place.
For example, on the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point football webpage, there’s a whole section that talks about potato production in Wisconsin. How much is that worth when it comes to marketing potatoes? The WPVGA logo is prominently displayed on the webpage. Part of the message on the page talking about the Spud Bowl, held annually at UW-Stevens Point, reads, “For 37 years, the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point, in conjunction with over 50 local businesses, has celebrated the Central Wisconsin
agriculture industry by raising awareness about the importance of agriculture locally and funding scholarships for students from the area.”
Likewise, Potato Bowl USA, hosted by the University of North Dakota and sponsored in part by Northland Potato, is a multi-day event where potatoes are front and center in many of the activities preceding the actual game. One of the highlights, of course, is the French fry feed.
A PPLY S ONALAN HFP AND E PTAM 7E TO CONTROL ANNUAL GRASSES , PIGWEEDS , KOCHIA , NIGHTSHADES , NUTSEDGE , AND MANY MORE . G IVE YOUR POTATOES THE BEST OPPORTUNITY TO THRIVE . F EWER WEEDS MEAN IMPROVED YIELD POTENTIAL .
Famous Idaho Potato Bowl trophy
NEW PRODUCTS
New Holland’s Next-Gen Power Star Series Tractors Offer Powerful Utility Inside And Out
For decades, New Holland’s PowerStar Series tractors have been synonymous with power, utility and comfort. The next generation is no exception, offering powerful utility along with sleek new styling outside, greater comfort inside and a wide array of productivity-enhancing features across all four PowerStar models — the 90, 100, 110 and 120.
Power is important for a utility tractor and, as the name implies, the PowerStar Series delivers. Underneath the new hood is a powerful, fuel-efficient FPT Industrial 3.6-liter four-cylinder engine featured in all four models.
This lineup complies with Stage V emissions standards, which reduces particulate matter by 40 percent compared to Tier 4B. Along with a 3.4-gallon (13-liter) DEF tank, these tractors utilize Compact HI-eSCR 2 technology, resulting in higher torque, an increase of up to five horsepower and greater efficiency. For maximum visibility and compact dimensions, which are critical during loader work, the Compact HI-eSCR 2 is neatly concealed under the tractor’s hood while a new U-shaped exhaust also has been incorporated. Combining this feature with a larger fuel tank and long 600-hour service intervals that maximize uptime, operators will find powerful operational advantages.
While a 12x12 transmission with a column-mounted electronic power shuttle is available on the three largest models (the 100, 110 and 120), operators can gain an advantage in their day with the proven 24x24 Dual Command transmission available as an option on all four models. The Dual Command transmission features the same electronic power shuttle but provides a Hi-Lo speed in each of the four gears.
For added convenience, the PowerClutch button that’s placed on the back of the handle lets operators shift the gearshift lever without having to use the clutch pedal.
On 12x12 and 24x24 Dual Command transmission models, a new feature, Dynamic Start-Stop or “brake-toclutch,” is included to help reduce operator fatigue during jobs that require frequent stops, like round baling. When activated, operators will simply need to press the brake
pedal to stop the tractor and then release it to start driving again.
Another set of novel options designed specifically for the PowerStar Series are all-new, factory-installed LU Series front loaders. These loaders offer more lifting capacity, greater lifting height, faster cycle times, improved visibility, easier coupling and refined control.
To lift productivity, a new joystick is available on Dual Command models. This joystick provides control of more than just the loader, housing buttons to shuttle, shift between Hi and Lo and toggle between preset engine speeds. By enabling the ability to simultaneously lift and shuttle with the same hand during repetitive motions, operators can boost their efficiency.
Along with a new air suspension seat, a new digital instrument cluster provides greater insight into operating parameters and settings. Directly overhead a new superhigh visibility panel offers outstanding visibility when the loader is raised to full height, such as when stacking bales. For unsurpassed ride smoothness, Comfort Ride cab suspension can be added to Dual Command models for a 25 percent reduction in shock loads that can reach the operator.
For more information, visit https://agriculture. newholland.com/en-us/nar.
The Propane Education & Research Council (PERC) has announced a powerful, eco-friendly solution for soil disinfection with the revolutionary propane-powered soil steamer.
CONTROL DISEASE
New Innliven™ Elite and Omavo™ Elite fungicides bring powerful disease control to your potato field. With control of major potato diseases like early blight and white mold, you have more options than ever for effective disease management.
For more information on Innliven Elite and Omavo Elite, scan the QR code.
Contact your local SGS Crop Advisor
NEW PRODUCTS
This groundbreaking technology is designed to address one of farmers’ biggest challenges in modern agriculture: how to effectively eliminate weeds, soilborne pathogens, and nematodes without relying on chemical pesticides.
The soil steamer’s banded steam design targets the top one-to-two inches of soil, the critical zone where weed seeds germinate, providing an 80 percent weed control rate for both conventional and organic crops. The innovative propane-powered system cuts weeding labor costs in half, increases yields, and reduces the dependency on harmful fumigants and herbicides.
The soil steamer offers a host of advantages for agricultural producers, including:
• Increased Yield and Profitability: By controlling disease pressure, the soil steamer increases the size of crops such as lettuce and carrots and enables shorter crop rotation intervals, allowing for more frequent planting of high-value fruits and vegetables.
• Environmental Sustainability: Farmers can significantly reduce the use of pesticides and herbicides, protecting soil health and meeting organic certification standards.
• Labor Efficiency: The technology provides a 73 percent reduction in weeding time compared to traditional herbicides, offering substantial labor savings.
Recent studies demonstrate that the propane-powered soil steamer manages 90 to 95 percent of annual weeds, such as purslane and pigweed, and controls major soilborne diseases, including fusarium, pythium, and verticillium.
For more information, visit propane.com/ soilsteamer.
TIPA Unveils Advanced Home Compostable Metalized High-Barrier Film For Snack Packaging
TIPA is launching an advanced home compostable metalized high-barrier film. The solution addresses critical challenges in eco-conscious packaging for chips and salty snacks, offering enhanced functionality and durability in a biodegradable solution.
This launch coincides with a growing demand for sustainable snack packaging, as the global market is due to grow at a rate higher than 5 percent in the next five years.
The 312MET Premium film is a lightweight, ultra-thin metalized solution designed for high barrier protection
against salt, oil and moisture — common challenges for snack packaging. These barrier properties eliminate the need for an additional sealing layer, making it highly efficient for converting and versatile for various applications.
This film is available globally for purchase in reels, and when paired with cellulose or paper layers, it makes one of the market’s thinnest 2-ply home compostable solutions for chips and snacks.
Suitable for packaging chips, snacks, granola bars, grains, coffee and tea, the film offers exceptional freshness and extended shelf life while maintaining an eco-friendly end-of-life.
This move underscores TIPA’s commitment to solving the growing plastic waste crisis. With chips packaging making up a significant portion of non-recycled waste, TIPA’s solution aims to pave the way for brands to shift toward a truly circular and environmentally responsible packaging option.
For more information, visit https://tipa-corp.com.
Kugler Introduces K-CARB ProStart
Kugler Company has announced the launch of K-CARB ProStart, an innovative high ortho, low-salt starter designed to give crops the strongest possible start to the growing season.
This all-in-one in-furrow application includes a micro nutrient package with fulvic that promotes soil health and maximizing early growth potential.
K-CARB ProStart delivers a balanced micro nutrient package while incorporating fulvic for effective carbon management, ensuring optimal nutrient uptake and soil vitality. Its low-salt formulation makes it a soil-friendly solution without compromising the essential nutrients plants need. In addition, it can be used as a foliar application that combines a robust NPK nutrient package with micros and fulvic.
Key Advantages of K-CARB ProStart
• Complete Nutrient Package – Supplies vital micro nutrients for robust early plant development.
• Carbon Management – Features fulvic to enhance soil health and nutrient absorption.
• High Ortho, Low-Salt Formula – Gentle on the soil while maintaining maximum effectiveness.
• One-Pass Application – Designed for efficiency, allowing farmers to apply everything in a single pass at planting.
For more information, visit www.kuglercompany.com.
Case IH Upgrades Performance, Comfort With New
Farmall C Models
Case IH is introducing the latest iteration of the Farmall C series tractor, building upon the legacy of the popular Farmall tractor while elevating performance, comfort and power.
The upsized Farmall C tractor series is purposefully designed to meet the varied needs of farmers, ranchers and rural communities across the country.
The new Farmall C lineup offers a 12-speed PowerShuttle and 24-speed Hi-Lo transmission, catering to varied operational needs, while offering factoryinstalled technology to drive on-farm efficiencies.
In addition, operators can complete a wider range of farm operations and efficiently streamline workflows with the Farmall C’s larger, reinforced front axle, boosted hydraulic flow, heavier gross vehicle weight and increased rear lift capacity.
The Farmall C tractor series is available in two transmission options: the 12-speed PowerShuttle transmission and the 24-speed Hi-Lo transmission. The 24-speed Hi-Lo transmission offers a new cab suspension for a smooth ride and increased comfort; an auto PTO function to automatically engage and disengage the PTO, providing seamless headland management; and an advanced loader joystick to simultaneously lift and shuttle control for fast material handling with an engine speed memory button.
The 12-speed PowerShuttle transmission – available for Farmall 100C, 110C and 120C – and the 24-speed Hi-Lo transmission option – available for Farmall 90C, 100C, 110C and 120C – comes with fully integrated base telematics to geo-locate the tractor and monitor the machine for service.
For more information, visit www. caseih.com.
AROUND THE VINE
Potato Sustainability Alliance Summer Symposium
The Potato Sustainability Alliance Summer Symposium will be held on Prince Edward Island July 15-17.
The organization is working with PSA members Cavendish Farms and The Little Potato Company to host the event. Much of the symposium, outside of potato industry tours, will take place at The Culinary Institute of Canada in Charlottetown.
For more information, visit https://potatosustainability.org/
NoKota Packers Celebrates 45TH Anniversary, Launch Of New Logo in 2025
NoKota Packers announced the celebration of the company’s 45th anniversary as it closed out a successful year and the official launch of a new logo on January 1, 2025.
Founded in 1979, NoKota Packers shipped 220,000 hundred weight of potatoes and employed 18 employees in their first season. Forty-five years later, the company has more than doubled in size – working with nine different growing operations, shipping over 600,000 hundred weight of potatoes
“For 45 years, we have been known to provide the best spuds in our area. We decided that celebrating this important milestone is the right time to reveal a new logo that reflects the new ownership and the advancements NoKota Packers has made,” noted Carissa Olsen, president and CEO of NoKota Packers. “We simplified the look and added Buxton, ND, to honor our location in the Red River Valley. The maroon/ red color honors the tradition of our red potatoes, the green signifies the plant and sustainability, and the updated font gives it a modern look and feel.”
Last year was a pivotal year for NoKota Packers, as the company completed significant projects, allowing it to produce more finished products each day while expanding its capacity for improved efficiencies, grower opportunities and profits. The projects include updating a 20-year-old packaging line, adding a robotic stacker to the end of the two main packing lines and updating the optical sorter on the wash line.
To continue growing and maintaining a supply of quality potatoes, NoKota plans to invest in technology and automation while exploring opportunities for possible expansion in the future.
For more information, visit nokotapackers. com and freshsolutionsnet.com/who-we-are/nokota-packers/.
— Northland Potato Growers Association
Chuck Broughton Appointed Head Of North America At Rovensa Next
Rovensa Next, the global biosolutions business unit of Rovensa Group, is strengthening its North American leadership with the appointment of Chuck Broughton as head of North America.
With over 35 years of experience in agriculture, Broughton brings proven expertise in commercial strategy and business growth from leading roles at Pivot Bio, DuPont and Novozymes. His ability to drive performance, build strong industry partnerships, and implement innovative market strategies make him a key addition to Rovensa Next’s leadership team.
As head of North America, Broughton will focus on expanding Rovensa Next’s presence, deepening partnerships with growers and distributors, and enhancing product accessibility. His goal is to equip farmers with cutting-edge biosolutions that improve productivity while maintaining long-term land health.
Broughton will also play a key role in aligning product innovation and regulatory processes with market needs, ensuring Rovensa Next continues to drive industry advancements and revenue growth.
IPC’s French Fry Lip Balm Sells Out Quickly
The Idaho Potato Commission’s Kiss of French, a French fry-inspired lip balm made with real Idaho potatoes, sold out within 48 hours of its launch.
The limited-edition Valentine’s Day release took social media by storm, proving once again that America’s love for French fries knows no bounds.
A Beauty-Meets-Food Sensation
Kiss of French is no ordinary lip balm. Unlike traditional lip products, it’s made with mashed Idaho potatoes, blended into a hydrating formula that softens lips while delivering a subtle fry-inspired essence.
This marks IPC’s second viral beauty-meets-food launch, following Frites by Idaho, a French fry-scented perfume that also sold out in record time.
“French fries aren’t just a favorite — they’re a full-on obsession,” said Jamey Higham, IPC President & CEO. “Americans consume over 9 billion pounds of fries each year, and when they want the best, they turn to Idaho potatoes. With Kiss of French, we took that love and turned it into something unexpected and unforgettable.”
Loren Estad, Dean Peterson
Receive Meritorious Service Awards
Northland Potato Growers Association announced the two recipients of its 2025 Meritorious Service Awards (MSA).
Loren Estad from Crystal, ND, will receive the Grower’s MSA, and NDSU Research Specialist Dean Peterson will receive the Industry MSA.
Loren Estad
Estad is a fourth generation family farm operator from Crystal, ND. The family farm began around 1907 with Estad’s great-grandfather Lars, followed by grandfather Thomas and father Gene.
Today the Estads raise chip and process potatoes, wheat, soybeans and edible beans. In addition, they operate a separate seed potato company. Estad is also co-owner of Dakota Blueberry Farms in South Haven, MI, with his daughter Courtney. Son Luke started farming with Loren in 2020. His daughter Brittany and her husband Zac joined the farm in 2021.
For the past 37 years Estad has also been operating Estad Estates Trucking Company.
Estad has been married to his wife Marge for 30 years. Marge has been a nurse at a local clinic for the past 24 years and also volunteers for the local Quick Response team. She is the proprietor of a local greenhouse and helps on the farm when she is able.
The Estads have four children: Brittany, married to Zac Cyrus of Crystal ND; Courtney; Kristy, married to Tanner Hopfauf of Dickinson, ND; and Luke of Crystal ND. They also have four grandchildren.
Dean Peterson
Peterson is a potato pathology research specialist for North Dakota State University in Fargo. He began his career at NDSU in 1989 under Dr. Bob Johansen. Since then he has worked with Dr. Neil Gudmestad, Dr. Gary Secor and Dr. Julie Pasche. Peterson has been responsible for managing all field operations and trials, typically 40-50 separate trails per year at 6-8 locations in eastern ND and western MN. These trials concentrate on disease control in irrigated process potatoes and dryland fresh and seed potatoes. He works closely with industry reps to test their products and also works with other researchers, grower cooperators, post docs, research specialists and graduate students from
the other potato research teams in Team Potato. In addition, Peterson is responsible for multiple greenhouse trials and operations.
During the late blight outbreak in the mid 90s, Peterson was heavily involved in testing fungicides to control late blight. He ran many successful field trials that helped to get new chemistries labeled and available to help control late blight. Many of these chemistries are still in use. Peterson contin-
ues to work with early blight and blackdot chemistries to track resistance and get new products labeled.
Peterson has conducted many successful large trials over multiple years and locations to determine the best temperature and depth of application of Metam Sodium for verticillium control. These results greatly enhanced verticillium control and led to recommendations that are used by the industry today.
Peterson has been married to his wife Karen for 31 years. Karen is the State Fleet Motor Pool Coordinator at NDSU. They have one son, Clayton, who is a cybersecurity analyst for Target in Minneapolis.
BACK ON THE FARM:
PRAIRIE POTATO’S SCHLICHTING TALKS POTATOES
By Lane Lindstrom
Jocelyn Schlichting’s journey back to the farm isn’t necessarily a unique one, at least in the world of farming.
The story is somewhat familiar: a young man or young woman heads off to college with aspirations of trying something different than farming once they get out of college. Then, for various reasons, they return to a place familiar to them and to an occupation that really is in their blood: they head back to the farm.
Schlichting’s journey is similar to that in some ways but definitely unique to her, her family and her circumstances.
Yes, she did move away from the family farm in central Minnesota near the banks of the iconic Mississippi River. And she did get a bachelor’s degree from St. Cloud State University. But then she continued her education by earning a Master of Business Taxation (MBT) from the University of Minnesota.
From there, with the farm still mostly out of mind, Schlichting worked as a tax accountant, first with a public accounting firm and then with 3M.
After doing that for a few years, the desire to return to the country (but not necessarily an “easier” life) was increasing.
ABOVE: In addition to its own potato crop, Prairie Potato Company rents land to a corporate farm, where Prairie Potato also custom harvests the potatoes. This is one such field, which is just across the road from Prairie’s own field.
LEFT: Prairie Potato Company is located in the heart of Minnesota, not far from the Mississippi River near Rice. Generally, the farm is about a half-mile from the river.
Jocelyn Schlichting stands in front of Prairie Potato’s newest storage bin, which was finished less than two years ago. It holds 100,000 cwt. of potatoes, all destined for processing.
“Entrepreneurially-Minded”
“I’m kind of entrepreneurially-minded so the corporate track wasn’t my favorite,” she explained. “I was interested in leaving the corporate world, moving rural again and ideally working towards running my own business. At the same time, my parents were doing their estate planning and none of their options sat well with me. It really solved both of our problems when I decided to come back to the farm.”
It turns out there was an added perk in moving back to the farm. Schlichting explained, “And marrying the guy my dad had already chosen to be the production/ farm manager was just gravy on top.”
That guy – Matt Ringhand – had worked on the farm for about 10 years when he and Jocelyn met and the two were married in 2022. They are parents of identical twin boys, who will be 2.5 years old this summer.
Matt and Jocelyn farm in partnership with her dad’s (Rick) cousin Anna. While Matt and Rick handle the production side of the operation, Jocelyn and her mom manage the accounting side.
That handful of folks, along with 16 fulltime (which includes family members) employees, manage Prairie Potato Company, a 6,000-acre farming operation that includes a thousand acres of potatoes, as well the family’s 30,000-head farrow to finish hog operation.
Short Time Frame
All that came about in a relatively short time. When Jocelyn Schlichting’s father was 12 his dad Jerry bought his first farm.
Jerry bought the land in the 1960s and started growing potatoes in the 1970s. In addition to the thousand acres of potatoes, the operation raises 2,000 acres of field corn with the balance of acres put into kidney beans and sweet peas. The potatoes are on a three-year rotation: corn-kidney beans-potatoes. Schlichting said they don’t follow corn with potatoes because there is less trash and disease potential with other crops.
Six hundred acres in the corners of the fields are planted in rye, which is then used for cover cropping. Additionally, the farm manages 600 acres of prairie and forest land. Schlichting explained, “Some of the prairie is in CRP; with some we just maintain the prairie ourselves. The forest
is oak woods. We keep invasive species out and maintain trails and manage hunting sanctuaries, which are areas we don’t allow anyone to hunt.”
Of course Schlichting didn’t forsake her education and nearly dozen years of work experience when she came back to the farm. In addition to helping manage the money side of things, she also started analyzing the farm’s data or as she said it, “Since I came back, I honed in on data analysis.”
Why?
“Modern farms collect a lot of data, but many don’t have the expertise or bandwidth to actually look at that data,” she said. “I spent time re-organizing the data our tractors keep to make it more
Prairie Potato Company installed these solar panels about five years ago and they create enough electricity to run the farm’s seven potato storages.
relevant to the production guys. I also worked a lot to allocate actual expenditures to a single crop and allocate our overhead so we can get a really accurate breakeven price. It’s made it easier to make decisions like whether to buy new equipment, whether to make an extra crop protectant pass, whether to pursue a new contract, rates to charge for custom work, etc. These are decisions my dad can easily make using his 40 years of experience, but as I came in with much less experience, it was important to me to develop independent decision making tools, then validate them against dad’s expertise so when he retires we have a reliable and unbiased method to help us make decisions.”
200 Million Servings
All Prairie Farm potatoes are contracted to a processor and have been for years. The farm raises all russet Burbank potatoes, which are harvested and stored on the farm until they are shipped to Michael Foods (formerly Northern Star), makers of the Simply Potatoes brand. Schlichting pointed out their farm produces enough potatoes for 200 million servings of fries, thanks in part to the farm’s impressive 520 cwt. average each year.
When asked if her father and grandfather ever sold table stock potatoes, Schlichting explained, “We’ve been selling at least a portion of our potatoes to Michael Foods for over 40 years. They’ve dabbled in red potatoes and chipping potatoes, but process russets have always been our mainstay.”
During our visit to Prairie Potato Company, we saw many areas of the farm, including the potato storages, which include seven storage bins, of which one is a new storage that came online in the Fall of 2023 and can hold 100,000 cwt. In addition to the seven storages, the farm also utilizes two short term storages. For the most part, everything the farm plants goes into storage for at least a little while, Schlichting said. “Some of it ships out in December/January, then it trickles out over the winter/spring, depending on its storing and processing needs. It’s gone out as late as July in recent years.”
Near the storages is something you don’t see everyday on the farm, although it is becoming more popular: solar panels. The solar panels were installed five years ago and combine for a 1 megawatt system, producing enough electricity to power all the storages, meaning the farm rarely has to tap into and pay for commercial power.
Along with her farm responsibilities, there is another important thing Schlichting spends time on: water issues. Yes, water issues in a state that gets a fair amount of annual rainfall. All 6,000
acres of the farm are irrigated with center pivots fed by wells, which average a depth of 60 feet.
Despite this part of Minnesota annually getting about 30 inches of precipitation, growers had to supplement that moisture with irrigation as that precipitation falls on sandy soil. Schlichting said a University of Minnesota irrigation specialist told her the recommendation for 80 percent deficit irrigation is 28 inches annually, which includes rainfall and irrigation. “Generally, we apply around 10 inches per acre but there are a lot of variables that go into watering decisions each year,” she said.
Non Native Trout
So while the irrigation need from wells isn’t as great as in other areas of the country, these area farmers battle with the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources on water issues, specifically that the state wants to protect trout in Little Rock Creek.
There’s one hitch, though, that Schlichting points out: trout are not native to his part of Minnesota. Brook and Lake Trout are native to Minnesota but only in the northern part of the state and not in central Minnesota. The DNR stocks Brown Trout in Little Rock Creek and has been doing so since the 1970s, but, as she points out, these fish have never been able to sustain their population on their own. The DNR wants to place more restrictions on growers and their water use.
So Schlichting continues to work on that issue, along with keeping up with her farm responsibilities and family.
Oh, and she works hard on her responsibilities as executive secretary for the Minnesota Area II Potato Council, where she manages the group’s accounting and finances, coordinates its educational events, maintains relationships with extension researchers, manages the board meetings and executes board decisions, which are primarily funding research.
Despite all that, there is some time for hobbies and other interests, she said. Her loves are cooking, chasing her boys around, traveling and grouse hunting. She and Matt also have some “hobby” cattle and laying hens.
She does, she pointed out, get to spend a fair amount of time with her husband as she gets to work with him almost daily.
“Our work and life are all the same,” she said. “Even though he works more hours, we’re still able to see each other often.”
Just another perk of coming home to the farm.
All of Prairie Potato Company’s 6,000-acre farm is irrigated by center pivots with the average well depth about 60 feet.
Farm ground at the Prairie Potato Company is sandy soil. Jocelyn Schlichting says there are lots of pros with sandy soil, one being that with center pivot irrigation you can control a lot of the variables.
For Retiring U of I Researcher
6Questions Dr. Mike Thornton
As many in the potato industry already know, Dr. Mike Thornton, a potato and onion researcher with the University of Idaho, retired at the end of March after 38 years at the university.
Across all those years Thornton has been at the forefront on critical potato research that has benefited the industry in numerous ways. As a leading authority on potatoes he has led, contributed to and collaborated on a raft of research in the industry. He was based out of the U of I’s Parma Research and Extension Center.
Thornton earned his B.S. in Horticulture in 1981 from Washington State University, his M.S. in Horticulture in 1983 from Colorado State University and his Ph.D. in Plant Science in 1990 from the University of Idaho.
As you can imagine, he has earned numerous awards during his years of research. Those include:
• Potato Association of America Honorary Life Member, 2022
• Idaho Agriculture in the Classroom Advocate for Idaho Agriculture Award, 2016
• University of Idaho College of Agriculture and Life Sciences Dean’s Award, 2014
• Governor’s Award for Excellence in Agricultural Innovation and Technology, 2011
• University of Idaho Alumni Service Award, 2001
Dr. Thornton has, according to the Potato Association of America, co-authored more than 50 abstracts published in the American Journal of Potato Research “signifying his dedication to presenting, or aiding in the dissemination, of research at the annual PAA meeting.”
We reached out to Thornton with six questions about his career and what lies ahead.
Here they are:
1. WHAT ARE YOU MOST PROUD OF WHEN IT COMES TO SOMETHING YOU’VE ACCOMPLISHED DURING YOUR CAREER AT THE UNIVERSITY OF IDAHO?
This is a tough one to narrow down to one thing, so I am going to give you two answers. The first relates to all the technicians and graduate students who I have mentored that have gone on to take positions in industry. It is great to see them having such a positive impact in this world. I believe we have a great group of young professionals who are setting us up to really handle any challenges coming along in the future. The second relates to the close relationships I have been able to develop with outstanding colleagues
(both at universities and industry) and growers over the years. Everything I have accomplished in my career has been due to the fact that I have been blessed to be part of teams that were focused on solving real-life problems and helping the industry be profitable. A great example was how we were able to deal with the late blight outbreak that hit Idaho in the mid-1990s. Because we had the trust of the industry we were able to get funding from the Idaho Potato
Commission to scout fields across this region. That scouting program found one of the first infected fields in southwest Idaho in mid-July. I really believe that the early warning we were able to provide helped minimize losses that year, and set us up to handle the wider outbreaks that occurred in subsequent years. We didn’t prevent all damage from this devastating disease, but by working together we helped minimize the negative impacts.
Proven Potato
2. WHAT RESEARCH OF YOURS REALLY STANDS OUT OVER ALL THESE YEARS? AND WHY?
Again, this is a tough one to narrow down, but I think of all the research we have done, the efforts focused on quality have had the biggest impact. Starting with the harvester workshops we did in the early 1990s, through the fresh pack quality project we conducted with the Idaho Potato Commission and Walmart from 2018 through 2021, the emphasis was on enhancing Idaho’s well deserved reputation for delivering quality potatoes to the market. It was really gratifying to see how working together with the industry could lead to a measurable improvement in the quality of potatoes being shipped to retail outlets, which directly brings dollars back to the potato industry in this state. Quality was what made Idaho potatoes famous, and it is why this state continues to lead the nation in production.
3. WHAT IS THE MOST PRESSING ISSUE IN THE POTATO INDUSTRY THAT FUTURE RESEARCH HOPES TO ADDRESS OR TACKLE?
I think just being ready for the changes that are coming is the biggest challenge. Whether it is adoption of new technology, or the push to minimize application of key crop protection products, we have to be ready to deal with any new issues that
Dr. Mike Thornton participates in the pre-game festivities at the 2024 Famous Idaho Potato Bowl.
Dr. Mike Thornton talks about potato varities at U of I storage open house.
pop up when we start drastically changing the way we produce potatoes. A great example of this came when Monsanto released the Newleaf potato that was resistant to the Colorado potato beetle. The elimination of the broad spectrum insecticides we were using to control that pest was a great advance in pest management, but it led to an increase in secondary insect pests that were no longer being suppressed by the old system. I can see similar types of things happening if we were to go completely away from fumigation in our production system.
4. WHAT IS SOMETHING THE POTATO INDUSTRY MIGHT NOT KNOW ABOUT YOU?
My association with potatoes has taken me to five of the seven continents on this planet. It is amazing to see how different, and how similar, potato production is in each country. The one thing that does remain constant no matter where you go is that the potato growers are absolutely some of the best people you will ever meet. I hope to get to the other two continents (Africa, Antarctica) during retirement.
5. DO YOU HAVE PLANS TO KEEP YOUR FINGERS IN THE POTATO INDUSTRY AND IF YES, HOW?
Yes, I will still be active in mentoring young scientists as part of several graduate advisory committees. I also plan to stay active with several professional societies, such as the Potato Association of America.
6. WHAT ARE YOUR PLANS FOR AFTER RETIREMENT?
I plan to keep busy by volunteering with several local non-profits. One of my main bucket list goals is to mountain bike in all 50 states. I already have plans to mark off Hawaii, North Dakota, South Dakota and Wisconsin in 2025. That will take me up to 18 states so far. I figure I can knock out the other 32 states over the next few years if I really work at it.
What Others Are Saying
DR. MARK PAVEK
Professor/Research Agronomist
Potato Extension and Research
Washington State University
I have had the pleasure of knowing Mike Thornton for 36 years. I first got to know him during a poker game in Aberdeen, Idaho. I realized quickly that Mike was a patient, skillful card shark with an impressive poker face. He was also a gracious winner; he never made me feel bad when he took my money.
Mike’s talent went far beyond the poker table. For a university researcher and extension educator it can take a decade or more to earn the trust of the industry that you support, and in the end, not everybody can do this. It takes someone with a special skill set which includes strong interpersonal skills, intuition, leadership, patience, dedication, integrity and follow through.
Mike Thornton has this skill set and soundly earned the industry’s trust soon after accepting his position with the University of Idaho in 1990. He is the paragon of an extension educator. He is recognized as one of the world’s foremost potato experts. He earned this recognition by incorporating a strong, well-informed work ethic coupled with practical, applied and nonbiased potato and onion research. Mike effectively communicates with fellow scientists and industry stakeholders and holds himself to the highest standards. His contributions to the Northwest ag community are numerous and importantly include training the next generation of scientists and industry professionals.
Mike is a role model for me, and I am proud to call him my friend. I wish him well during retirement.
TRAVIS BLACKER
Vice President of Research and Industry Relations
Idaho Potato Commission
After many years of service to the potato industry providing layers of innovation and much needed research, Mike Thornton’s retirement will leave a gap in the industry that will not easily be filled.
The potato industry owes Mike Thornton for his many years of service and dedication in the groundbreaking research that he’s been able to accomplish throughout his career.
Mike is well respected by the industry and his peers and will be missed. We wish him well in his future endeavors.
Always read and follow label instructions. Some products may not be registered for sale or use in all states or counties. Please check with your state or local extension
Gowan USA (800) 883-1844 www.gowanco.com
Potato Portfolio
Since 1962, beginning as a crop consultancy, Gowan Company has been rooted in agriculture, providing trusted expertise and innovative solutions for growers. This family-owned, American business works to understand growers’ challenges and is committed to delivering products and services that maximize yield and quality. Gowan provides solutions for the unique needs of potato producers.
Gowan USA’s dedicated sales representatives and development teams regularly work with potato growers and researchers to ensure that each product performs optimally in the field.
Galvan XRT is a selective herbicide for the control or suppression of many grass, broadleaf and sedge weeds in potatoes, tomatoes and soybeans. Containing s-metolachlor and metribuzin, Galvin XRT contains two effective modes of action that can be used pre-emergence and/or postemergence in soybeans, tomatoes and potatoes. The XRT platform delivers performance that rivals equivalent branded products, generally increasing efficacy by 7 to 10 days.
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ENCOURAGE NANOCAL
Way more than just a sub-micronized calcium. NANOCAL is a
highly effective micronized calcium carbonate-based supplement designed to enhance crop quality and strength, offering readily available calcium during critical periods of high demand, such as fruit and tuber development. Its unique formulation with micronized particles ensures superior absorption and effectiveness, providing essential nutrients like nitrogen, potassium, and calcium. It can be applied to soil or foliage and is suitable for use through various irrigation systems.
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TRIPZIN ZC
TRIPZIN ZC herbicide (HRAC 3, 5) is a unique combination of two active ingredients in an innovative formulation. Designed
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MOCCASIN MTZ
Deal a swift blow to tough broadleaves and grasses with the two-in-one power of MOCCASIN MTZ herbicide (HRAC 15). High loads of S-metolachlor and metribuzin combine to provide outstanding weed control right at the outset, with extended residual control to keep weeds down. And with two effective modes of action, growers get improved resistance management and superior control of smallseeded broadleaf and grass weeds, including pigweed species, waterhemp, ragweed and marestail.
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UltraLock Adjuvant
UltraLock adjuvant, an all-purpose drift and deposition aid exclusively from WinField United, takes on herbicide resistance, enhancing herbicide drift prevention and helping growers achieve better weed control.
UltraLock plays a key role in managing weed outbreaks. It combines an exclusive drift reduction agent (DRA) with InterLock, a drift reduction technology (DRT), to improve spray deposition. The result is 20 percent more leaf coverage than other DRAs, allowing more product to be intercepted by the plant for better weed control.
Compatible across herbicide programs, UltraLock helps enhance canopy depth by ensuring more active ingredient reaches the target for more effective applications, helping
fight herbicide resistance. This includes reducing dicamba drift through its patent-pending formulation. There are a lot of components growers need to include in their tank mixes, which can be challenging, especially with supply chain issues. Choosing the right adjuvant can help alleviate some herbicide supply constraints, but it can also mean the difference between 50 percent and 90 percent weed control.
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SUPPRESS Herbicide EC
SUPPRESS Herbicide EC is a safe and highly effective tool for organic and conventional weed management programs. It is registered as a broad-spectrum contact herbicide for post-emergent, non-selective weed control for use in and around all food and non-food crop areas. SUPPRESS is also approved as a desiccant and harvest aid in potatoes. The proprietary and patented formulation is a non-volatile, emulsifiable concentrate that is OMRI- and WSDAapproved for use in certified organic food production. With years of university testing and grower-proven efficacy, SUPPRESS consistently provides fast and effective burndown in a wide variety of weeds. It is also a great tankmix partner to enhance conventional herbicide efficacy, and is an excellent IPM tool to rotate with conventional herbicides to minimize resistance. SUPPRESS is low-foaming, easy to use, and has no pre-harvest interval, so it can be applied up to the day of harvest.
Vole Infestations In Southern Idaho Threaten Potato Crops: Grower Input Can Help Identify Solutions
Vole infestations have become a persistent and increasingly costly issue for Idaho producers, with particularly stark business implications for those growing high-value crops like potatoes.
University of Idaho (UI) Extension faculty are conducting a survey to more comprehensively assess the impact of voles on potato production based on conditions during the 2024 crop year, aiming to collect pertinent data that can support efforts to obtain resources for research, policy changes and financial assistance for producers.
Why Are We Conducting This Survey?
For years, producers throughout southern Idaho have voiced concerns about crop damage caused by voles. However, the available solutions, including rodenticide use, habitat modifications and mechanical methods have had limited success to date. Without solid data to more thoroughly characterize vole damage on crops, it has been difficult to identify, develop and educate growers on additional management tools.
The UI Extension survey was designed to collect quantified values on crop losses, current control methods being utilized and
perceived efficacy of such treatments to more accurately describe the severity of the problem and advocate for much-needed research and resources to help more effectively address it.
The Growing Vole Problem In Southern Idaho
Voles were once partially controlled naturally by flood irrigation and moldboard plowing, but modern farming practices have inadvertently created ideal conditions for these burrowing rodents.
The shifts to sprinkler irrigation and no-till farming, while beneficial for soil health and irrigation water conservation,
Voles and the damage they cause are an increasing problem across southern Idaho. The extent of this damage is still unknown and possible remedies are being working on. Taking the survey in this story will help University of Idaho researchers develop a plan that could help growers tackle the problem.
have allowed vole populations to expand unchecked. Additionally, climate changes, conservation practices, urban development and other factors have aided vole population expansion.
Historically, vole outbreaks typically occurred every four to five years with an epidemic population explosion every 10 to 12 years followed by a rapid die off. However, producers in southern Idaho have reported that vole infestations have become an annual occurrence. In the spring of 2024, vole populations reached epidemic levels in at least 11 Idaho counties, causing considerable damage to crops, rangeland, pastures and residential areas.
Survey Data Results
Based on 84 responses received as of January 2025, survey data indicate that 74 percent of producers experienced vole damage on both potatoes and other crops, while 17 percent and 9 percent had damage on only potatoes or only other crops, respectively.
For those respondents with impacted potato acres, voles affected an average of 1,465 acres, which caused an estimated 18 percent yield reduction in the affected fields. Regarding treatments, more than half (58 percent) of respondents applied rodenticides, collectively spending over $2 million on the rodenticides and their application.
However, 92 percent rated rodenticide treatment effectiveness at three or lower
on a five-point scale (1 indicating very low efficacy in controlling vole populations and 5 indicating very high efficacy). Habitat modifications, such as mowing, plowing or installing barriers were used by 17 percent of producers, while 9.5 percent replanted crops due to vole damage.
For potato growers, incurred losses are not only about lower yields. Potatoes damaged by vole feeding practices cannot be sold at premium prices for french fries or fresh markets due to failure to meet quality specifications and must instead be processed into lower-value products like potato flakes. This shift significantly impacts potato farmer revenues, compounding the financial burden caused by voles.
Searching For Better Solutions
Producers and Extension faculty are searching for better vole management strategies. Some alfalfa growers in Jefferson County have experimented with rolling snow-covered fields to collapse vole tunnels, exposing them to natural predators. Others are exploring innovative integrated pest management (IPM) approaches such as adding housing for predators like barn owls, intercropping, adjusting crop rotations, reducing vegetative matter around field borders, mowing and burning ditch banks, and clearing weeds and debris from fence lines and other affected areas.
However, more research and resources
are needed to develop more effective, longterm solutions.
Your Input Matters — Please Help By Completing the Survey
It is imperative that more Idaho potato farmers complete the vole damage survey. The data collected will be shared with local, state and federal policymakers and agencies to demonstrate the severity of the vole problem and advocate for resource allocation towards developing better management tools.
To complete the survey, click this link or scan the QR code. We appreciate your valuable input. https://uidaho.co1.qualtrics.com/jfe/ formSV_6KKoB4cTSn6p1Yy
(Gunn is an Extension educator, Fort Hall Reservation, University of Idaho; Hatzenbuehler is an Extension specialist – Crop Economics, University of Idaho and Thomas is an Extension educator, Minidoka County, University of Idaho.)
NATIONAL POTATO COUNCIL
Kam Quarles, CEO
U.S. Potatoes In Mexico: Breaking Barriers And Growing Opportunities
VIGILANCE IS KEY TO KEEPING THE ROBUST MARKET
For almost 25 years, U.S. potato growers faced the Sisyphean task of trying to gain full market access for U.S. fresh potatoes in Mexico. Anytime we thought we were close to finalizing a permanent, lasting deal, a new regulatory or legal hurdle was thrown in our way to force us to restart from the bottom of the hill. Thanks to the dedication of
stakeholders and collaborative strategies among the state and national organizations, as well as the involvement of key elected officials, the hard work finally paid off. Now, as we look behind us and remember the battles that brought us where we are today, the Mexican market presents an exciting and growing opportunity for the U.S. potato industry.
From legal battles to innovative marketing strategies, during Potato Expo 2025, I sat down with our partners to record an Eye on Potatoes Podcast to detail how U.S. potatoes have made their mark in Mexico, the vibrant future of this market, and what this success means for agricultural trade. Check out the episode on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you listen to podcasts.
Patience Through Political And Legal Hurdles
The journey to gaining access to the Mexican market began in the late 1990s but was met with significant resistance. For years, U.S. potato exports to Mexico were restricted to a narrow zone within 26 kilometers of the border due to phytosanitary concerns. Mexican authorities cited risks of pest transmission as the primary reason for these limitations, creating a significant barrier to full-market entry.
A turning point came in 2014 when international scientific experts agreed that U.S. potatoes met the necessary safety standards. Despite this, logistical and legal challenges persisted, requiring years of advocacy. The National Potato Council, Potatoes USA and our allies worked to present evidence, engage Mexican counterparts, and push for resolutions.
By 2022, following rulings by the Mexican Supreme Court, U.S. potatoes were finally granted full access to the market. This wasn’t just a trade victory — it marked the culmination of decades of work by growers, scientists, marketers and policymakers.
Marketing U.S. Potatoes In
Mexico
Once legal barriers were addressed, the focus shifted to marketing — and winning over consumers in Mexico came with its own unique challenges. During the podcast, Kim Breshears, the chief marketing officer of Potatoes USA, emphasized the importance of standing out in a competitive environment. To do so, U.S. potatoes were marketed not just as staples but as premium products with distinct qualities.
Tasting samples proved to be an essential strategy. For many Mexican consumers, sampling the robust flavors of U.S. potatoes offered a tangible reason to choose them over local options. Chef partnerships and culinary demonstrations further elevated the appeal, presenting U.S. potatoes as essential ingredients for diverse recipes and occasions.
Harnessing Education And Social Media
Education emerged as another crucial factor in building demand. Luis Moreno, the CEO of Grupa PM, the industry’s consultant in Mexico, highlighted how fostering consumer awareness about the unique attributes of U.S. potatoes — such as their versatility, taste, and consistency — has been vital.
Social media and influencer partnerships played a central role in these efforts. By creating engaging content, including recipe tutorials and cooking guides, these collaborations helped reshape perceptions and generate excitement among Mexican consumers, particularly in urban centers and northern regions.
Building On Success
The ongoing success of U.S. potatoes in Mexico requires vigilance, especially when it comes to addressing phytosanitary requirements. Matt Lantz of Bryant Christie, Inc., emphasized the importance of proactive measures to maintain pest-free shipments, ensuring compliance with trade agreements while protecting both markets from unnecessary disruptions.
Government policies on both sides of the border continue to encourage optimism. A 63 percent increase in potato exports is a testament to the growing demand, with future goals like doubling market share seeming
“Mexico’s success may also serve as a model for expanding access to other international markets.”
well within reach.
Mexico’s success may also serve as a model for expanding access to other international markets. Asia, particularly Japan, holds immense potential for U.S. potatoes. By applying lessons learned from the Mexican market, the U.S. potato industry is well-prepared to tackle
new challenges and replicate their strategies for global growth.
To hear more from industry leaders like Kim Breshears, Luis Moreno, and Matt Lance, subscribe to the “Eye on Potatoes” podcast.
POTATO GROWERS OF AMERICA
Mark Klompien, President/CEO
Potato Business Summit Success Continues
HAS BECOME A MUST-ATTEND EVENT FOR POTATO INDUSTRY
United Potato Growers of America is proud to convene the annual Potato Business Summit in conjunction with Potato Expo. This Summit has evolved into one of the must-attend events within the North American potato industry. Since UPGA focuses on the financial and business side of growing potatoes, this is the emphasis of the superb slate of Summit presenters.
Potatoes USA promotes potato consumption and increasing demand and does an excellent job of it. The National Potato Council oversees legislative advocacy and regulatory matters concerning the potato industry at large and does an excellent job of it. United Potato Growers of America is different in that UPGA deals directly with the business of producing potatoes. UPGA does this by providing key market data
to potato producers, enabling them to consistently secure a fair return on their immense investment. In that role UPGA understands that there are more aspects of the potato-production business that lead to on-farm profitability than most producers customarily access. That is one of the reasons UPGA annually produces the Potato Business Summit. UPGA supports the potato-production business through a grower-direct feed of
LEFT: United Potato Growers of America President/CEO Mark Klompien RIGHT: Cedric Porter, World Potato Markets.
potato-market supply data generated by its large and constantly updating database. This market data enables aligned potato producer members to prosper year after year, something previously impossible to do.
In addition to direct market data, UPGA also keeps many indirect aspects of the potato-production business in front of potato producers. To achieve this, UPGA conceived the annual Potato Business Summit as a lead-in to Potato Expo. During a power-packed morning, growers are brought abreast of economic aspects ancillary to potato production but critical to it. In the Potato Business Summit, growers learn about agricultural economic trends along with global commodity updates in wheat, corn and soybeans. They are brought up to speed with fresh potato market trends as well as advancements in frozen process and dehydration markets, both foreign and domestic. Even the latest in field, equipment, and storage technology is not overlooked.
simply knowing how to grow potatoes. Discovering that one’s potato-producing operation is a single link in a supply
chain of many links is certainly a beginning, but successfully navigating that environment year after year, crop after crop, requires a steady flow of supply data studied and acted upon by a keen business manager with keen business acumen. Such business acumen applied to solid market data instructs the potato producer how to maximize his potato crop’s value as a business proposition replete with all aspects of supply chain economics, and that is where United Potato Growers of America and the Potato Business Summit come in.
UPGA wishes to thank its Summit sponsors (listed in all Summit materials and websites), its grower members and all the Summit attendees for supporting this great event.
Our list of presenters this year included Stephen Nicholson of Rabobank, Cedric Porter of World Potato Markets, Kim Breshears of Potatoes USA and Steve Elfering of 1,4 Group, and we offer them all a very big thank you for their insightful information.
Finally, a special thanks to the National Potato Council for collaborating with and helping to facilitate UPGA’s Potato Business Summit.
For a potato producer to maximize economic viability he must understand that potato production is not just another farming enterprise; rather, he must understand that potato production is a supply function with local, national and global implications. He must understand that succeeding as a link in the potato supply chain is far from
YOUR TRUE AG PARTNER
LEFT: Kim Breshears, Potatoes USA RIGHT: Steve Elfering, 1,4 Group.
WISCONSIN
POTATO & VEGETABLE GROWERS ASSOCIATION
Wisconsin Hosts Reverse Trade Mission
MEXICO THE FOCUS ON THIS TRADE MISSION
The Wisconsin Potato & Vegetable Growers Association (WPVGA), grower members, Hancock Agricultural Research Station (HARS) and the Food + Farm Exploration Center hosted Mexican produce buyers from NaturaSol, Kronchis and the Central de Abasto-Mexico City (CEDA) wholesale market for a Reverse Trade Mission last fall.
The purpose of the Mexican Reverse Trade Mission was to promote the
sale of Wisconsin potatoes for export to Mexico, gain more knowledge of the Mexican markets and meet with potential table stock and chip stock importers.
Attendees included Rubén Ríos of CEDA, Mexico City’s largest wholesale market; Juan Carlos Díaz and Omar Arch of Kronchis (pronounced Crunchies), a snack producer interested in importing Wisconsin chip stock; and Brenda Reyes, Enrique Martínez and
Reynaldo Santamaría of NaturaSol, which purchases roughly 15 loads of chip stock from the United States weekly and anticipates importing 30 loads per week in 2025.
Also in attendance were Peter Joyce, a consultant and multi-lingual interpreter contracted by the WPVGA, Joe Kertzman, managing editor of the Badger Common’Tater and WPVGA Executive Director Tamas Houlihan. Over the course of three full days,
Joe Kertzman
Juan Carlos Díaz (l) of Kronchis and Reynaldo Santamaría from NaturaSol took the opportunity to ride along in the tractor during potato harvest at the Alsum Farms & Produce north farm in Grand Marsh.
Produce buyers from Mexico got an up-close look at Coloma Farms potato harvest. In the first image, Enrique Martínez (l) and Rubén Ríos hold red potatoes grown for the Little Potato Company. In the second photo (l to r) on the harvester are Omar Arch, Enrique Martínez, Juan Carlos Díaz, Rubén Ríos, and Brenda Reyes. Peter Joyce talks to Reynaldo Santamaría at the base of the harvester.
the group enjoyed tours and visits to the Alsum Farms & Produce grading, packing and storage facility, and an Alsum Farms potato field in Grand Marsh; Heartland Farms and the Top Tier Ingredients potato flake and flour plant; Okray Family Farms; the Food + Farm Exploration Center; Hyland Lakes Spuds; Coloma Farms; HARS and the Wisconsin Potato & Vegetable Storage Research Facility (SRF); and Gary Bula Farms.
Potato Harvest
Potato harvest was in full swing during the group’s journey from Alsum’s in Friesland and Grand Marsh to Heartland Farms of Hancock, Okray Family Farms in Plover, Hyland Lakes Spuds of Antigo, Coloma Farms and Gary Bula Farms in Oxford.
Attendees witnessed firsthand how potatoes and vegetables are harvested in a sustainable, efficient manner by some of the world’s most respected growing operations. Some visitors even rode along in the harvesters, dug potatoes by hand, tasted them directly in the field and experienced high-tech presentations and museum-quality exhibits.
They were impressed with the type of research and facilities that Wisconsin growers conduct and build to evaluate and improve their production quality.
During the Reverse Trade Mission, Mexican visitors were introduced to the Wisconsin Healthy Grown program by Program Coordinator Deana Knuteson and given a tour of the Wisconsin Potato & Vegetable SRF by Facility Manager Amber Walker and HARS Superintendent Troy Fishler.
The Wisconsin potato industry is known as a national leader in sustainable production and has developed the Healthy Grown program, allowing growers to compete in an international marketplace increasingly demanding food grown using ecologically friendly practices.
Value Of Healthy Grown
After Knuteson’s presentation on the Healthy Grown program, one Mexican produce buyer indicated that since he sells potato chips and table stock to Walmart and Costco, it could be useful to have the Healthy Grown seal on fresh bags, and that he’d take the information back to his team in Mexico to discuss how they could make that happen.
It is estimated that 50 percent of potatoes in Mexico are sold through 64 different wholesale markets, while the
other 50 percent are purchased through supermarkets that have their own distribution channels. Mexico has roughly 750,000 street markets that buy at wholesale compared to about 3,000 Walmart grocery stores.
The WPVGA is fully utilizing funds from an Export Expansion Grant awarded by the Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection (WDATCP) to cover expenses for the Mexican Reverse Trade Mission.
The WPVGA and grower members also took advantage of previous WDATCP Export Expansion Grants to attend the 2023 Canadian Produce Marketing Association (CPMA) Convention and Trade Show in Toronto, Canada. The association exhibited a second time at the CPMA Show, April 23-25, 2024, in Vancouver, British Columbia.
In March 2024, WPVGA representatives and grower members attended Expo ANTAD in Guadalajara, Mexico. At a meeting in conjunction with Expo ANTAD, the WPVGA met representatives from CEDA, NaturaSol and Kronchis who expressed interest in buying Wisconsin potatoes.
STATE POTATO COMMISION
Chris Voigt, Executive Director
Potato Breeding Makeover
INVESTING IN THE FUTURE OF THE INDUSTRY
You won’t be able to improve potato breeding by turning the lights down low, lighting a few candles, and playing your favorite Barry White album. But there are ways we can speed up the process and improve the results by investing in technology.
The Tri-State Breeding program is a great partnership between the University of Idaho, Oregon State, Washington State and the USDA that produces about 150,000 uniquely different clones each year. Of these clones, only one or two will be good enough to be released to the public. In its relatively short existence, it has produced new varieties that now make up about 22 percent of all potatoes grown in the U.S.
It’s been a very successful program but now is the time for a “potato breeding makeover.”
Here is the condensed version of how we breed and select new potato varieties today. You find two potatoes that you think would be good parents. You cross the two plants together in the greenhouse. The plant produces seed pods that contain about 200 small true potato seeds. Each of those seeds is genetically different. You plant those seeds in the greenhouse where each plant will produce one or two mini tubers. You then take those mini tubers and plant them into a field. You lift the potatoes up at harvest and lay them out on the ground. Then a group of industry folks walk the fields, looking at the tubers that each plant produced. If the tubers look good, they will gather up those tubers from that single plant and put them in a bag to be planted again next year.
tolerance, shape, size, specific gravity and disease resistance. Once we have these markers, we can test the new clones early in the process to see if they have the right genes we’re looking for. The second part of our makeover is using AI technology to do predictive modeling to determine which potato parents are most likely to give us the potato variety we are looking for. Let’s start with the right parents that are most likely to give us the offspring we need.
“ For those of you like me who have been around the potato biz for a while, you’ll know that the answer to solving our production and environmental challenges is through new variety development.”
But at this point we don’t know anything about those varieties other than what they look like. We don’t know if they are resistant to any diseases or pests. We don’t know anything about their nutritional content. We don’t know how much fertilizer they need or if they are susceptible to hollow heart or growth cracks. Everything we do at this point is strictly from a one-time visual observation.
That’s why now is the time for a potato breeding makeover. Let’s start by investing in more research to find the specific genetic markers that are responsible for the exact traits we are looking for. We need to find which gene or genes are responsible for things like nematode resistance, nitrogen use efficiency, heat
The third part of our makeover is to create an expanded greenhouse space that can increase our capacity from 150K clones to 1M clones each year. Breeding is a numbers game; the more clones you can create, the more likely you are to find the perfect potato.
And part of that greenhouse will also include a genotyping lab. After we do the crosses and plant the true potato seed in the greenhouse, let’s have robots go through the greenhouse when the plants are just five weeks old to take tissue samples. Those robots will do a DNA analysis to see if the new clone has the genetic markers we are looking for. If it doesn’t have the markers, then we toss the variety; no need to take it to field trials if it doesn’t have the primary traits we are looking for. We can learn in five weeks what has normally taken us five years. And the added greenhouse space could also be used to create more seed potatoes for bigger field trials on new promising varieties. These are all technologies and processes that are available today. The only thing it will take is money. The first step is to get Congress and the USDA to hire a new potato scientist, focused on finding the genetic markers for the traits we are looking for. Once we start developing a catalog of markers, perhaps the industry can come together to fund the genotyping lab and greenhouse.
For those of you like me who have been around the potato biz for a while, you’ll know that the answer to solving our production and environmental challenges is through new variety development.
Now is the time to start work on this potato breeding makeover.
Farther west in Oregon, the OPC has formed a partnership with Oregon State University athletics “to inform and promote the health aspects and nutritional benefits of potatoes to college athletes and fans alike.”
Gary Roth, executive director of the OPC, pointed out at this year’s Washington Oregon Potato Conference that its potato message is expanding to a larger Oregon State audience, which will now include baseball, a hugely popular sport at OSU (the Beavers won the
national championship in 2006, 2007 and 2018).
Roth explained, “Football and baseball have the highest following.” In fact, the OSU baseball team draws almost as many fans to each game as the men’s basketball team does. Promotions include, among many things, one radio spot for each football game (home and away) and two radio spots for each of the 50 home baseball games.
“More people listen to baseball than football and there is very little overlap
in season ticket holders between the two sports,” Roth said. “This is an investment in the largest radio network of any college or professional team in the state.”
In Washington, Washington State Potato Commission Executive Director Chris Voigt is putting a personal touch on one of his state’s promotions. Voigt, an avid outdoorsman, is participating in the annual Seattle To Portland Bicycle Classic, a 206-mile ride held in July. Of course, he will be adorned in Washington State Potato Commission logos and colors and the 2025 event will be his third one.
In an interview with the Cascade Bicycle Club, Voigt extolled the benefits of potatoes, specifically their health benefits. He also talked about the WSPC French fry truck, which is parked at the halfway point of the race (Centralia). He told Cascade, “We want to fortify the message of healthy living, exercise and healthy eating … bringing our fry truck to STP is a great way to get the word out about how incredibly healthy potatoes are and why lots of endurance athletes are including potatoes in their diets.”
Over in Idaho, the IPC is involved in all sorts of promotions to keep the Idaho potato name in front of consumers and that includes plenty of sports-related endeavors, including the YMCA Famous Idaho Potato Marathon (held in May in
Northern Illinois University quarterback Josh Holst (15) earned MVP honors in the Famous Idaho Potato Bowl game for his performance as he threw for 182 yards and two touchdowns. He was also NIU’s leading rusher with 65 yards.
Washington State Potato Commission Executive Director Chris Voigt.
Boise). There’s also sponsorship of the Idaho Falls Spud Kings hockey team, which is flying high this year, having won their division and qualified for the playoffs.
Then there is the Famous Idaho Potato Bowl, an ESPNtelevised college bowl game held annually in Boise. While I attended a handful of previous bowl games in Boise, I got to experience the 2024 game up close and personal, scoring a field-level media pass. I don’t know what the IPC pays for its sponsorship, but from all appearances, it got a lot of bang for its buck, both on and off the field through nearly constant messaging.
There were 10,359 people in attendance at the game with an ESPN viewership of 1.32 million on TV. All those people watched Northern Illinois University (8-5) beat Fresno State University (6-7) 28-20 in double overtime.
Spuddy Buddy was all over the sidelines (and front and center on the field during a potato sack race), every digital display in the stadium flashed multiple Idaho potato messages, the annual French fry bath was once again a big hit and from all appearances it was a major success.
IPC’s sponsorship of the 2024 game might have been viewed as a bit of a gamble as no one really knew how the expanded college football playoff would affect other bowl games last season. It was something IPC President and CEO Jamey Higham said they were going to watch closely. But afterwards, he seemed happy with how it all turned out, happy enough that the IPC signed on to sponsor the game again in 2025.
Higham said, “Our contract goes through this year. We are in the process of evaluating the bowl and trying to make sure the value that we need is there. It’s a very popular event and brings the Idaho potato industry a ton of recognition during the holiday season. I like to say the Famous Idaho Potato Bowl is a 3.5-hour infomercial about Idaho potatoes that is seen by over a million people.”
No one really disputes that potatoes are big business in the U.S. and worldwide. And there are a lot of people working hard to keep it that way.
Idaho Potato Commission President and CEO Jamey Higham (to the right of the last NIU player) looks on during the coin toss at the beginning of the Famous Idaho Potato Bowl.
Spuddy Buddy participates in the potato sack race during a break in the Famous Idaho Potato Bowl game.
The remnants of the traditional French fry bath (dumped on the winning coach) after NIU beat Fresno State in double overtime.
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