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Badger Common’Tater

July 2015

THE VOICE OF WISCONSIN'S POTATO & VEGETABLE INDUSTRY

CROP PROTECTION ISSUE INTERVIEW Damon Reabe, Reabe Spraying Service, Inc. NEW TWIST ON INSECT CONTROL Limiting Foodborne Pathogens MOVING AHEAD Funding LPRCP GERRI OKRAY Salutes Her Readers & WPVGA

Reabe Spraying Service, Inc.

Photo by Robert Quandt

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Badger Common'Tater

On the Cover: One of Reabe Spraying Service, Inc.’s Air Tractors applies fungicide to a field of grain corn. The average yield response from the singular application of a fungicide in over 70 trials in South Central Wisconsin is 18 bushels per acre. Reabe Spraying Service, Inc. is one of the largest aerial application firms in the U.S. operating eight aircraft throughout Wisconsin.

8 Badger cOMMON’TATER INTERVIEW: Damon Reabe, Reabe Spraying Service, Inc. Reabe's Spraying Service performs applications on approximately 500,000 acres every growing season. Here a Reabe pilot applies preventative fungicide to a Central Sands potato field.

Departments: ALI’S KITCHEN.................... 58 AUXILIARY NEWS............... 54 GROUNDED ......................... 6 MARK YOUR CALENDAR ..... 6

20 MOVING AHEAD Funding LPRCP

54 auxiliary news

Photo by Ruth Faivre

Kids Dig Potatoes Event at Milwaukee inner school.

Photo by Ruth Faivre

30 RUDER WARE

WOTUS: Something More Than Actually Navigable Waters

MARKETPLACE .................. 51 NEW PRODUCTS ............... 46 NOW NEWS ...................... 42

Photo by Ruth Faivre

Feature Articles:

NPC NEWS ........................ 37

17 BADGER BEAT New Twist on Insect Control: Limiting Food-borne Pathogens

PEOPLE ............................. 34

32 TOP 10 AGRIBUSINESS Succession Planning Roadblocks & How to Avoid Them

TATER BIN.......................... 60

26 GERRI OKRAY Salutes Her Readers & WPVG

41 GLOBAL FOOD & AGRICULTURAL ISSUES Addressed at Ninth WPC 4

BC�T July

POTATO BOARD NEWS ..... 39

WPIB FOCUS ..................... 50

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Antigo, WI • 715-627-4321 | Plover, WI • 715-341-3445 | 800-236-2436 | info@jay-mar.com WPVGA Board of Directors: President: Andy Wallendal Vice President: Mark Finnessy Secretary: Eric Schroeder Treasurer: Josh Mattek Directors: Larry Alsum, Steve Diercks, Ron Krueger, Jeremie Pavelski, Gary Wysocki Wisconsin Potato Industry Board: President: Heidi Alsum-Randall Vice President: Richard Okray Secretary: Bill Wysocki Treasurer: Keith Wolter Directors: John Bobek, Cliff Gagas, John T. Schroeder, Tom Wild and Dennis Zeloski WPVGA Associate Division Board of Directors: President: Chris Brooks Vice President: Wayne Solinsky

Secretary: Steve Bohm Treasurer: Zach Mykisen Directors: Butch Fencil, Cathy Schommer, Sally Surprise, Joel Zalewski Wisconsin Seed Potato Improvement Association Board of Directors: President: Ron Krueger Vice President: Eric Schroeder Secretary/Treasurer: Dan Kakes Directors: Bill Guenthner, Charlie Mattek

WPVGA Staff Executive Director: Tamas Houlihan Managing Editor/Communications Director: Ruth Faivre Director of Promotions & Consumer Education: Dana Rady Financial Officer: Karen Rasmussen Executive Assistant: Julie Braun Program Assistant: Danielle Sorano Spudmobile Coordinator: Jim Zdroik

Wisconsin Potato Growers Auxiliary Board of Directors: President: Paula Houlihan Vice President: Lynn Isherwood Secretary/Treasurer: Gabrielle Okray Eck Directors: Kathy Bartsch, Deniell Bula, Patty Hafner & Sheila Rine

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

Mission Statement of the WPVGA: “To assist WPVGA members to be successful through education, information, environmentally sound research, promotion, governmental action, and involvement.”

Mission Statement of the WPVGA Associate Division: “Our mission is to work in partnership with the WPVGA as product and service providers to promote mutual industry viability by integrating technology and information resources.”

Badger Common’Tater is published monthly at 700 Fifth Avenue, Antigo, Wisconsin 54409.

Subscription rates: $1.50/copy, $18.00/year; $30/2 years. Foreign; $30/year; $50/2 years.

Telephone: (715) 623-7683. Mailing address: P.O. Box 327, Antigo, Wisconsin 54409.

ADVERTISING: To advertise your service or product in this magazine, call (715) 347-3755, or email: Ruth Faivre: rfaivre@wisconsinpotatoes.com The editor welcomes manuscripts and pictures but accepts no responsibility for such material while in our hands.

BC�T July

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Grounded Photo by Jim Faivre.

Crop Protection is one of the most important aspects

of crop production. Insect, weed and disease control not only improve yields, thereby stabilizing prices, but also can directly influence crop appearance, helping prevent holes, discolorations and other blemishes on potatoes and vegetables - not to mention preventing potential catastrophic crop failure.

So why do the media and some environmental groups consistently confront American farmers on their crop protection methods?

I believe the answer lies in a lack of education as to what current crop protection really is. Additionally, these same entities have not been challenged to provide concrete scientific data regarding their claims.

Perhaps they have not tracked the progress farmers have made in the last thirty or more years in their crop management practices.

That is why I asked an expert, Damon Reabe, to discuss this subject as the focus of our feature interview this month. Reabe has worked with WPVGA on a number of legislative issues in the past including the effects of wind power on aerial application.

Rather than burying our heads in the sand, I believe we should present the facts and directly address unsubstantiated allegations that impugn the reputations of America’s most important good stewards…the growers who work and love the land and whose families, friends and neighbors inhabit the surrounding areas.

Please feel free to email me with your thoughts and any questions.

Be sure to sign up to receive a notice when our online format, flip magazine is available each month and read it free. Click the link to subscribe or type it in your browser: http://wisconsinpotatoes.com/ blog-news/subscribe

Ruth Faivre

Managing Editor rfaivre@wisconsinpotatoes.com

Interview

Damon Reabe

By Ruth Faivre, Managing Editor

Name: Damon Reabe Title: President Company: Reabe Spraying Service, Inc. Primary Business Focus: Crop Product and Service Sales Location: Waupun, WI Hometown: Ripon, WI Years in Current Position: Six Schooling: B.S. in Marketing; Mankato State University Activities/Organizations: President of Wisconsin Agricultural Aviation Association; Member of Wisconsin Potato & Vegetable Growers Association, Midwest Food Processors Association, Wisconsin Corn Growers Association and Wisconsin Agri-Business Association Family: Wife Mary, two children; Caroline-8 years old and Max-5 years old.

Hobbies: Spending time with the family, motorcycling, sailing

Editor's Note: Damon Reabe’s grandfather, Roy Reabe, founder of Reabe Flying Service Inc, passed away May 24, 2015 at the age of 94, at his home in Waupun with his wife and family at his side. Roy’s lifelong interest was aviation and he served his country during WWII as a flight instructor, also delivering fighter aircraft and flying troops and supplies over the Himalayan Mountains. After his return in 1946, he opened the Waupun Airport, offering flight instruction to returning service members and a public charter flight service.

As a highly skilled, professional pilot, Roy started crop dusting in the early 1950s, eventually operating twenty aircraft throughout Wisconsin performing aerial applications for vegetable crops. In 1979, Roy leased the equipment and facilities to Damon’s father, Tom, and Damon’s three uncles, JR, Jeff and Bob, who formed Reabe Spraying Service Inc, During his career, Roy accumulated over 30,000 hours of flight time and taught over 1000 people to fly including his four sons and five of his grandchildren. According to Roy’s family, however, his greatest love centered on his wife Helen, their children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren in whom he instilled his strong family values, integrity and intense work ethic. His full obituary is in the People section of this issue and we pay tribute to his memory within this article as well.

Originally, aerial applicators were known as ‘crop dusters’ because they worked with powdered forms of chemicals and were literally dusting fields. That term is no longer appropriate since aerial applicators now deliver liquid products or dry granular products and even cover crops seed to control pests and diseases and provide nutrients for American agriculture.

Today’s professional aerial applicator service firms like Reabe Spraying Service Inc, consist of highly skilled

www.reabesprayingservice.com 8

BC�T July

pilots operating technically advanced aircraft outfitted with global positioning systems, sophisticated dispersal systems and calibration software for precise application.

Committed to their customers and the communities in which they operate, the owners of these firms and their employees are ever mindful of the environment surrounding the fields where they work since that is also, where they, their families, friends and neighbors reside.

Currently, aerial applicators handle delivery of up to one fourth of crop protection products in American agriculture, primarily because aircraft can cover more area faster and more effectively, without disturbing the soil or the growing crops. This is vitally important because some pests and disease can cause serious crop damage in a matter of a day or two.

That is why for our crop protection issue, we chose to interview Roy Reabe’s grandson, Damon Reabe, now President of Reabe Spraying Service Inc, which has grown into one of the largest aerial application services in the Midwest.

Please share with us some anecdotal information you remember about your grandfather, Roy Reabe, who laid the groundwork for the Reabe companies.

Grandpa’s crop dusting start is a pretty funny story. After returning from service in late 1945, he opened

The original Stearmans had no doors or heaters. They were started by ‘propping’ wherein a person would grab the propeller and spin it by hand. Safety features, efficiency and creature comforts came later.

an airport in southern Wisconsin and started a flight school.

His ‘market research’ for selecting a location was quite simple. He searched a map of southern Wisconsin and found the largest city not already served by an airport, which happened to be Waupun.

At first, business was slow. Grandpa did not understand why there were

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not more people in a city the size of Waupun interested in learning to fly, especially with the Government GI Bill paying for training.

Then, he discovered that Waupun’s census included Waupun’s maximumsecurity prison inmates. He realized that if he wanted to make a living in aviation, he needed to change his plan. continued on pg. 10

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Interview. . . continued from pg. 9

When Roy Reabe originally expanded operations into Wisconsin’s Central Sands regions, he used surplus World War II trainers, known as Stearmans that were converted for aerial application.

This is part of Plainfield’s aircraft fleet in the early 1980’s. Unlike the converted WWII trainers, these were the first models built specifically for aerial application.

He learned that area pea canners were contracting with out-of-state crop dusters to control aphids and decided to pursue a crop dusting business. He contacted area canners who contracted with him for the 1950 growing season. With this commitment, he purchased a J-3 Cub, outfitted it with a wooden hopper and taught himself to dust.

Growing up at the airport, I knew at a very young age I wanted to fly for a living. I pursued a career as a professional pilot and flew corporate jets throughout North and South America as well as Europe for 15 years.

Without Grandpa’s poor market research, Reabe Spraying Service may never have become a reality.

How did you first get involved with the Reabe companies and then progress in your career into your present position of President of Reabe Spraying Inc. I started at the age of ten doing chores like mowing and cleaning. When Grandpa retired from the aerial application business, he began farming full time, mostly raising processing vegetables along with some alfalfa on his 500-acre farm. I worked for him on the farm in exchange for flying lessons starting at 12 years old.

In 1997, I landed a job in Appleton and moved back home to Waupun. That summer my Dad, Tom, trained me to spray and until 2008, I spent my spare time helping Reabe Spraying Service as an aerial applicator.

As my corporate pilot career developed, I shifted into non-flying, management roles overseeing approximately 300 pilots for the largest corporate aircraft management company in the U.S., which prepared me for my present role at Reabe Spraying Service.

In 2009, my Dad decided to retire. However, he still plays an important role and works daily for the company.

At that time, my Dad and three uncles offered me the job as President of Reabe Spraying Service, which I now manage, while also flying for the company.

What changes and advances have you seen from your grandfather’s earlier days until now?

The most significant advances in our industry are in the products we apply. In my Grandfather’s day, crop dusters used sulfur in dust form. Sulfur is toxic to plant pathogens and many insect species and under certain conditions can kill vegetation. It was applied at high use rates but yielded poor results. Ironically, sulfur is still used in organic pest control systems.

When the first synthetic products came on the scene, they were more effective in controlling pests, but were often toxic to the handlers and the environment.

As aircraft manufacturers offered improved designs, Reabe's began upgrading their fleet to the most up to date aircraft available.

10 BC�T July

Today, formulations are handler and environmentally friendly with active ingredients, in some cases, that are EPA registered for home, lawn and commercial kitchen use, yet they are much more effective at controlling the target pest and less product is required per acre.

Application equipment has also improved. Aircraft are faster, larger, more reliable and productive so fewer people can accomplish the work in a shorter time.

Dispersal systems are more sophisticated. The nozzles themselves create a consistent droplet spectrum and the booms are modified to improve uniformity and accuracy. Today, the rate variation across our swath is 7% compared to the 25% considered acceptable during my Grandfather’s day.

Our technology has grown dramatically as well. Our aircraft are all equipped with GPS guidance systems helping further reduce application variation. We use ArcMap geographic information system (GIS) mapping software that allows us to digitize unusual obstructions that may pose a risk to pilots, notify neighbors that request a notice prior to application and provides other tools that ensure pinpoint accurate application.

What safety challenges do you face not just for yourself and your employees, but also in relationship to surrounding fields, farm workers and the public and how do you promote a culture of safety?

The flying we do involves inherent risk due to the proximity in which we operate relative to obstructions.

Our company does everything humanly possible to mitigate this risk.

Roy Reabe in his first air-conditioned truck, circa 1980.

Regarding the safety of the pilots, our approach is simple.

We hire and retain pilots with a large amount of aerial application experience whom also have an exemplary safety record. However, we will train individuals and have one aerial applicator, who started with us as a mixer/ loader. His training began in 2009 and he just recently transitioned into piloting one of our turbine-powered aircraft. continued on pg. 12

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Interview. . . continued from pg. 11

Safety is everything regarding surrounding fields, farm workers and the public. As a company, we pursue perfection and our greatest emphasis involves reducing drift. Following are just a few of our safety steps: 1. Only use nozzles wind tunnel tested at the USDAAgricultural Research Station to produce the least amount of small droplets.

2. Developed and installed a spray boom system in all of our airplanes allowing pilots to change the overall droplet size in flight. Pilots can then disperse larger droplets near sensitive field edges and smaller droplets in the remainder of the field. Currently, only two other aircraft in the United States are equipped with this technology.

3. Incorporate inflight selector valves in the spray boom to reduce the amount of product lifted by the wingtip vortex, thereby further reducing offsite drift.

4. Run our aircraft through pattern testing clinics where University researchers analyze our spray pattern for uniformity and droplet size and test the efficacy of our droplet selector and boom selector valves. Additionally, we test for the optimum speed at which we should release product to maintain swath and droplet uniformity, further reducing spray drift.

5. Incorporate ArcMap GIS software into our business allowing us to overlay endless concerns such as locations of organic crops, beehives and neighbors Above: Reabe Spraying Service’s current fleet of seven turbo-prop powered Air Tractors. Middle: Damon Reabe grew up from an early age at the Waupun Airport. He is pictured here at the airport with his parents, Tom and Jill Reabe in 1974. Bottom: When Damon and Mary’s daughter Caroline and son Max, were little, they enjoyed sitting in an Air Tractor, using their imaginations to pretend they were flying.

12 BC�T July

requesting notification prior to spraying, on top of continually updated aerial imagery.

6. We are enrolled in registry tool, Driftwatch, that helps pesticide applicators and specialty crop growers communicate more effectively to help prevent and manage drift effects on sensitive/ protected areas and promote good stewardship activities.

7. Help growers select the least toxic product to control any given pest.

8. Developed a customer notification system that provides regulatory and compliance information required by law in a timely, condensed, easy to reference format.

Outsource services such as aerial applications can often become ‘rescue applications” or last minute scheduling. What problems occur

Originally, marker flags were used for swath spacing. Currently, Reabe’s uses GPS for swath spacing yet still install marker flags as a redundant measure in the event of GPS equipment failure.

when this happens and what would you suggest to growers to help avoid this situation?

Timely application is extremely important in pest control, especially for potatoes and other vegetables.

Our customers provide us with their

crop maps early in the season, often prior to planting. We then advance plan and only commit to spraying 50% of the capacity of our company.

During extended rain or wind that keep our aircraft parked for a day or two, we still catch up in a very short time. continued on pg. 14

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Interview. . . continued from pg. 13

When areas have periods of rain or soil conditions are not suitable for ground equipment, we do our very best to fulfill these ‘rescue applications’ but must first finish the work to which we previously committed.

My only advice to growers is to maintain a relationship with an aerial applicator of your choice and consider offering them regular work. By maintaining a business relationship with an applicator, ‘rescue applications’ to the whole farm can be prioritized, ensuring timely service in a time of extreme

weather and need.

What do you feel are the most important benefits a grower receives by utilizing the services of committed, trained professional aerial service applicator firms such as yours and what parameters should a grower consider when selecting an aerial services firm?

I think the single biggest benefit aerial spraying offers is timely application. Growers and UW researchers all agree, in order to control pests with the least amount of pesticide, you must perform

applications in a timely and thorough manner. Aerial application can accomplish that even over sizable acreages spread out over large geographical areas.

When selecting an aerial application firm, I suggest questioning the following aspects: 1. How experienced is the aerial application company in aerial applications of vegetable crops, particularly potatoes?

2. Does the firm have the facilities and enough equipment needed to get the job done in a timely and thoroughly manner?

3. Do other growers in the area have a longstanding relationship with the firm?

Are crop protection products safe?

Statistics from a study released by the Agricultural Health Study help illustrate how safe crop protection products are to humans.

Top: Today, aerial application aircraft are powered by jet engines, air-conditioned, heated and ergonomically designed for pilot comfort.

The dispersal and guidance systems are more sophisticated than ever before. Bottom: Our Reabe Air Tractor with the liquid dispersal system removed and dry dispersal system installed. Dry dispersal equipment is used to apply granular fertilizers and cover crop seeds.

14 BC�T July

The study is a collaborative effort involving investigators from National Cancer Institute, National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, Environmental Protection Agency and National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health. The study analyzed all of the deaths occurring from 1993 to 2007 among 89,656 pesticide applicators and spouses.

According to this study, pesticide handler mortality rates are 46% less than the general population and mortality rates from all cancers combined are 40% less than the general population. A similar study was conducted in the United Kingdom and the outcome was the same.

If crop protection products were harmful to humans, pesticide handlers would experience much higher mortality rates due to our intense exposure to pesticides relative to the overall general population.

In 2014, Reabe Spraying Service upgraded their helicopter to a more modern model. Helicopters are able to remain inside or very near the borders of the field and are operated for crop applications near sensitive neighbors or unusual obstructions.

Some people ask about the safety of pesticides to our environment.

Not only do I feel they are safe for the environment, but strongly believe they benefit the environment given the current demand for food, fiber and fuel. They help increase production on any land mass, lessening the need to convert

conservation land or forested areas, to agricultural use.

I think Dr. Patrick Moore, who played a significant role in Greenpeace Canada for several years, said it best “In fact, it's better pesticide science that has allowed North America continued on pg. 16

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Interview. . . continued from pg. 15

In 2011, Reabe's tested a new nozzle setup, using florescent dye as a marker. Notice the spray area on the right is ‘hazier’ than the left. This indicates that the right hand nozzles are producing more small droplets than those on the left. Reabe's confirmed a reduction in small droplets (less drift) and a significant improvement in pattern uniformity using University of Illinois pattern testing equipment and software. In 2012, they converted all aircraft to this arrangement.

to triple its food production while maintaining the same amount of forest cover as that which existed a century ago."

Why do we need crop protection products to grow food and other crops?

The list of reasons why we need crop protection products is as long as the list of pests that jeopardize crops.

Each spring, I share the following agricultural data from Wisconsin Blue Book with Ripon 7th graders'

on behalf of the Ripon FFA.

utilizing less land.

The amount of land in agricultural production in 2009 was 2.7 million acres less than in 1988 yet crop production increased as follows: four times more corn, seven times more soybeans, two times more green beans and one and a half times more peas.

During that same period, the State of Wisconsin purchased 500,000 acres of farmland (781 square miles) and converted it to conservation land, open to the public. Without pesticides, this achievement would not be possible.

This helps students understand the benefits of GMO’s, synthetic pesticides and fertilizers since there is an increase in production while

Explaining the need for pesticides is one of the most difficult challenges agriculture faces. The best way to overcome this challenge is for all of us to educate the public and our children to the ramifications of limiting or losing access to these tools.

Inter-seeding cover crops into existing crops is a growing part of Reabe Spraying Service's business. Here, a mix of cereal rye and barley applied by air is growing beneath the canopy of silage corn.

16 BC�T July

Today, those involved in agriculture are only 2% of society and that percentage will most likely continue shrinking. The 2% works very hard to produce the food, fiber and fuel our country and the world needs, making it difficult to find the time to educate the other 98% of the nation.

That is why we also need to lobby government (USDA, EPA and State of WI) and other interests to help educate society towards the benefits of crop protection products.

Badger Beat

New Twist on Insect Control Limiting Foodborne Pathogens

By Jose-Pablo Dundore-Arias1, Jeri Barak1 and Russell L. Groves2 University of Wisconsin, Department of Plant Pathology1 and Entomology2

Salmonella enterica is the leading cause of bacterial foodborne illness in the U.S. as described by Centers for Disease Control in the USA. In the last few decades, outbreaks attributed to Salmonella-contaminated fresh produce have increased and produce is now considered the most likely vehicle of disease transmission.

Plant contamination with this bacteria is thought to primarily enter a field before harvest and the bacteria then has the ability to adhere, colonize and persist in and on plant surfaces.

generally well documented in many agricultural systems, but very little is known about their ability to harbor or even influence the dispersal of enteric pathogens in the field.

The aster leafhopper, Macrosteles quadrilineatus (Fig. 1) is an important agricultural pest of several fresh vegetable crops and is regarded as the principal vector of aster yellows phytoplasma in several of our fresh and direct market agricultural crops.

Recent studies in our own labs demonstrated that this leafhopper can become contaminated with the bacterium after feeding on contaminated plant material and plant infestation with these insects enhanced the persistence of the pathogen on lettuce1.

This insect was also able to transmit externally attached and ingested bacteria to non-inoculated leaves continued on pg. 18

Domestic and wild-animals represent one of the main entry routes for the bacteria to gain access to produce fields, where they can directly contaminate plants or agricultural water through their excretion of contaminated waste.

Additionally, some types of insects, often associated with animal confinement operations, have been suggested as routes of introduction of human bacterial pathogens to produce fields by dispersing bacteria associated on their cuticle and then onto plant surfaces.

Importantly, plant contamination increases the possibilities that phytophagous (plant-feeding) insects could encounter a human enteric pathogen as a result of feeding or wandering on contaminated plant surfaces.

The abundance and distribution of different types of plant feeding insects within agricultural fields is

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Badger Beat. . . continued from pg. 17

or artificial diets, thereby serving as potential biological vectors of the bacterium2.

One additional route of transmission of these ingested bacteria was excretion in honeydew, the sugaryrich secretion (feces) deposited in large volumes on plant surfaces by phloem, or sap-feeding insects.

However, the status and sites of persistence of ingested S. enterica within this insect vector remains undetermined.

In a very recent study, we tried to determine if the bacteria (S. enterica) could colonize, and persist within the aster leafhopper for discrete time periods (days) after the insect had acquired the pathogen.

We speculated that this bacteria may be able to establish a temporary association with this specific plant feeding insect, and, in turn, enhance the bacterium’s survival and the persistence on plants and potentially the movement between plants.

To test this, we conducted several experiments to examine whether the bacterium could be acquired, through feeding, by the aster leafhopper, and then looked carefully to see if the bacterium could be found within the insect’s alimentary canal (e.g. guts) using microscopy.

Perhaps without too much surprise, we have been able to determine that this leafhopper can acquire the bacteria from contaminated plantsurfaces and ingest the bacteria into the guts where it could later be visualized.

Microscopic imaging further revealed the presence and persistence of a fluorescent version of this bacterium in various organs of the aster leafhopper after being fed an inoculated diet. Moreover, the insect was then able to harbor detectable populations of the bacteria for up to 48 hours.

The ingested S. enterica particles 18 BC�T July

Figure 1. Aster Leafhopper.

were observed in various portions of the insect guts following dissection (Fig. 2). The significance of these findings remains unclear; as we are unable to accurately suggest if this association poses any new risk for foodborne pathogen spread.

Most certainly, we have learned that an important agricultural pest species can, in fact, harbor these agents for short periods of time under appropriate conditions. Nevertheless, these data do not immediately conclude that there is an established ‘risk’ associated with the presence of these insects in agricultural fields.

The management of food safety risks has been undergoing quite a revolution as it adds new legislation in its risk analysis approaches. As the nation’s food supply becomes more global and complex, decisions about policies aimed at preventing contamination and illness have become even more important to the public’s health.

The Food and Drug Administration uses risk analysis to ensure that regulatory decisions about foods are science-based and new

legislation including the Food Safety Modernization Act 2011, (www.fda. gov/Food/GuidanceRegulation/FSMA) now possess very quantitative, riskassessment science underlying food safety decisions.

This evolution in thinking is not without its challenges, particularly in communications, as it pertains to adequately educated specialists and consumers alike. There is no question these advances in risk management have the potential for enhancing the scientific basis of our food safety systems.

What is transparent to risk assessors and risk managers who have had the advantage of advanced training in these techniques and concepts is often completely non-transparent to most of the non-technical stakeholders.

Without a major concerted effort to educate policy-makers as well as agricultural, foodservice and retail sectors, and consumers, the response to research outcomes like those which we have recently demonstrated with plant feeding insects may well be met with increased resistance.

The future of risk analysis approaches to food safety is bright, but only if we better understand the actual biological risks at each critical point of contact with our food.

(1) Soto-Arias JP, Groves RL, Barak JD. 2013.

Interaction of phytophagous insects with Salmonella enterica on plants and enhanced persistence of the pathogen with Macrosteles quadrilineatus infestation or Frankliniella occidentalis feeding. PLoS One 8(10):e79404. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0079404 (2) Soto-Arias JP, Groves RL, Barak JD. 2014.

Transmission and Retention of Salmonella enterica by Phytophagous Hemipteran Insects.

App Environ Microbiol 80(17):5447–5456. doi:10.1128/AEM.01444-14.

Figure 2. Presence of Salmonella enterica in the gut of aster leafhoppers.

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Moving Ahead Funding LPRCP

Article & Photos by Ruth Faivre

20 BC�T July

Boots on the ground are sometimes what it takes to comprehend the enormous potential of a large land-based project like the Little Plover River Conservancy Project (LPRCP).

That is why I recently donned hiking boots to traipse around various parts of the 140 acres devoted to LPRCP and the approximately 90 acres of Little Plover River Fishery Area lands owned by the DNR that surrounds the Little Plover River headwaters, water channels and road access points.

Norm Worzella, Worzella and Sons, who originally owned the property on which LPRCP will become a reality, was kind enough to drive me around and describe the terrain and adjacent regions so I could photograph some of the highlights.

LAY OF THE LAND The ‘journey’ allowed me to get my bearings as to where LPRCP was located and to see first hand the land, forest, fauna, wildlife and visualize the possibilities of this project as well as capture it through my camera lens.

Above Left: This photo is the southeast side of the property revealing the vast, prairie-like expanse.

Right: DNR wooded land borders the northern part of the project.

Opposite Page: A photo of the drainage ditch that runs north and south through the property.

As we drove into the project’s access off County Highway R, east of Plover, my first impression was how immense the project is. Saying “one hundred forty acres” is not the same as seeing it.

approximately 1,320’ by 3,300’.

One hundred of the acres are fairly flat and open, bordered by densely forested areas on the west, north and east sides and open to Black Oak Drive on the south side.

Currently planted to rye, a cover crop, the property is a rectangle

The forested areas on the east side are privately owned. The north side is continued on pg. 22

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Moving Ahead. . . continued from pg. 21

owned by the DNR but a parcel of 40 acres in the northeast corner belongs to the LPRCP. A large ditch runs north and south near the middle of the property, providing a harbor for redwing blackbirds, other feathered denizens and a plethora of butterflies and insects. It is easy to imagine the marsh and naturalized drainage destined for this area.

Anyone would be hard pressed to find a more suitable section of land than this property.

Since this was a cultivated field previously, there are no trees or underbrush to clear on at least 100 acres while the forested northeast parcel can continue to deliver wooded habitat variety.

Most of the project’s earth moving will focus on building berms for the 2.5-acre lake, shaping the wetlands and leveling walking/biking trails.

This view looks west towards the Del Monte Foods and Plover water towers.

PERCEPTIONS

of ground for years, you come to know its nuances, which become thoroughly etched in your mind.

Norm Worzella, who had not been on this particular parcel of land for some time, was surprised to see how overgrown the DNR land on either side of the Little Plover River had become. When you farm a piece

The underbrush and overgrowth in a number of areas had ‘choked’ the water stream and slowed the water flow down to a small trickle, even with June’s heavy rains. In other areas, the stream was a little larger

and moved a little faster but still only resembled a very small creek rather the Little Plover River he remembered.

It drove home how important LPRCP is to restoring the balance of the Little Plover River, and the power that this project might have towards influencing or encouraging similar projects around the state in the future.

PHASE ONE As a bit of history, during the project’s inception, Louis Wysocki approached Worzella regarding a land swap for the property because it was the perfect location and ideal topographical landscape. Worzella’s primary concern was to maintain the number of acres held within their family farming operation so the swap was a win-win situation for both of them.

This view looks west towards the Del Monte Foods and Plover water towers.

22 BC�T July

Wysocki then sold the property to the Village of Plover, who had secured a state grant from the Wisconsin

Department of Natural Resources and Portage County (Land Preservation Fund) to create a conservancy park.

The grant funds were enough to cover the land transaction while the Village of Plover secured the money required to develop a LPRCP Master Plan. However, additional funding will be required to complete theconstruction phase of this project.

PHASE TWO The LPRCP Board members then approached Wisconsin Potato & Vegetable Growers Association (WPVGA) to explore the possibility of uniting on this project and together, creating a charitable taxfree entity named Conservation of the Little Plover River. Growers and other individuals can then contribute funds and other in-kind donations directly into the Conservation of the Little Plover River entity.

At WPVGA's June Board meeting, their members voted to approve membership authorization in the Conservation of the Little Plover River, UA, which is a Wisconsin Unincorporated Association and allow the WPVGA Executive Director, Tamas Houlihan, to act as one of the funding entity’s board members, which also includes Tom Davies, Village of Plover President;

Like a hidden gem, the Little Plover River flows behind the densely overgrown brush on the northern side of the project. Great reason to wear hiking boots!

Dan Mahoney, Village of Plover Administrator; Jim Wysocki, Wysocki Family of Companies and Jeremie Pavelski, Heartland Farms Inc. PHRASE THREE Now that the Conservation of the Little Plover River funding vehicle has been established, LPRCP can move on to Phase Three and work towards completing these goals.

• Construct the Little Plover River Conservancy Area consistent with the Master Plan.

• Provide supplemental public access to the river and restore shorelines

and streambeds from Springville Pond to the headwaters.

• Refurbish Kennedy Avenue flow by removing drainage ditches while allowing for spring runoff when water levels are high.

• Build an all season agricultural/ nature center to educate and inform the public regarding Wisconsin’s rich agricultural traditions, crop facts, economic impact and good steward practices, while reinforcing the state’s commitment to natural resource and environmental protection. continued on pg. 24

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BC�T July 23

Moving Ahead. . . continued from pg. 23

• Construct nature trails connecting the Little Plover River conservancy area to the Green Circle, Tomorrow River Trail, and surrounding residential areas.

• Excavate a 2.5-acre pond; use excavated materials to build berms and a sledding hill on the south limits of the property.

• Create a wetland area with an elevated walkway and establish new wetland areas in the Little Plover River headwaters.

• Establish hunting and fishing access and erect blinds for wildlife watching, hunting, including handicapped accessible hunting.

• Improve fish and wildlife habitats.

• Design and build pavilions, group shelters and parking areas.

• Create educational learning opportunities with dedicated kiosks and signage within each pavilion and along LPRCP trails.

• Create prairie forest areas consistent with the Master Plan.

• Promote many opportunities for educational interaction such as school-based tree and prairie planting programs that would be supervised by UWSP College of Natural Resources students.

ONLINE DONATIONS Implementation of the LPRCP Master Plan will require funding from private and public donors and parties interested in developing a much greater and balanced use of water and natural resources.

Fortunately, an established, wellrespected, online funding donation tool already exists in our area: the Community Foundation of Central Wisconsin, www.cfcwi.org.

The Community Foundation of Central Wisconsin is a leading voice and catalyst for connecting donors, nonprofit organizations, professional advisors, community leaders and other partners to inspire charitable giving and improve the quality of life in our communities.

They work directly with donors and

Above: Norm Worzella and David Worzalla chat on a bridge overlooking part of the Little Plover River.

Not as overgrown as other areas, this section appears to flow more freely. Left: Taken off Kennedy Ave, on the Little Plover River bridge, looking east towards Myron M. Soik & Sons, Inc. farm, this photo illustrates ‘chokepoints’ where the river appears to slow down to a trickle and is only the width of a small creek.

24 BC�T July

Above: A small rapids on the Little Plover River. Left: A screenshot of the Conservation of the Little Plover River online donation page.

nonprofit organizations to educate them about issues affecting their communities and offer support for their charitable goals, providing visionary leadership, effective grant making and endowment building services.

The Community Foundation of Central Wisconsin helped the Conservation of the Little Plover River board set up their funding page, which is now live, and serves as a vehicle to channel gifts from grower, individual and corporate donors. The page is accessible on an alphabetical List of Funds page: www. cfcwi.org/give/list-of-funds.html.

Iou are reading our online version, simply click the link above to proceed directly to the funding page.

ALTERNATIVE FUNDING OPTIONS If you prefer to donate by check or in-kind donations, or wish to speak to someone live about your pledges/ involvement, especially in reference to Special Recognition Sponsorship levels at right, please contact: Jeremie Pavelski, Heartland Farms, jpavelski@hfinc.biz or Jim Wysocki, Wysocki Family of Companies jim.wysocki@rpespud.com.

LPRCP, a far-reaching project, will resonate throughout Wisconsin and attract citizens of all ages and interests: agricultural, educational, environmental, conservationists, universities, wildlife/birding enthusiasts, hunting/fishing buffs and more.

Consider leaving your mark on tomorrow by helping fund or provide in-kind donations to help steer this project towards a solid reality.

If you have any questions regarding any aspect of this project or its fundraising campaign, please feel free to contact any board member.

SPECIAL RECOGNITION SPONSORSHIP LEVELS Gold Sponsor -$50,000 Silver Sponsor - $25,000 Bronze Sponsor - $10,000 You can also partner with this project through in-kind donations, which will play an important part in its success. Donating your professional and organizational skills, heavy equipment, building supplies and landscaping/hardscaping components for tasks like clearing land and brush, landscaping and construction will help make this project a success BC�T July 25

Gerri Okray Salutes Her Readers & WPVGA

By Ruth Faivre, Managing Editor

AN OPEN LETTER FROM GERRI OKRAY Dear Readers, After 36 years of writing the What’s Cookin’ column in the Badger Common’Tater and approximately 1,250 recipes later, I am “retiring” my pen.

Being involved in the potato industry and promoting my favorite vegetable over the past forty some years has been a very exciting, satisfying and rewarding time for me.

During that time, I have met some wonderful people whether working at the State Fair, being in the Auxiliary, serving as Auxiliary President, active on the Potato Board or volunteering for various spud functions.

There has been a lot of progress and changes in the potato and vegetable industry over these many years and I am proud to say that Wisconsin continues to be a leader and has a strong commitment to agricultural policies and practices. We have outstanding leadership and the future looks fantastic!

I hope in some small way I have helped to promote our industry and that my readers have enjoyed the recipes as much as I have relished sharing them.

Above: Gerri Okray stands in an Okray Family Farms, Inc. potato field in the mid-90s. Left: This photo is from a 1991 Cooperative Partners magazine article that discussed Gerri Okray’s position as the first woman to serve on the National Potato Growers Board in 1989.

26 BC�T July

Sincerely,

Gerri Okray

SOLID SUPPORTER Gerri Okray comes by her boundless enthusiasm, support and service for the potato industry quite naturally.

Okray’s husband, Al, was part owner and operator for Okray Produce Co., one of the state’s oldest and largest potato farms, before he passed away in 1999 at the age of 70.

With three generations involved in Okray Family Farms and while also raising her children, James, Tracy and Vicki, Gerri actively and endlessly marketed, merchandised and promoted potatoes, believing that it was her opportunity, “to make a difference” and to show that there is a place for women in all aspects of farming.

Okray fondly refers to potatoes as “the eighth wonder of the world.”

NATIONAL ‘FIRST’ In 1989, Okray’s knowledge and experience earned her a seat on the National Potato Growers Board.

Nominated for the position by her Wisconsin peers and appointed by Secretary of Agriculture, Clayton Yeutter, Okray was the first woman ever to serve on the board.

Okray recognized that when it comes to potatoes, women are the major purchasers and therefore, advertising needed to capture their attention.

While on the National Potato Growers Board, she provided insight from the female and a consumers’ perspective.

During this time, the Board also focused on food safety and educating the public regarding potatoes, “We wanted to inform the public of just how potatoes are safely grown and processed in the United States,” explains Okray.

“These were some of the toughest challenges facing growers then and now,” states Okray. “Back in the ‘90s, Okray Family Farms implemented ‘Best Management Practices’ for their acres of potato, snap beans, sweet and field corn, which continue today and will persevere into the future.”

August 1993, Gerri Okray (middle right in white jacket) poses with WPVGA members at their new State Fair booth.

from her son, James, who served as President of the Wisconsin Potato & Vegetable Growers Association (WPVGA), that same year.

AUXILIARY HISTORY Okray was one of the pioneering women who launched the Wisconsin Potato Growers Auxiliary in 1976 and was elected to the first Board of Directors and served as its President for three separate terms.

In 1995, the Wisconsin potato industry was fortunate to have strong leadership not only from Gerri Okray as President of the Auxiliary but also

N V S

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continued on pg. 28

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With Okray’s help, the Auxiliary published three cookbooks. The first one was potato-shaped and was displayed at the first Auxiliary’s first Wisconsin State Fair booth. The other two cookbooks were distributed

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Gerri Okray. . . continued from pg. 27

nationwide and purchased by over 52,000 consumers.

Growers used coupons printed on their potato bags to advertise the cookbook for sale.

According to Okray, “Our goal for the cookbooks was to prove how versatile potatoes really are! Most people think mashed, baked, boiled or fried and do not really experiment beyond those areas.”

“Our cookbooks had an extensive variety of potato recipes ranging from hors d’oeuvres all the way to desserts,” Okray continues. “It was complete with time-saving microwave recipes and tips with dishes so easy to fix, children could even make them.”

Active at fairs and events, Gerri and Pat Okray chaired the committee for the first potato booth at the Wisconsin State Fair where the Auxiliary served thousands of giant baked potatoes with all the trimmings and pre-cooked potato dishes for consumers to sample.

They also helped promote the nutritional value and merits of potatoes through statewide television and radio advertising. “Packed with protein, vitamins and fiber, potatoes taste great, too,” says Okray.

WHAT’S COOKIN’ With her love for all things culinary when it came to potatoes, it was only natural that in 1979, Okray took over the What’s Cookin’ column from a WPVGA employee.

Okray featured two to three recipes from her huge Above: Gerri Okray holding granddaughter, Annalisa Okray, grandson Alex Okray in the middle, husband Al holding granddaughter Kaitlyn Peskie, in 1996. Middle: Jim Okray and his mother, Gerri Okray, served as presidents of two potato grower organizations simultaneously in 1995. Jim was President of the Wisconsin Potato & Vegetable Growers Association Board of Directors while Gerri was President, Wisconsin Potato & Vegetable Growers Auxiliary.

Bottom: Gerri Okray is in the middle, son Jim on the left and husband Al in 1992.

28 BC�T July

collection in the "What’s Cookin’" column in each Badger Common’Tater issue, which ran monthly.

While Okray’s letter to her readers at the start of this article announces her retirement from writing her What’s Cookin’ column, she will not be forgotten and leaves behind a tremendous legacy of recipes.

Okray extends her best wishes to her successor, fellow Auxiliary member, Ali Carter, and wants her to know that if she ever needs any recipe ideas, she can draw from Okray’s collection of which she only scratched the surface during her many years writing her recipe column.

With the new online format of Badger Common’Tater soon to be extended to past issues as well as current, these recipes will be readily available for readers’ enjoyment once more.

If you want to be informed when these issues become available, be sure to subscribe to our free online

The 1996 Wisconsin Potato Growers Auxiliary Board of Directors. Front row (L-R) Sharon Wysocki (Treasurer), Judy Schroeder (Vice President) and Linda Bacon (Secretary). Back row (L-R) Gerri Okray (President) and Board members Sharon Yeska, Lynn Isherwood, Lori Erdman and Karen Spychalla. Ellen Brilowski was not present.

format magazine list at this link: http://wisconsinpotatoes.com/blognews/subscribe and you will receive a notice by email when the issues are

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BC�T July 29

Ruder Ware

WOTUS: Something More Than Actually Navigable Waters

By Russell W. Wilson

The joint initiative of the United States Environmental Protection Agency (“EPA”) and the United States Army Corps of Engineers (“Corps”) to define the “waters of the United States (WOTUS)” is the result of three U.S. Supreme Court cases that develop the “significant nexus” test of jurisdiction under the Clean Water Act (“CWA”). This article discusses the case that defined one end of the spectrum - the one in which all nine justices agreed that the “waters of the United States” means something beyond traditionally navigable waters.

In United States v. Riverside Bayview Homes, Inc., 474 U.S. 121 (1985) Riverside Bayview Homes, Inc. (“Bayview”) was a developer that planned to build a housing project in a wetland that extended to a navigable waterway, Black Creek, which flows into Lake St. Claire in Michigan.

Bayview placed fill materials in the wetland without having been issued a permit by the Corps. The Corps sued Bayview.

30 BC�T July

A unanimous supreme court held that the jurisdiction of the CWA extends to wetlands that are adjacent to traditionally navigable waters. The decision, authored by Justice White, notes that in promulgating regulations so as to implement congressional intent, “the Corps must necessarily choose some point at which the water ends and land begins.”

Defining that point is “no easy task.”

The court observes that, “between open waters and dry land may lie shallows, marshes, mudflats, swamps, bogs - in short, a huge array of areas that are not wholly aquatic but nevertheless fall far short of being dry land.” The decision notes that where “waters” end is “far from obvious.”

The Court looked to the purpose of the Federal Water Pollution Control Act Amendments of 1972: “to restore and maintain the chemical, physical, and biological integrity of the Nation’s waters.” The objective of the 1972 amendments “incorporated a broad, systemic view of the goal of maintaining and improving water quality.”

The Court observes that Congress intended that aquatic ecosystems be protected, which requires broad federal authority because “water moves in hydrologic cycles and it is essential that discharge of pollutants be controlled at the source.”

The Corps had determined in its regulations that wetlands adjacent to navigable waters play a key role in protecting and enhancing water quality. “The regulation of activities that cause water pollution cannot rely on . . . artificial lines . . . but must focus on all waters that together form the entire aquatic system. Water moves in hydrologic cycles, and the pollution of this part of the aquatic system, regardless of whether it is above or below an ordinary high water mark, or mean high tide line, will affect the water quality of the other waters within that aquatic system.”

“For this reason, the landward limit of Federal jurisdiction under Section 404 must include any adjacent wetlands that form the border of or are in reasonable proximity to other

waters of the United States, as these wetlands are part of this aquatic system.”

The Supreme Court held that the Corps’ regulations were reasonable in light of the purpose of the Clean Water Act. Accordingly, the Court interpreted the jurisdiction of the Clean Water Act to extend to wetlands that are adjacent to navigable waters.

The court acknowledges that the Corps had made an “ecological judgment about the relationship between waters and their adjacent wetlands” as providing “an adequate basis for a legal judgment that adjacent wetlands may be defined as waters under the Act.” The regulations recognize that such wetlands may filter and purify water that drains into adjacent water bodies; they may slow the flow of runoff and thereby prevent erosion and flooding; they may serve important biological functions “including food chain production, general habitat, and nesting, spawning, rearing and resting sites for aquatic…species.”

Photos by Ruth Faivre.

The Corps’ regulations had concluded that wetlands adjacent to navigable waters may function as integral parts of the aquatic system “even when moisture creating the wetlands does not find its source in the adjacent bodies of water.”

This article is the second part of this series exploring the "waters of the United States." © 2015 Ruder Ware, L.L.S.C. Accurate reproduction with acknowledgment granted. All rights reserved.

This document provides information of a general nature regarding legislative or other legal developments, and is based on the state of the law at the time of the original publication of this article. None of the information contained herein is intended as legal advice or opinion relative to specific matters, facts, situations, or issues, and additional facts and information or future developments may affect the subjects addressed.

You should not act upon the information in this document without discussing your specific situation with legal counsel.

BC�T July 31

Top 10 Agribusiness Succession Planning Roadblocks & How to Avoid Them

By Jeff Peterson, Principal, CLA

Many farmers expect to pass on their farm someday, most likely to their children, but possibly to another family member, an employee or an outside buyer.

This change in farm ownership is a common strategy to fund the farmer’s retirement and carry the family farm down through the generations.

However, every business owner faces roadblocks that threaten to thwart his or her dream. Whether you or a family member owns a farm, or you are in line to become an owner, here is a checklist of hazards you will want to avoid.

1. WAITING TOO LONG TO START PLANNING

In a national survey of manufacturing and distribution companies, we asked business owners how prepared they are for a leadership or ownership transition.

Just 19 percent said they are “very prepared,” 54 percent said “somewhat prepared,” and 27 percent said “somewhat unprepared.”

32 BC�T July

Many farmers leave succession planning until the last moment — if they plan at all. Yet an ideal succession plan requires laying the groundwork over many years. Some experts recommend planning your exit strategy from the day you start the business.

How you want to leave the farm tomorrow strongly influences how you structure and operate the farm today.

2. ASSUMING A FAMILY MEMBER WILL TAKE OVER THE BUSINESS While many children may want to eventually take over the family farm, not all do. Perhaps your child really wants to be a schoolteacher, minister or doctor instead of a farmer.

It is critical to talk to your children about what they want for themselves.

Encourage them to work in the farm, but do not pressure them. It is not fair to them, and it will probably mean trouble for the farm if you attempt to shove them into a role they do not want.

You will want to know every family member’s desires as soon as practical so you can pursue other avenues if necessary, such as selling to a valued employee or outside buyer.

3. DIVIDING THE BUSINESS EQUALLY AMONG HEIRS

Equal ownership among heirs is usually a recipe for disaster because different skills and different visions inevitably lead to conflicts. Ultimately, one person needs to run the farm.

That is why it is so important to plan well in advance, to see who among your heirs has the talent, genuine desire and requisite skills to run the business.

If a certain heir does not want to be involved, devise a way to gift that person other assets, or perhaps nonvoting shares (though this, too, can lead to conflicts).

4. WAITING TOO LONG TO GIVE REAL AUTHORITY TO THE HEIR

Another common roadblock is waiting too long to give genuine responsibility and authority to a potential heir.

Involve the person in your decisions and let him or her make real decisions. Let the future owner build relationships with vendors, employees and customers.

After all, you made mistakes when you were starting and growing the farm. Let the next generation make mistakes and learn from them, just like you did.

5. TRUSTING YOUR SUCCESSOR This goes along with the failure to give your heir genuine authority.

While you do not want to trust someone blindly just because that person is family, do not be so suspicious that you are constantly peering over his or her shoulder.

This creates an atmosphere of distrust. Whether you are working with a family member or an outside party, there is always a level of risk in leadership transition.

An advisory (nonvoting) board is generally a productive way to establish a framework for communication and accountability without creating mistrust between generations.

6. NOT HAVING YOUR POTENTIAL SUCCESSOR(S) WORK FOR ANOTHER BUSINESS

It is sometimes a good idea to encourage an heir to work a while for someone else before committing to the family business.

This can be valuable training and provide a clearer sense of whether that person ultimately wants to run the show.

family money.

This is a disservice to your heirs and potentially a disaster for the farm.

The sooner you can reveal your plans, the sooner everyone can get on board. It also gives you time to modify the plan, if necessary. Keep all parties informed, perhaps through periodic family meetings.

8. DREADING YOUR RETIREMENT YEARS

Retirement can be difficult for any farmer because the farm is often the all-consuming center of the farmer’s life and personal identity.

Without a clear sense of what you want to do in retirement, you will almost inevitably drift back to the family business; frequently meddling in how it is being run — often to the detriment of the farm and family relations.

9. PLANNING ON YOUR OWN Business succession planning is complicated (we have not even discussed tax issues here) and fraught with landmines. Outside advice can be invaluable, particularly from someone who can lead family

©2015 CliftonLarsonAllen LLP

Many farmers never give it up until the day they retire — only to learn painfully that the heir is not up to the task.

meetings and ease conflicts with knowledge, experience, and an objective perspective.

10. AVOIDING THE JOURNEY AND LOOKING FOR A COOKIE CUTTER PROCESS There are no short cuts to a successful business succession plan. It is more like a journey than a destination, and like many journeys in life, it can be fun and fruitful for all who go with you.

From a distance, every family-owned farm may look the same, but like snowflakes, no two are really alike when you look at them closely. That is why it is so important to create a customized succession plan that addresses your unique needs.

CliftonLarsonAllen Wealth Advisors, LLC Please refer to the site disclaimers (http://www.

CLAconnect.com/disclaimer and http://www.

CLAconnect.com/Wealth-Advisors/Disclosures/) to review disclosures and legal terms of use ("Terms") carefully before using this CliftonLarsonAllen LLP and its affiliates ("CliftonLarsonAllen") material ("Material"). By using this Material, you indicate that you acknowledge and accept these Terms. © 2015 CliftonLarsonAllen LLP | CLAconnect.com

GROW STRONG Cultivate solid business practices and work with people who understand accounting, payroll, tax, and farming.

Wealth Advisory Outsourcing Audit, Tax, and Consulting Investment advisory services are offered through CliftonLarsonAllen Wealth Advisors, LLC, an SEC-registered investment advisor.

7. BEING SECRETIVE ABOUT YOUR PLANS

Farmers frequently play their succession plans close to their chest.

Perhaps they are worried about stirring up family conflicts or they just do not like to talk about the

Jeff Peterson 715-344-4984 | CLAconnect.com

BC�T July 33

People

Roy W. Reabe Obit

Roy W. Reabe, 94, passed away Sunday, May 24, 2015 at his home i n Waupun, with his wife and family at his side.

Roy was born February 28, 1921 in Otter Tail County, MN the son of Frank W. and Lottie J. Severson Reabe. As a young child, Roy and his family moved to the Iron Ridge/Mayville area. Roy married Helen Hilbert on June 10, 1947 in Mayville, WI. Roy’s lifelong interest was aviation, beginning at age 6 when he went for his first plane ride in an open cockpit barnstormer. He began to realize his dream by learning to fly in Waukesha, WI. Roy served his country during WWII as a flight instructor, fighter aircraft delivery pilot and flying troops and supplies over the Himalayan Mountains (“Over the Hump”) between India and China. He returned in January 1946 and opened the Waupun Airport offering flight instruction to returning Serviceman and charter flight service.

In the early 1950’s, Roy began offering local canning companies near Waupun aerial dusting and spraying services. By the mid 1950’s Roy began providing application services to the many lettuce producers throughout Wisconsin.

In 1966, Roy and Helen expanded the business into Plainfield and Plover, WI providing service to the newly arriving canning companies in that part of Wisconsin. Two years later, Roy was able to convince a small number of central sands potato growers that airplanes could control late blight.

That small group of approximately eight growers (some of whom are still Reabe Spraying Service, Inc.’s customers to this day) were impressed with the results, turning over more of their pest control needs to Roy’s service.

In 1978, Roy’s last season of operation before transitioning business to his four sons, he operated over twenty aircraft throughout the entire state of Wisconsin, almost exclusively performing applications to vegetable crops. Roy’s four sons and one grandson continue his agricultural aviation legacy today operating Reabe Spraying Service Inc in Waupun, Plainfield and Plover, WI.

He often said, “I was very fortunate to earn a living doing what I love.” If one word could describe what was most important to Roy, it would be “family.” His greatest joy in life was spending time with Helen, their children, grandchildren and greatgrandchildren. He and Helen went to great lengths to instill family values, integrity and an intense work ethic into all of their lives.

Roy was inducted into the Wisconsin Aviation Hall of Fame and received both the Federal Aviation Administration Master Pilot and Master Mechanic Awards. Roy accumulated over 30,000 hours of flight time and taught over 1000 people to fly including his four sons and five of his grandchildren.

Roy is survived by his wife of 68 years, Helen; a daughter, Bonita Rosenthal (David Vandre) of Almond, WI; four sons: Thomas (Jill) Reabe of Waupun and their sons, Damon & Nathan; J.R. (Teresa) Reabe of Plover and their children, Matthew, Brent, Christa, Sarah, and Becky; Jeffrey (Marcie) Reabe of Plainfield and their children, Gretchen, Troy, Heath, and Tyler; and Robert Reabe of Waupun; 17 greatgrandchildren; and numerous relatives and friends.

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Roy W. Reabe (February 28, 1921- May 24, 2015)

He was preceded in death by his parents; two brothers: Gordon Reabe and Lawrence Severson; four sisters: Helen Scharnell, Fern Justman, Jeannette Steger and Opal Pankow; brothers-in-law: Frank Scharnell and Norbert Justman; sister-in-law, Eleanor Severson; grandson, Joshua Reabe; and daughter-in-law, Diana Reabe.

Left to Right: Chad, Boehlke Bottled Gas, Mequon WI; Becky Hornblower, GROWMARK, Inc.; Jim Olson, COMO Oil & Propane, MN; Emma Shultz, Executive Assistant, Wisconsin Propane Gas Association (WPGA); Chris Tews, Dale Oil & Propane/President WPGA, Dale, WI; Lewis Bowman, Frontier-Servco FS/WPGA Director, Antigo; Wisconsin State Representative Sean Duffy, Wausau, WI; Gary France, France Propane, Schofield, WI; Roger Boehlke, Boehlke Bottled Gas, Mequon WI; Jim Buege, Frontier-Servco FS, Jefferson, WI.

Frontier-Servco FS Attends 2015 Propane Days Capitol Hill, Washington, D.C. Members of the Frontier-Servco FS propane department management team and the GROWMARK, Inc. propane marketing and technical services team attended Propane Days on Capitol Hill in Washington, D.C., which was held June 8-10.

Propane industry members had the opportunity to talk candidly with Members of Congress about important issues facing the propane industry.

Hot topics discussed at this year’s Propane Days included: • Leveling the playing field by exempting propane Autogas dual-fueled vehicles from the Corporate Average Fuel Economy (CAFE) to encourage the continued

development of all alternative fueled vehicles.

• Equalization of highway taxes on propane and gasoline.

• Extension of two critical tax incentives that expired at the end of 2014: 50 cent per gallon Alternative Fuel Credit and Alternative Fuel Vehicle Refueling Property Credit.

• Encourage Members of Congress to join the newly formed Congressional Propane Caucus, which was established to provide a bipartisan forum to engage Members of Congress, their staff and the public on issues of importance to propane consumers and the propane industry. continued on pg. 36

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BC�T July 35

People. . . continued from pg. 35

Frances H. Guth Obit Frances H. Guth of Bancroft died early Tuesday morning, June 9, 2015 at Whispering Pines Assisted Living Center in Plover while under the care of Ministry Hospice.

Age 90, Frances was born March 28, 1925 in Junction City. She was the daughter of the late John and Regina (Przybylski) Polley. Her marriage to John R. Guth took place on February 9, 1946 at St. Paul’s Catholic Church in Plainfield. After their marriage, the couple settled in the Town of Buena Vista. Her husband John preceded her in death on March 21, 2005.

Frances was a loving, active woman who worked hard to support and care for her family. She worked in a variety of positions: as a riveter for Douglas Aircraft, as a waitress at Two Lakes Supper Club in Almond, and as head banquet waitress at the Holiday Inn in Stevens Point. She also ran the stand selling apples at Guth’s Hillside Orchard, all the while making sure her family was fed and her house was clean. She was one of those people who could turn a meal for two into enough food to feed 10 at the drop

June 2015

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36 BC�T July

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of a hat, and that skill came in handy because family and friends loved to visit. They especially loved her homemade chicken noodle soup and her famous apple pie. She was the queen of rockabye, a cardsharp at pinochle, and the sweetest, happiest person anyone could hope to meet.

Frances was a lifetime member of the Almond American Legion Auxiliary.

Survivors include her daughter, Catherine A. Guth and one son Thomas J. (Margaret) Guth, both of Bancroft.

Her five grandchildren; Joanne Coyle, Jennifer (Bryant) Stempski, Janelle (Christopher) Bentley, John (Amanda) Ruzicka and David Brierley.

Nine great grandchildren; Ethan, Carter, McKenna, Megan, Richard, Sophia, Jacob, Hayden and Clayton and one brother Eugene (Alice) Polley of Bancroft.

She was preceded in death by her husband John, and her siblings Diane, Dorothy, George and Mabel.

Frances' family would like to offer a

Frances H. Guth (March 28, 1925-June 9, 2015)

special thank you to Helen Hutkowski for her care and loving patience these last few years.

Funeral Mass was at 11:00 A.M. Friday, June 12, 2015 at St. Paul’s Catholic Church in Plainfield, Rev. Paul Lippert officiatied. Burial was at the St. Martin Parish Cemetery. The Pisarski Community Funeral Home of Plover is honored to have served the family. Online condolences may be sent by visiting www.pisarskifuneralhome.com

Badger Common’Tater

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NPC News

NPC Applauds TPA Passage The National Potato Council (NPC) applauds the vote by the U.S. Senate last Friday to approve trade promotion authority (TPA) legislation to ensure that trade agreements negotiated by the President can be considered by Congress on a simple up or down vote.

When approved by the House of Representatives, TPA will provide the opportunity for Congress to consider the Trans Pacific Partnership, a multilateral trade agreement with Pacific Rim countries that will lower or eliminate tariffs faced by U.S. exports of potatoes and potato products.

Currently one out of every five rows of potatoes grown in the U.S. is destined for export markets. The level of tariffs levied on imports by our trading partners can eliminate export opportunities when our international competitors face lower tariffs. Trade agreements reduce or eliminate tariffs and create fairer competition in

the market place. “Potato producers in the U.S. can compete with any farmer in the world if the playing field is level. We win when we negotiate and approve trade agreements that eliminate tariffs and allow us to compete based on how productive and efficient we are,” said NPC President Dan Lake.

The potato industry is committed to developing export markets for U.S. fresh potatoes and frozen potato products. Exports of potatoes and potato products from the U.S. have been greatly enhanced by free trade agreements and are poised for further growth. Since 1989, exports have risen 735% to $1.7 billion in 2014.

“Continuing to grow exports of potatoes is good for consumers abroad and good for our growers. Consumers overseas are eager to purchase high quality, nutritious U.S. potatoes,” said Lake. continued on pg. 38

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NPC News. . . continued from pg. 37

Secretary Vilsack Receives Conservation Compliance Letter Twenty members of Congress who represent districts with significant specialty crop production sent a letter to USDA Secretary Tom Vilsack, in mid-June, highlighting constituent concerns on the Farm Bill mandate linking conservation compliance

with crop insurance eligibility. The new requirement is expected to impact thousands of specialty crop growers who may have never filed form AD-1026 with the Farm Service Agency (FSA) certifying the wetlands and Highly Erodible Land (HEL)

determinations on their farms.

The letter seeks answers from USDA on the ability of FSA and the Risk Management Agency (RMA) to coordinate databases and to make the timely determinations required to preserve crop insurance eligibility.

Latest On “Wotus” Ruling Both the House and Senate approved bills in mid-June, aiming to block the Waters of the United States (WOTUS) rule.

The House Appropriation's Interior and Environment Sub-Committee signed off on a 2016 spending bill that would prohibit the use of government funding to implement the rule.

In the Senate, the Environment and Public Works Committee voted in favor of EPA withdrawing the rule and

38 BC�T July

offering an opportunity for people to weigh in on a new proposal.

In additional WOTUS unease, CropLife America has raised concerns over inconsistencies in EPA's final Waters of the United States (WOTUS) rule.

The pesticide industry group claims in a statement that the rule lacks clarity and the agency has left room for the rule to cover agriculture.

Group President Jay Vroom said in the statement, "The crop protection

industry, along with farmers and ranchers, recognizes the necessity of ensuring clean water and other natural resources. However, the current solution offered by EPA is not a realistic or appropriate step forward. All of agriculture must be a part of this conversation. Through true collaboration, we can better protect our water supply for future generations."

Photo by Ruth Faivre

Potato Board News

Vietnam’s MegaStar Cinebox Switches to U.S. Fries MegaStar Cinebox, a theater chain with 10 outlets in Ho Chi Minh City, has switched to U.S. fries instead of product sourced from the EU for their snack menu with two flavors, original and cheese shake. This snack can be ordered online or in concession lines. Theater staff will deliver fry orders to seated patrons before their movie starts.

Presently, about 600kgs (1,323 pounds, roughly) of U.S. fries are used monthly, and the company expects usage to soon increase to a metric ton per month. This success is a result from USPB trade visits and a tailored seminar about developing U.S. potato products for light menu applications.

Reverse Trade Mission Shows U.S. Potatoes from Fields to Fork In May, the United States Potato Board sponsored a reverse trade mission with 39 international participants that began in Washington State’s potato fields then on to Oregon to examine the cold chain and learn more about the “Why Buy US” program, then on to the National Restaurant Association Show.

USPB Global Food Service Marketing Manager, Susan Weller, shares more about what participants saw after their tour in the Pacific Northwest. “This year we did it, in Spring, in May, for a number of reasons,” says Weller.

“We were able to hook up with the NRA — the National Restaurant Association Show in Chicago. Including me, 25

people went to Chicago to the NRA show. We were able to have them meet different potato industry people and see what is available in terms of exciting new food trends.”

“It was actually really fun because some of them got into action as our Board Chair, Carl Hoverson, had a booth and they helped him cook some fresh potato chips.” Weller continues,” They learned a lot—basically, from field to fork.

According to Weller, everyone came up and said, ‘This is perfect, I learned so much, and I really want to be able to use all of this information back in my home country.’” continued on pg. 40 BC�T July 39

Potato Board News. . . continued from pg. 39

Executive Assistant Joins USPB Team The United States Potato Board (USPB) is pleased to announce Carrie Brown has joined its team as Executive Assistant. She most recently served as human resources and purchasing manager for Doud BTS, Inc., multistate, multi-unit commercial construction, oil and gas company.

As Executive Assistant at the USPB, Brown will support USPB President and CEO Blair Richardson in all highlevel administrative functions, while also assisting the USPB Chairman and senior management team.

She will conduct research, prepare correspondence, manage expenses

and statistical reporting, and schedule executive travel, appointments and meetings. She will manage the USPB’s corporate travel account and the organization’s office space, including lease negotiations and projects. She will also assume all human resource duties and responsibilities at the USPB. Brown has 17 years of experience in human resources, purchasing, payroll, customer service and account transactions. She studied accounting, finance and bookkeeping at the Community College of Denver.

Carrie Brown

Potato Lovers Club Bloggers Crowned Winners of Speedy Spud Challenge Many delicious Potato Lovers Club (PLC) blogger recipes were entered in the “Speedy Spuds Challenge,” but only two bloggers could be crowned as the winners.

After a recipe tasting and judging session, the United States Potato

Board (USPB) announced Lori of Fake Food Free and Meagan of a Zesty Bite as the winners of the recipe challenge.

Lori’s 30 Minute Breakfast Bowls make breakfast easy, delicious and even trendy, while Meagan’s Hash Brown Sausage Balls make a terrific kid-

friendly and portable option for any time of day.

Lori and Meagan will travel to Chicago to act as potato ambassadors at the annual Eat, Write, Retreat food blogger conference.

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Global Food & Agricultural Issues Addressed at Ninth WPC UN-FAO official, Percy Wachata Misika, will address important global food and agricultural issues in one of the keynote speeches during the Ninth World Potato Congress, Misika, a national of Namibia, holds a diploma in Agricultural Extension from Cwaka Agricultural College, South Africa, Bachelor of Agricultural Administration majoring in Agricultural Economics from University of the North, Transvaal, South Africa and M.Sc. in Agricultural Extension from the University of Reading, United Kingdom.

Organization Negotiations on Agriculture and Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures (SPS). He joined the United Nations FAO in 2005 and served as FAO Representative in China since 2011.

Misika's message is quite timely. This is an opportunity you will not want to miss. Time to register is running out.

Click logo or copy and paste URL into your search engine: www.2015bjwpc. com.

Dr. Ke Bingsheng

Misika started his career in 1980 as Administrative Assistant in the Department of Health and Welfare, Namibia. In 1991, he was appointed Chief Agricultural Training Officer under the Ministry of Agriculture.

By 1995 Misika was designated Deputy Director for Agricultural Training Department in the Ministry of Agriculture, Water and Rural Development.

From 1996 to 2005, he served as Under-Secretary of Department of Agriculture and Rural Development.

During that period, he also acted as Deputy Permanent Secretary at the Ministry and as Minister Counsellor at the Embassy of Namibia in Paris, France. From there, he represented his country to FAO, the World Food Programme (WFP), the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) and World Organization for Animal Health (OIE).

He was also Head of the Namibian Delegation to the World Trade BC�T July 41

Now News

Volm Opens New California Facility

Volm Companies cut the ribbon on its new Distribution and Service Center on Thursday, May 14, in Fresno, California, welcoming customers for an inside look with an open house.

President and CEO Daniel Mueller and Vice President Michael Hunter did the ribbon snipping to open the facility before welcoming everyone.

Other key members of the Volm leadership team that aided the opening included John Bandsma, COO/ CFO; Scott Erickson, Vice President of Equipment; Matthew Alexander and Vice President of Sales & Marketing.

California account managers, field service technicians and members of the Fresno distribution staff were also present, along with a number of ambassadors and representatives of the Fresno Area Chamber of Commerce.

Also in attendance for both the ribbon cutting and the open house was Director of Economic Development for the City of Fresno Larry Westerlund, who gave an address following Mueller’s welcome speech.

“Thank you for being here. We are excited about the opportunity to be located here and see your business grow and expand, being able to reach your customers more quickly and

easily,” Westerlund said, adding that he and his team are excited for the jobs this will create and will be there for anything needed.

warehouse space with a few offices available for field service technicians, account managers and warehouse staff.

Marsha Verwiebe, Volm Companies’ Marketing Coordinator, stated, “The facility will not only help Volm grow, but allow us to better service our customers service their equipment, provide local delivery of parts, and packaging.”

The warehouse will be stocked with supplies and packaging that is commonly used by the company’s existing customer base, with the tools and equipment parts available for field service technicians. The facility can be used as an equipment service or staging area if the need should arise, and Volm has warehouse staff that will provide local delivery via a dedicated Volm truck.

A Volmpack weighing and bagging system was on display, as well as samples of the company’s newest packaging.

Everyone was welcome to take a tour of the 11,000 square foot facility, which is mainly composed of

“We have a large equipment install base already in California,” Verwiebe noted. “Volm also has a large fresh produce customer base for which it provides custom packaging. Our customers are packing houses/ facilities and growers in that region.”

Volm also played its brand video on a display, sharing the company’s history, culture, the team and people that are a part of it, and the products & manufacturing capabilities of the company.

The open house overall displayed every aspect of the company, conveying its excitement to be the newest addition to the Fresno produce community.

42 BC�T July

Senninger Irrigation Designated Groundwater Guardian Green Site Senninger Irrigation, a global leader in agricultural irrigation manufacturing, is proud to announce its main office in Florida has been designated as a Groundwater Guardian Green Site by The Groundwater Foundation.

Groundwater Guardian Green Sites are spaces recognized for their excellent groundwater and environmental stewardship. They implement groundwater and surface water-friendly practices to help protect and conserve local water supplies.

As a leader in water conservation technology for the agricultural industry, Senninger is committed to reducing their ecological footprint.

The company was recognized for their efforts to contain and treat water used in their testing field and for washing, refusal to apply any fertilizers or pesticides around active wells, dispose of or recycle toxic substances and hazardous waste through recommended channels, and engineer slopes to prevent any potential water or chemical runoff into local water areas. These efforts to “go green” earned them the exclusive designation as a Groundwater Green Site.

“I’m excited about what Senninger does as a company,” says James Burks, President of Senninger Irrigation.

“We help irrigators by advancing technology that aids enormously in water conservation. We wanted to participate in the Groundwater Guardian Green Site program because the activity required to achieve this designation helps to connect our employees with what our company does for our industry. Senninger Irrigation should be accountable for

our utilization of our water resource and the Green Site Program helps raise awareness so that we can work together in maintaining that accountability.”

Senninger hopes that others in the industry will follow their example and become motivated to implement groundwater and surface waterfriendly practices.

Groundwater Guardian Green Sites is a program of The Groundwater Foundation, a nonprofit organization based in Lincoln, Nebraska with a mission to educate people and inspire action to ensure sustainable, clean groundwater for future

generations. The program began in 2007 to recognize good stewards of groundwater by encouraging managers of highly managed green spaces to implement, measure, and document their groundwater-friendly practices. continued on pg. 44

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BC�T July 43

Now for the News. . . continued from pg. 43

Tasteful Selections Grand Opening Ceremony New State-of-the-Art Bakersfield, CA facility Tasteful Selections celebrates its investment in the future of the potato industry with the grand opening of its new 200,000 square foot state-of-theart facility in Bakersfield, California.

The celebrations kicked off today with a ribbon cutting ceremony, press conference, luncheon and tours of the facility, and will continue this week.

Tasteful Selections co-owners Bob Bender, Milt Carter and Russell Wysocki began today’s ceremony with opening statements followed by questions from the press. The familyowned company then invited all attendees to the luncheon sponsored

by Valley Irrigation, a valued Tasteful Selections vendor. The menu featured Tasteful Selections potatoes prepared in three recipes to showcase the versatility of the product.

Press members were taken inside for the opportunity to view the unique features of the new facility. Tours showcased the stainless steel facility and exceptional measures taken to ensure the highest quality potatoes possible, including improved storage, refrigeration and humidification. many retailers and foodservice professionals were also invited for private tours throughout the coming months.

This grand opening directs the future of the industry. “For the past five years, Tasteful Selections has been proud to lead the specialty potato category,” stated Bender, also general manager of Tasteful Selections.

“Our new facility is 200,000 square feet of dedicated space just for Tasteful Selections, which means endless possibilities for our future.”

44 BC�T July

Carter, also president of CSS Farms, continued, “We pride ourselves on everything Tasteful Selections potatoes have to offer: fantastic flavors, uniform cook times and less preparation time with prewashed, thin skins. Today, we get to celebrate being able to bring even more of those special baby potatoes to our consumers.”

Tasteful Selections potatoes are proudly marketed by RPE. President and CEO of RPE, Wysocki, stated, “When we started Tasteful Selections in 2010, we knew we had something ‘simply amazing,’ but even we were surprised by how fully our customers embraced it, and we’ve had double digit growth every year.” Tasteful Selections has opened its doors to the future and welcomed all to learn more

about this new phase of specialty potatoes.

For a private tour of the complex, please contact an RPE sales representative at 800-678-2789.

Tasteful Selections LLC is a joint venture of RPE, CSS Farms and Plover River Farms Alliance Inc. They are a vertically integrated grower, shipper, marketer of premium specialty potatoes with unique attributes for size and flavor.

RPE, a second-generation family farm, is a category leader and key grower/ shipper of year-round potatoes and onions. RPE prides itself on maintaining a high level of business integrity that includes commitments to environmental sustainability, as well as category innovation and retail solutions.

Safety for All

steps beyond FAA requirements to mitigate the risk of mid-air collision with manned aircraft:

Share Air Space Wisely

• Do not operate a small UAS with clouds lower than 2000 feet and visibility less than five miles.

Unmanned Aerial Systems (UAS), more commonly referred to as drones, will inevitably play a critical role in the future of agriculture.

• Utilize two operators during all flights to maintain line of site with the UAS and search for manned aircraft.

The Wisconsin Agricultural Aviation Association (WAAA) is an association made up of Wisconsin aerial application professionals treating over one million acres of Wisconsin cropland with crop protection products, fertilizers and cover crop seeds. The WAAA recognizes the potential role drones may play in agriculture but wish to inform the Wisconsin agricultural community of the potential dangers UAS may pose to low-level manned aircraft such as aerial application and air ambulance aircraft.

• Land the UAS as quickly as possible anytime you see or hear a manned aircraft.

Currently the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) is developing rules for the safe integration of small UAS (defined as UAS weighing less than 55 pounds) into the National Airspace System (NAS). Until FAA finalizes those rules, operation of UAS is limited to hobby or recreational purposes rendering any other use, illegal.

Current law does not allow for agricultural UAS use without a grant of exemption and a civil Certificate of Authorization (COA).

The FAA will issue a blanket COA for small UAS flights below 200 feet during the daytime in Visual Flight Conditions, operated within visual line of sight of the pilot (defined as the operator’s natural vision without the use of any other device other than corrective lenses), outside Restricted Use Airspace while maintaining certain distances away from airports or heliports. Please note that Wisconsin has several Restricted Use Airspace zones over agricultural lands, used routinely by the military.

• Install a strobe light on the vehicle used to transport the operators and UAS and activate the strobe during UAS flight.

• Paint the small UAS aviation red and white.

Another element of concern to small UAS users is that of liability. Currently, no commercial insurance policy will cover financial losses to persons or property in the event of a mid-air collision between small UAS and manned aircraft. These losses can be significant even when the operator of a small UAS has complied with a COA’s provisions.

The WAAA feels agricultural users of small UAS’s can take the following

The WAAA wishes to share the air safely with small UAS. We envision small UAS to be exceptional tools for improving field scouting efficiency.

Furthermore, we believe the imagery captured by small UAS can potentially reduce fertilizer and pesticide usage since it can determine exact locations of pests and fertility deficient areas.

Custom aerial applicators can use that information for more targeted and efficient application.

HAGEN SIZER FOR SALE

2-lane/9 station with capabilities to expand

to 4-lane. New style herringbone, new style electronics. One lane set up to hold hollow-heart detector. All takeaway conveyors, extra conveyors and Evenflow tank included. Food grade belts throughout system.

32,000

$

Call (715) 234-1122 or (715) 296-7631 BC�T July 45

New Products

Beefed Up Utility Tractor Performance New 5E & 5ML Models

Like a boxer fighting above his weight class, the new four-cylinder 5E and 5ML Series Tractors from John Deere pack a lot of heavy-duty power and versatility for utility tractors of their size. The 5E Series Tractors are built for a variety of applications such as livestock feeding, haying operations, and roadside mowing.

new 5ML models are low-profile machines that are perfect for working in orchards, livestock barns and other environments with restricted heights.

5E SERIES TRACTORS

"We've taken our popular, marketproven 5 Series Utility Tractor lineup and added new models that make it even easier to perform more jobs on the property or around the farm, ranch or orchard," says Brad Aldridge, 5 Series product marketing manager for John Deere. "These versatile 5E and 5ML Tractors combine durability with value and are the perfect choice for many types of customers."

Whatever the chore, the new fourcylinder 5Es feature heavyduty frames, axles, engines and transmission that deliver greater performance and value. Available in 85 and 100 engine horsepower, the 5085E and 5100E are powered by John Deere PowerTech™ 4045 diesel engines that meet Final Tier Four emission standards. This engine gives tractors the muscle to lift more than 3,200 pounds rear-lift capacity and more than 3,500 pounds at full front loader height.

The new four-cylinder 5E Series Tractors are built for a variety of applications such as livestock feeding, haying operations, roadside mowing and property maintenance. The two

The durable 24/12 PowrReverser™ transmission in these machines increases top transport speed by onethird, so operators can do more in less time. Operators can shift from low to

46 BC�T July

high at the touch of a button, without even needing to clutch. The economy PTO, standard on all 5E four-cylinder transmissions, lets operators reduce engine rpm to 1,700, which can lower fuel consumption by as much as 20 percent.

"Although performance is the bottom line, we also made a number of ergonomic improvements to promote easier, smoother operation," Aldridge adds. "Other design features make the 5E easier to maintain, which maximizes uptime."

Because most operators use loaders with these utility tractors, visibility is critical to both ease of operation and efficiency. The new sloping hood and raised operator platform on cab models offer 3.6 feet of extra visibility in front of the tractor. Better sight lines mean higher operator efficiency and comfort when performing many repetitive loader tasks.

Design changes to the control pod and instrument panel provide easier monitoring and operating control.

The operator has more information available on a single screen than ever, including warning lights, ground speed, PTO speed, PTO target bar, PowrReverser position, hour meter, hi/lo indicator and diagnostic codes.

Routine maintenance is made easy with a new slide-out condenser, radiator screen, tilting charge air cooler and slide-out oil cooler.

As an added bonus, customers can save money on the purchase price of these new 5E models with a factoryinstalled loader prep package that matches perfectly with the new H240 Loaders.

"Our engineers designed the 5E Series Utility Tractors with the operator in mind – from the standard telescoping draft links to the convenient new cup holder," Aldridge said. "This innovative series provides the economy and convenience of a utility tractor, along with the power, versatility and operator comfort they would expect to find only on a larger model."

LOW PROFILE 5ML TRACTORS Along with the new 5Es, John Deere is bringing out the brand new 5ML Tractors designed for working in low clearance and tight spaces such as poultry barns and orchards.

"The 5ML Tractors are available in two models, the 100 engine horsepower 5100ML and 115 horsepower 5115ML," says Ruben Peña, senior marketing representative, John Deere Augusta. "These low-profile M machines feature an open operator station, low-profile seat and ROPS, and sloping hood for improved visibility when operating under trees and in low buildings."

The 5ML models come standard with rugged, Final Tier 4 compliant John Deere PowerTech engines that automatically perform regeneration for maximum uptime and offer significant cost of ownership advantages over competitive models.

The 5ML comes with a mechanical hitch and two transmission options: the 16F/16R or 32F/16R PowrReverser for easy, clutch-free forward and reverse operations. They are designed with plenty of hydraulic power to handle a wide variety of implements and excellent drawbar visibility for ease of operation.

Other features include a new backlit LCD instrument panel that makes monitoring tractor performance easier, even in bright conditions, rear work lights, and new easierto-access charge air engine cooler and hydraulic oil cooler packages.

Factory-installed options include fuel tank guards and an SCV oil spillage

collection system.

"We've even tucked critical operator controls inside the right fender and added a guard to the left-hand reverser to protect them from bumping into low-hanging branches," Peña says. "If you spend your days working in orchards, poultry houses or in other tight spots, the 5ML Tractor is a good fit that will help you get the job done quickly, comfortably and more efficiently."

To find out more about the new four-cylinder 5E and low profile 5ML models, see your John Deere dealer or visit www.JohnDeere.com/ag. continued on pg. 48

Your Dealer for Lockwood, Harriston, Mayo and Milestone • Full service potato and tillage equipment dealer

USED EQUIPMENT FOR SALE:

• Custom made hydraulic hose assemblies

- 1994 LENCO $125,000

• Fully equipped service truck for on-site repair

- (2) MAYO 36” Telescoping Conveyors

- 1997 LENCO $130,000 - MILESTONE 72” Dirt Eliminator, “B” Sizer & Picking Table w/Hang on Conveyors - CASE 32’ Model 340 Disc Nice Shape

Contact Paul Cieslewicz

715-335-6652 Come visit our facility in Bancroft, WI 8364 Monica Road • Bancroft, WI • www.sandcountyequipment.com • Fax 715-335-6653 BC�T July 47

New Products . . . continued from pg. 49

What’s the Big DEF Anyway?

That’s diesel exhaust fluid (DEF) we’re referring to here. DEF is used to reduce the amount of nitrogen oxides (NOx) that are released into the atmosphere by diesel engines. DEF is used with equipment powered by diesel engines, but not mixed into the diesel fuel.

Instead, it is stored in a separate tank and injected into the exhaust stream of the diesel engine. DEF is a highly purified product that is nontoxic and made up of 32.5 percent urea and 67.5 percent deionized water.

The need for purity of the product means that proper handling and storage procedures are very important. DEF storage equipment must be cleaned with deionized water and be free from dirt and dust. DEF storage tanks should be stored inside away from sunlight because heat and UV rays degrade the product and shorten its shelf life.

Since DEF is made up of two-thirds deionized water, it will freeze at 12

storage of DEF. These containers are composed of materials that will not react with the DEF or cause it to degrade out of specifications.

A rotary hand pump, available from FrontierServco FS, is ideal for pumping DEF out of drums.

degrees F. Although freezing does not degrade the product, it cannot be injected into the exhaust stream in its frozen form. Tanks will freeze, but most vehicles have a heated line running through the tank as well as an EPA granted 70-minute grace period during which they can operate normally while the DEF thaws.

When handling DEF, it is very important to avoid mixing it with any other products such as tap water, oil, fuel, or other liquids. To ensure the purity of DEF during storage, the industry recommends the use of a closed system. Closed system is a term used to describe the method in which the product is transferred from the production facility to the end user.

Hoses and pumps are connected with fittings that maintain the product’s purity. During each step of transferring the product, dry-lock couplers are used to eliminate contact with the atmosphere and ensure integrity of the product.

While many of the handling practices may seem redundant or extreme, they help avoid improper handling practices that can cause product contamination. Contaminated product can lead to faulty operation and ultimately costly repairs. Your local FS Energy Specialist has the equipment as well as convenient bulk, mini-bulk, drum, or packaged containers to meet all of your DEF needs.

Type 304 or 316 stainless steel or high-density polyethylene (HDPE) plastic containers, such as the tote pump shown here, are required for

Left: Frontier-Servco FS stocks bulk, mini-bulk, drum, and packaged containers to meet your DEF needs. Right: Heavy-duty couplers and valves help isolate DEF from contaminants.

48 BC�T July

Next Level Fresh Launches Single-Serve Whole Ear Sweet Corn Next Level Fresh, LLC today announces category growth strategies that result in fun, new, upscale meal and snack solutions that are delicious, easy and attractive to the massive 40-andunder shopper demographic.

Fresh Life Harvest™ Whole Ear Gourmet Sweet Corn (complete with seasonings such as the delicious chili pepper-lime-flavored Tajin, developed

by Next Level Fresh’s managing partner, Daniel Whittles, is one of the company’s initial products. This product enables sweet corn lovers to satisfy a craving for their favorite fresh veggie in less than two minutes.

Each ear of Fresh Life Harvest™ Whole Ear Gourmet Sweet Corn is a

premium non-GMO variety. Prior to harvest and again prior to packing, all corn is sweetness-certified with the company’s next level standards. All corn in this line starts out as single individually wrapped fully shucked, washed and ready-to-cook ears. It is then assembled and merchandised in three forms: as a retail grab-andgo item or prepared as a foodservice product, in a 4-pack for retail and 8-pack for club stores.

Each product is packed in a highgraphic information-rich cardboard box that can be space efficiently vertically merchandised in a refrigerated case. The retail pricing strategy varies depending upon the continued on pg. 50

your vision our design.

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Construction Management

Website: www.rettler.com

BC�T July 49

New Products . . . continued from pg. 49

sales channel. The product will be available year-round and aims to boost sweet corn sales beyond the traditional selling window of April through the Fourth of July.

Whittles partnered with two worldclass growers and packers of sweet corn, who also grow a full line of celery and leaf items, in South Florida’s Lake Okeechobee region.

John E. ‘Buddy’ McKinstry, founder and owner of JEM Farms, and Rick Roth, president of Roth Farms, joined Whittles to create the Fresh Life Harvest™ gourmet Whole Ear Sweet Corn product.

Both farmers are very prominent agricultural business leaders, have multi-generational family operations that date back to the 1930s, and most importantly possess the courage to try something different and next level.

“Our overall goal with the Fresh Life Harvest™ brand is two-fold. First, to create cutting-edge products using

�This product enables sweet corn lovers to satisfy a craving for their favorite fresh veggie in less than two minutes.� commodities where we own strong, vertically integrated production and packaging facilities.

Secondly, to have a pipeline of creative, fresh and timely meal and snack solutions in order to proactively target exciting non-traditional selling channels as well as the established market that wants safely secured supply, best-in-class quality and next level innovation.

Our industry's significant future

revenue growth will in large part be a direct result of those who can capture more revenue value by thinking ‘it’ up better and bring classy execution to relevant innovation,” explains Whittles.

“We merge the best of tradition together with tomorrow's inspired vision to innovate, differentiate and bring wins to all the stakeholders as Next Level Fresh and farming for our Fresh Life Harvest™ brand products,” says Whittles.

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

Jul-13

Aug-13

Sep-13

Oct-13

Nov-13

Dec-13

Jan-14

Feb-14

Mar-14

Apr-14

May-14

Jun-14

Year-to-Date

CWT

1,245,187.84

561,590.05

991,078.83

3,114,438.10

2,627,700.74

2,160,770.84

1,872,969.27

1,976,498.93

1,958,659.50

2,405,670.29

2,123,171.39

21,037,735.78

Assessment

$74,679.68

$33,695.37

$59,464.80

$186,867.82

$157,665.35

$129,645.84

$112,268.32

$118,698.94

$117,449.69

$144,358.33

$127,363.74

$1,262,157.88

Jul-14

Aug-14

Sep-14

Oct-14

Nov-14

Dec-14

Jan-15

Feb-15

Mar-15

Month

Apr-15

May-15

Jun-15

Year-to-Date

CWT

1,618,594.66

584,167.62

1,071,362.65

3,145,808.22

2,930,799.68

2,055,822.91

1,632,134.39

2,314,996.35

1,657,022.61

2,227,004.05

1,764,186.27

21,001,899.41

Assessment

$97,295.75

$35,049.99

$64,101.70

$188,748.83

$175,821.97

$123,346.96

$97,909.10

$138,906.57

$99,470.40

$133,643.78

$105,821.29

$1,260,116.34

50 BC�T July

Marketplace

Wisconsin Potatoes Pick up the Pace!

By Dana Rady, WPVGA Director of Promotions and Consumer Education Maintaining an active lifestyle is important when it comes to mental and physical health and is a key component to making sure you stay on top of your game!

That is the message Wisconsin potatoes are spreading this summer at several events, many of which involve consumers and growers alike.

WISCONSIN GROCERS ASSOCIATION GOLF OUTING This year, the Wisconsin Grocers Association (WGA) Golf Outing moved to a southern Wisconsin location for its annual event.

Evergreen Golf Club in Elkhorn provided the ideal location for representatives of retail stores across the state and Midwest to spend a day of fun and camaraderie.

The Wisconsin Potato and Vegetable Growers Association (WPVGA) received a front-row seat with the sponsorship of a hole for another year. Golfers took their turn at putting to win a prize. The kicker, however, was that they had to putt potatoes instead of golf balls to receive a football in the color of green and gold for the Packers or red and white for the Badgers. They also were able to snack on WPVGA’s own promotional potato chips before moving on to the next hole.

Every year, the event provides a great way for WPVGA to interact with retailers across the state and encourage the use of ‘Buy Local’ messaging materials, which also will continue to include conversations about Wisconsin’s Healthy Grown program.

Above: Dave Spiegelhoff concentrates hard on a hole in one at the WPVGA-sponsored hole for the chance to win a Powered by Wisconsin Potatoes football. Spiegelhoff participated with several other retail representatives at the 2015 Wisconsin Grocers Association Golf Outing event on June 3.

RIght: Putting potatoes is not as easy as it looks for golfers at the Wisconsin Grocers Association Golf Outing event in Elkhorn, WI on June 3rd. WPVGA sponsored a hole and gave away prizes to golfers who could “Putt the potato.” continued on pg. 52 BC�T July 51

Marketplace . . . continued from pg. 51

POWERED BY WISCONSIN POTATOES EVENTS Besides healthy eating, maintaining a healthy lifestyle also requires exercise. WPVGA is proud to encourage representatives in the potato industry to set good examples by getting involved in one of the annual Powered by Wisconsin Potatoes events.

Held throughout the summer months, WPVGA pays for the registration of those who want to participate from across the potato and vegetable industry. Between triathlons, walks and runs, there is sure to be an event in your area that

This year’s event line-up is as follows: Walk WI...............................June 6 Castle Rock Triathlon.........June 27 Pardeeville Triathlon........... July 11 Antigo Tater Trot..............August 8 Waupaca Area Triathlon........................August 15 Silver Lake Triathlon......August 15 Compete for the Cause 2015 Point Duathlon (kids).......August 21 Newly Named Event

(full).................................August 52 BC�T July

22

Top: The Wisconsin Spudmobile stays busy at the Walk Wisconsin finish line by welcoming walkers to learn about Wisconsin potatoes and agriculture on Saturday, June 6 in Stevens Point. Right: There is nothing better than shade for these walkers after a long hike at the Walk Wisconsin event in Pfiffner Park in Stevens Point on June 6.

is calling for your participation!

moving forward.

One change from last year involves the United Way of Portage County Duathlon. 2015 is the first year the YMCA of Stevens Point will take over the event in an effort to give it a fresh start.

If you are interested in any of the upcoming Powered by Wisconsin Potatoes events, be sure to contact the WPVGA office at 715-623-7683, wpvga@wisconsinpotatoes.com.

If you are a previous participant, watch for reminder emails about registrations and deadlines. It is a great way to stay healthy and promote a fantastic vegetable!

The new name for the event is “Compete for the Cause 2015 Point Duathlon” to be held mid-August.

The YMCA is focusing on a benefit to chronic disease programming. It also serves as a replacement for the YMCA’s former Lactic Edge Triathlon, which had seen a fairly consistent decline in participation prior to its discontinuation.

The United Way of Portage County has put on the duathlon for the past five years as a kick-start to their fundraising campaign, and are exploring other avenues of doing so

The Spudmobile also made its first appearance to Walk Wisconsin this year and welcomed walkers of all ages to learn more about Wisconsin potatoes! Parked near the finish line, it was the perfect way for walkers to end their journey; by learning about a vegetable that naturally provides all the vitamins and nutrients needed to keep you going throughout the day.

Here is to your health!

WPVGA EXHIBITS AT 2015 UNITED FRESH SHOW IN CHICAGO With the return of United Fresh to the Chicago area, WPVGA looked forward to having a booth presence this year.

Located just down from the Fresh Marketplace Learning Center and United Fresh Membership booth, traffic to WPVGA’s booth from attendees and retail store representatives was quite high. With this show being in the Midwest and Wisconsin’s ‘Buy Local’ area, in addition to the number of attendees it attracts, United Fresh provided a great venue for WPVGA to spread the ‘Buy Local’ message, encourage the use of ‘Buy Local’ POP materials, and interact with key decision-makers that do business with Wisconsin growers.

Attendees walked away with brochures that explain the Healthy Grown program, recipe tear pads sporting different ways of preparing Wisconsin potatoes for any meal and Wisconsin shipping directories to contact organizations about current and future business opportunities.

WPVGA will return to United Fresh in June of 2016.

Danielle Sorano (WPVGA) and Mark Finnessy (Okray Family Farms) work WPVGA’s booth at the United Fresh Show June 8-10 in Chicago.

J.W. Mattek & Sons, Inc. N5798 STAR NEVA RD, DEERBROOK, WI 54424 Telephone: (715) 623-6963 • FAX: (715) 627-7245 • Email: jwmattek@gmail.com GROWER & SHIPPER

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623-6963 BC�T July 53

Auxiliary News

Summer’s on our doorstep!

By Paula Houlihan, Vice President, Wisconsin Potato Growers Auxiliary Photos by Ruth Faivre The Auxiliary kicked off the end of the school year and the start of summer vacation by visiting three schools that participated in the Kids’ Dig Wisconsin Potatoes program, celebrating each with a Harvest Party.

Parties included assorted potato games, prizes and educational talks that shared the nutritional value of the tasty potato and promoted the

farms and practices of our industry.

We were excited to include the Spudmobile in our visits, a new favorite of the students. This year’s recipients of our Kids’ Dig Wisconsin Potatoes visits were Pleasant View Elementary in Antigo; Edgar Elementary in Edgar and Pierce Elementary, an inner city school in Milwaukee. A fun and educational time was had by all!

A special thank you to our volunteers who helped make these events a big success: Jacquie Willie, Kathy and Teri Bartsch, Sheila and Rachel Rine, Patty Hafner, Gabrielle Okray Eck, Paula Houlihan, Ali and Mike Carter and Jim and JoAnne Zdroik.

Be sure to check out more photos on WPVGA’s Facebook page, www.facebook.com/WPVGA.

Left: The kids were thrilled to have us visit! Jim Zdroik, Ali Carter & Paula Houlihan are in the background. Top: This girl puts body english into her toss! Bottom: Kim & JoAnne Zdroik help with the Potato Throw.

54 BC�T July

Above: Teri Bartsch helps the kids manage the Two-legged Potato Sack relay races. RIght: Potato Sack Races. Below: Potato Toss is serious business! Bottom: Potato Spoon relay winner!

continued on pg. 56

Specializing in Controlled Environment Potato Storage Buildings Building for the Wisconsin Potato Industry since 1974

HYLAND LAKES SPUDS PROJECT 65,000 CWT Potato Storage Warehouse in Progress Owners Glen & Keith Wolter Antigo, WI A partial list of our satisfied customers includes:

• Post Frame and Steel Structures

Baginski Farms, Bula Potato Farms, David Fleischman Farms, Gallenberg Farms, Guenthner Potato Company, Hyland Lakes Spuds, Kakes Farms, Mach’s Sunny Acres, J.W. Mattek & Sons, Plaspack USA, Riverside Farms, Schroeder Bros. Farms, Seidl Farms, Volm Companies, Wild Seed Farms and Wirz, Inc.

• Grading and Packing Sheds • Machine Sheds • Loading Docks • Raynor Garage Doors • Offices

Antigo, WI

Email: spiegl@goantigo.com www.spieglconstruction.com

Raynor Garage Doors, Operators and Accessories, Rolling Steel, Mini Storage & Bi-Fold Doors

715-627-4718 • 800-376-8154 BC�T July 55

Auxiliary News. . . continued from pg. 55

Above: The kids loved the Spudmobile! Left: Potato Spoon Relay is harder than it looks.

Right: One of the potato games winners with his prize. Bottom: Time for treats like mashed potato chocolate brownies.

Opposite Page: Top Left: The students loved having Ali & Mike Carter teach them all about potatoes in the Spudmobile. Top Right: Kathy Bartsch talks to the students about caring for the environment.

Bottom Left: Potato posers! Bottom Right: Everyone received with a prize at the end.

56 BC�T July

BC�T July 57

Ali's Kitchen

By Ali Carter, WPVGA Auxiliary Member

Is there anything better than grilling on a warm summer evening? Glass of wine in hand, chatting with the children while the dogs happily run through the yard…ahhh, summer!

And, a favorite on the grill at our house is the delicious versatile potato.

GRILLED POTATO WEDGES Feeds 4 to 6 people

These Grilled Potato Wedges are a perfect side to any meal. On this particular evening, in true Wisconsin fashion, my family and I paired this dish with venison brats and grilled asparagus.

My darling daughter assisted in the kitchen, as she often does, and we prepped the potatoes for Mike and the boys to grill. First, cut the Burbank potatoes into wedges and place into a large zip top plastic bag.

The flavor profile for these wedges is fabulous — you get the fresh herb flavor from the thyme and oregano, hint of sweetness from paprika, and that charred flavor that only the grill can produce. They are great on their own but we like adding a little herbed sour cream to our table for dipping.

- 6 medium size Burbank Potatoes - 2 Tbs. olive oil - 1 tsp seasoned salt - 1½ tsp garlic powder - 2 tsp paprika - Salt and pepper to taste - 1 Tbs. fresh oregano, finely diced - 1 Tbls. fresh thyme, finely diced 58 BC�T July

Then, drizzle the olive oil onto the potatoes and add all spices except for the fresh thyme and oregano. Close the bag and give it a good shaking to distribute the oil and seasonings.

Heat up the grill and oil the grates.

Place wedges carefully on the grill over medium heat. Flip them over after about 5 minutes or so or until grill marks start to form.

When the potatoes have nice grill marks on all sides and are cooked through, take them off the grill carefully and place in a bowl. Sprinkle the potatoes with fresh thyme and oregano.

Serve and enjoy!

Oh, and if any of you are interested in dipping this deliciousness in the herbed sour cream I mentioned here is the simple concoction we use: - ½ cup of your favorite sour cream - ¼ tsp fresh lemon juice - ½ tsp fresh thyme, finely diced - ½ tsp fresh oregano, finely diced Simply mix all of the ingredients in a pretty little bowl and serve with your grilled potatoes.

I truly hope that you try this recipe with your loved ones this summer.

Don’t forget your glass of wine!

GET INVOLVED, STAY INFORMED, BE AWARE! Join Wisconsin Potato & Vegetable Growers Association (WPVGA) and keep abreast of what is happening in your industry.

Find out how to become a member today. Go to: wisconsinpotatoes.com/about/members

Stake a claim in your future today!

BC�T July 59

Tater Bin

Sample

By Justin Isherwood crop is coming, whether the pollen raining down, the silk moist, the row count 16 or 18, are the Gold Rush are sizing up, same for the Silvertons, the reds holding color or getting scabby.

Similar query for Yukon Golds.

Following Shakespeare’s line…to sample or not to sample, that is the question. Farmers are evenly divided on this field practice, whether to sample or not to sample. The associated rationale of sampling or not sampling is independent of any logical process or intelligence because sampling or not sampling can each have consequences.

I have a plot of potatoes from Bryan Bowen of the Rhinelander research farm, coded varieties with good odds of amounting to nothing, rather like aspirants at summer baseball camp.

Much the same process of elimination as dating, whether or not kissing is involved or any other gymnastics.

I check the experimentals regularly because Professor Bowen being a touch Doktor Frankenstein comes up with some “interesting” potatoes, including those that belong in the

For the record I am a sampler. When it comes to potato fields, pea fields, beans, sweet corn and #2 yellow, I sample. I have friends, neighbors, next of kin who do not. This for the same reason I do sample.

Never mind how illogical this sounds.

I sample my fields to know how the chisels

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60 BC�T July

Setting the Standard for Wear! ●

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flower garden as well as the field.

I sample regularly, routinely, incurably, instinctively, passionately, for I do like to know what the crop is doing…or not doing. From pea flower to pods to peas hard enough to use as bullets I sample, part of which is tasting. I taste peas from the flower stage to the pod.

They are now four days past the tender-o-meter stage that just cost $10,000, equivalent to a nice used pickup truck much less that Porsche I deserve before I die. Seems my personal pickup has entered the Bondo stage of life, not that I am complaining since I prefer the smell of Bondo to Old Spice. To my mind, the men’s toiletry department ought to include scents of Bondo, fusible tire patches, black powder, new tires, nitro solvent and chainsaw gas.

Similarly, I sample my corn, from the first silk to early dent. Sampling corn is tasting. Most people do not know you can start eating corn from about the sixth leaf stage until it actually rattles in the combine bin, at which point you are biting off the germ end.

Sampling ideology helps us understand the basic hunter-gatherer mindset of prehistoric humanity when this sampling thing was of universal application, owing to the fact that most things are edible at some point in their life cycle. That vegetative morass we call weeds have a benign side, meaning edible, if you venture a Swiss Army knife and whittle them to some tender part.

The ancient realms knew life was grazing, forever sampling, tasting; most of the time it did not kill anyone. You can eat nettle, milkweed, purslane, water hemp, velvetleaf; even ragweed will do nicely in a salad, so too corn silk. I know this…I am a sampler. My wife does not take me out in public very much.

There are farmers who do not sample their crop because they do not want to know the bad news. I sample because I do want to know the bad news.

Humanity is divided along the lines of this political instinct, those who want to know and those who do not.

This hunter-gather instinct to sample has its parallels in our religions, our sexuality, our fears, psychoses, traumas and night sweats all based on this division, whether you do or don’t…want to know. continued on pg. 62

Photo by Ruth Faivre

WPVGA Hall of Famer Steve Diercks of Coloma Farms, Coloma, Wisconsin, is a wellknown and highly respected potato grower. He has served as President of the Wisconsin Potato & Vegetable Growers Association as well as the Wisconsin Potato Industry Board. Here’s what Steve has to say about Wisconsin Certified Seed Potatoes:

Todd Michael is co-owner of Michael Farms, Inc., Urbana, Ohio. He is a Past President of the United States Potato Board and a former President of the National Potato Council.

Here is what Todd has to say about his experience using Wisconsin Certified Seed Potatoes:

“Our Wisconsin seed has performed very well over the years. The stands have been very consistent and the yields have been very good. The Wisconsin seed potato growers have adopted the latest technologies in producing their seed. They utilize the strong backing of the University of Wisconsin, and the nation’s strictest production standards to assure clean, disease-free seed stocks. Due to the vigorous winter testing and strong certification program, we feel Wisconsin produces the highest quality seed potatoes in the country.”

“Picking your seed is one of the most important decisions to make each season, and Wisconsin seed potatoes have performed very well on my farm. I have always had great service from the Wisconsin seed growers. They work together well, making sure that the customer’s needs come first. Wisconsin has a well-run system that produces good results. I buy with confidence knowing the people and the seed will both deliver.”

“

We feel Wisconsin produces the highest quality seed potatoes in the country.

”

“

Wisconsin has a well-run system that produces good results.

”

--Todd Michael

Nick Somers of Plover River Farms, Stevens Point, Wisconsin, is widely recognized as a leader in the potato industry. He has served as President of the Wisconsin Potato & Vegetable Growers Association and the Wisconsin Potato Industry Board. He has also served as President of the National Potato Council.

Here’s what Nick has to say about Wisconsin Certified Seed Potatoes: “I’ve been pleased with the vigor and performance of Wisconsin seed potatoes. The yields have been excellent and the price is very competitive. I see a real value in the Wisconsin seed certification program. There is a very sound approach with the winter testing and the backing of the program by the University of Wisconsin. That’s what makes Wisconsin seed superior to that from other states. A quality program and quality growers make Wisconsin seed potatoes a good investment.”

“

A quality program & quality growers make Wisconsin seed potatoes a good investment.

--Steve Diercks

WISCONSIN CERTIFIED SEED POTATOES

--Nick Somers

Wisconsin Seed Potato Improvement Association, Inc. P.O. Box 173 • Antigo, WI 54409 • 715-623-4039 • www.potatoseed.org

”

For a directory of Wisconsin Certified Seed Potato Growers, scan this code with your smartphone.

BC�T July 61

Tater Bin . . .

Advertisers Index

continued from pg. 61

I am on that side of humanity who skips ahead in a book to read the last chapter, sometimes to read the last chapter first. If the book has promise…the last two chapters.

Sometimes to skip over chapters like a flat stone thrown across a quiet pond, hopscotch from chapter to chapter, sampling like I do with the Scripture Lesson on Sunday morning, sampling…tasting.

This does not generally work with fiction as it does with Bible verses or Shakespeare or Twain or Mary Roach, same for science titles and history.

Again, not so well for poetry.

Farmers who are non-samplers tell me they do not want to know what is wrong with the crop because it will

ruin their sleep. Not knowing will ruin my sleep.

There it is, the entire she-bang, the big schlamoli, the yin and yang of humanity neatly condensed and each kind allotted to their correct herd. No need to count the spots, study brain waves, adjusts for color, smell armpits or test for antibodies.

The human bug determined, sorted and filed away by this single option, whether we are samplers or not samplers. In spirit of camaraderie to suggest there is no sin either way. At harvest, sometimes the bare spots bother my brother. He was not…a sampler…I already knew they were bare.

Allied Cooperative........................ 62 Antigo Tater Trot........................... 37 B&B Paving Co.............................. 21 Big Iron Equipment....................... 11 Bushmans’, Inc................................ 3 Clifton Larson Allen...................... 33 Fencil Urethane Systems, Inc........ 34 Frontier Servco FS......................... 43 Jay-Mar........................................... 5 J.W. Mattek & Sons, Inc................ 53 K & K Material Handling............... 17 Main Resource Equip. Auctions.... 13 Mark Toyota................................. 35 National Potato Council.................. 7 Nelson’s Veg. Storage Systems..... 27 Noffsinger Manufacturing Inc....... 41 North Central Irrigation.................. 9 Nufarm Americas, Inc. ................. 63 Nuto Farm Supply, Inc.................. 45 Oasis Irrigation............................. 64 R & H Machine, Inc. ..................... 60 Rettler Corporation....................... 49 Roberts Irrigation........................... 2 Ron’s Refrigeration & Air Conditioning Inc. ......................... 40 Rural Mutual Insurance................ 29 Sand County Equipment............... 47 Schroeder Bros. Farms, Inc. ......... 19 Spiegl Construction...................... 55 T.I.P., Inc. ...................................... 15 Volm Companies........................... 23 Wick Buildings.............................. 31 World Potato Congress................. 57 WPVGA (Membership)................. 59 WPVGA (Subscribers)................... 36 WSPIA........................................... 61

62 BC�T July

BETTER PROTECTION FOR A BETTER CROP.

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Nufarm offers a full line of potato crop protection products, including herbicides, insecticides and seed treatment. www.nufarm.com/us ©2015 Nufarm. Important: Always read and follow label instructions.

Phostrol® is a trademark of Nufarm.

P.O. Box 327 Antigo, WI 54409

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